# Countdown vs Kitchen Timer

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Kitchen Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-big-timer-and-clock/id582556043/reviews) | **[4.5 (157 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kitchen-timer-simple-cooking/id6471403964/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **157** |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BitBit Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/507383985) | [Focaccia, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689143851) |

## 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


### Kitchen Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kitchen-timer-simple-cooking/id6471403964)

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.

**Highlights:** Easy-to-use interface, Long press for quick time setting, Background notifications, Customizable patterns and colors, Simple cooking aid

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kitchen timer Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Kitchen Timer free?

Kitchen Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Kitchen Timer is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.1 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Kitchen Timer averages 4.5 from 157 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Kitchen Timer have ads?

Kitchen Timer shows ads; Countdown does not.

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

Countdown ships an update every 2 months, and Kitchen Timer fortnightly. Most recently, Countdown was updated on October 8, 2026 and Kitchen Timer on October 12, 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.*