Countdown vs Kitchen Timer
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
Kitchen Timer
A straightforward kitchen timer designed for everyday cooking. It offers customizable patterns and colors, with a convenient long-press function for quick time setting. Receive notifications even when the app is running in the background.
- Easy-to-use interface
- Long press for quick time setting
- Background notifications
- Customizable patterns and colors
- Simple cooking aid
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This is a simple and easy-to-use kitchen timer app. Enjoy your daily cooking! Long Press Button Function: By long-pressing the button, you can quickly set the time. Background Notification Feature: Even when the app is in the background, it will notify you when the timer is finished.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Kitchen Timer at Free against Countdown's $1.99. Kitchen Timer also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Countdown's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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
Kitchen Timer is free to download; Countdown costs $1.99 up front. Kitchen Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Countdown asks for nothing beyond the download.
Kitchen Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 157 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 88% of Kitchen Timer's.
Countdown ships an update every 2 months, Kitchen Timer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Countdown | Kitchen Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (41 ratings) | 4.5 (157 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 41 | 157 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BitBit Apps | Focaccia, Inc. |
Customer experience
Countdown
Kitchen Timer
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
Kitchen Timer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Countdown
No in-app purchases
Kitchen Timer
- Kitchen timer Pro$3.99
