# Countdown vs Timer®

The clearest difference is price: Timer® at Free against Countdown's $1.99. Timer® also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Countdown's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months). On ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Timer® is free to download; Countdown costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Timer® holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 38 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 63% of Timer®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Countdown ships an update every 2 months, Timer® every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Timer® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-big-timer-and-clock/id582556043/reviews) | **[4.7 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id6450411439/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | **79.4% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 1 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BitBit Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/507383985) | [UniCom Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1270764210) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-big-timer-and-clock/id582556043)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🖥️ Large, clear display
- ⏱️ Works as a countdown, stopwatch, and clock
- 🎨 Customizable colors
- 🔊 Audible alarms (air horn/chime)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Perceived as expensive for simplicity
- 🔊 Alarm sounds could be higher quality
- 🔄 AirPlay/external display rotation issues
- ⏳ Screen can turn off after timer ends
- 🚫 No standard white number option

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Timer®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id6450411439)

This app provides a reliable and accurate countdown timer with customizable alerts and a user-friendly interface. Personalize your timer with different colors and alarm sounds to suit any situation, from cooking to workouts.

**Highlights:** Customizable colors, Alarm sound selection, User-friendly interface, Vibration alert, Reliable and accurate timekeeping

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

Countdown costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Timer® free?

Timer® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Timer®?

Timer® is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.1 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Timer® averages 4.7 from 38 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Timer® have ads?

Timer® shows ads; Countdown does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Timer®?

Countdown ships an update every 2 months, and Timer® every 11 months. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 22, 2026 and Timer® on September 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*