Countdown vs Big Red Clock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Countdown
A minimalist, full-screen timer app designed for high visibility. It offers stopwatch, timer, and clock modes with customizable alerts and advanced control options. Ideal for events and games where a clear time display is essential.
- Full-screen countdown timer
- Stopwatch, timer, and clock modes
- Customizable chime or air horn alerts
- Adjustable countdown duration up to 10 hours
- Color-coded time display
- Optional tenths of a second display
- Bluetooth keyboard control
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Replace the old sand timer in your favorite game with one that packs a punch! The countdown takes center stage in this app as a full-screen timer counts down the seconds. Run silently, or play a chime or air horn sound to let everyone know that time is up! Perfect for TV broadcasts, classrooms, debates, game shows, sporting events, or anywhere a highly visible stopwatch, timer, or clock with a streamlined appearance is needed. Features: + Beautiful design, maximizing countdown visibility + Tap anywhere to start or stop the countdown + Three modes - stopwatch, timer, or clock + Set a countdown up to 10 hours + Display the time in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple Advanced features: + Optionally show tenths of a second during the last minute for extra excitement + Optionally flash during the last ten seconds + Optionally play an air horn or a chime sound when time is up + Optionally show elapsed time after the timer reaches 0:00 (double-tap or long-press the Timer icon on the settings screen to choose) + The device will not sleep while the timer is running + Background notifications make sure you know when your timer ends + Double-tap the time on the settings screen to switch between 1, 5, and 15-second increments Super-advanced features: + Control the timer remotely using a Bluetooth keyboard: The space bar starts/stops, escape resets, and you can change the countdown time by typing a number followed by enter. + Display the timer on an external screen using AirPlay mirroring, while keeping the controls visible only on your device! + Use side-by-side with other apps on iPad in slide-over or split-view mode
Big Red Clock
This app provides a large, easily readable digital clock with both 12-hour and 24-hour formats. It also includes a countdown timer and a stopwatch function for various timekeeping needs.
- Large digital clock display
- 12-hour and 24-hour formats
- Countdown timer
- Stopwatch functionality
- Red color theme
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The perfect BIG NUMBER digital clock ...and red is just the beginning! Features: 12 hour or 24 hour Clock / Timer / Stopwatch Premium features (with subscription): Time Zone Assistant / Learn 24 Hour Time / Learn 12 Hour Time / Multi-Timer / Multi-Stopwatch Delightful set of colors and fonts to choose from Big Red Clock uses the standard Apple Terms of Use End User License Agreement (EULA): http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Big Red Clock at Free against Countdown's $1.99. Big Red Clock also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Countdown's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#156 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Big Red Clock is free to download; Countdown costs $1.99 up front. Big Red Clock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Countdown asks for nothing beyond the download.
Big Red Clock holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 152 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 81% of Big Red Clock's.
Countdown ships an update every 2 months, Big Red Clock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Countdown | Big Red Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (41 ratings) | 4.6 (152 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | 80.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 41 | 152 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #156 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BitBit Apps | Single Sail Software, LLC |
Customer experience
Countdown
Big Red Clock
Bugs and requests
Countdown
Reported bugs
4 issues- App cannot be quit on iOS 12.4
- Phone heats up and slows down (reported once)
- AirPlay/external display rotation issues (upside down/cut off)
- Screen turns off after timer ends, requiring unlock
Requested features
24 requests- Show elapsed time after countdown ends
- Airhorn as an option to start a countdown
- European clock format (24h)
- Countdown to a specific date and time
- Add seconds to the clock display
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- Fully hide menu/iPhone switchbar
- Six-digit format
- Multiple timers open simultaneously
- Changeable background colors
- Selectable/longer horn sound
- Control from Apple Watch
- Timer visible in other apps/home screen
- Beep chime for the last 3 seconds
- Flash color matching clock color
- Prevent screen from shutting off when app is open
- Option for alarm to repeat
- Customizable 'countdown to start' feature
- More sound variations
- Visual clue for count-up feature
- Count up screen background white only if flash is on
- Tap twice anywhere to reset
- Second, non-air horn, pleasant chime sound
- Option to show seconds for clock display
- Portrait mode option
Big Red Clock
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Countdown
No in-app purchases
Big Red Clock
- Monthly1 Month trial$0.991 Month
- Yearly1 Month trial$5.991 Year
