Comparison

Countdown vs Performance Timer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Currently charting
Read full description

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

About

Performance Timer

A large-display countdown timer for monitoring presentations or performances. It visually indicates time overruns by turning red and counting up, without audible alarms. Easily set for durations between 1 and 99 minutes.

Highlights
  • Large display countdown timer
  • Visual time overrun indicator (red count-up)
  • No audible alarm
  • Adjustable time from 1-99 minutes
  • Ideal for presentations and performances
Features
Read full description

Performance Timer is a large-display countdown timer developed to be used to monitor the time remaining in a performance, presentation, etc. Performance Timer does not sound an alarm when the time runs out. Rather, when the timer reaches zero, the numbers turn red and the timer starts counting up so that you can see how long you've gone over your target time. The time can be set from 1 to 99 minutes.

Screenshots

Countdown4 screens
Performance Timer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Performance Timer at Free against Countdown's $1.99. Performance Timer also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.0). Countdown's advantage is chart position (#156 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Performance Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 59 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 83% of Performance Timer's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Countdown versus Performance Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCountdownPerformance Timer
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (41 ratings)4.5 (59 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.4% of reviews82.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4159 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#156 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBitBit AppsAndrew Schweig

Customer experience

Countdown

All ratings41 ratings
Positive78.0%
Neutral9.8%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive79.4%
Neutral12.7%
Negative7.9%

Performance Timer

All ratings59 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive82.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative10.0%

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
Show 19 more
  • 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

Performance Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Countdown

No in-app purchases

None

Performance Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Countdown free?
Countdown costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Performance Timer free?
Performance Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Countdown or Performance Timer?
Performance Timer is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.1 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Performance Timer averages 4.5 from 59 ratings.
Do Countdown or Performance Timer have ads?
Neither Countdown nor Performance Timer shows ads.

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