Countdown vs The Big 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
The Big Timer
A straightforward timer application designed for simplicity and ease of use. It offers a large, clear display for quick time checks. Ideal for anyone needing a no-fuss countdown or stopwatch.
- Large, clear timer display
- Countdown functionality
- Stopwatch functionality
- Minimalist interface
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Just a Big Timer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: The Big Timer at Free against Countdown's $1.99. The Big Timer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). Countdown's advantage is ratings volume (41 vs 6). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
The Big Timer is free to download; Countdown costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Big Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 41 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 78% of The Big 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, The Big Timer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Countdown | The Big Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (41 ratings) | 4.7 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 41 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BitBit Apps | Joel Klabo |
Customer experience
Countdown
The Big 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
The Big Timer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Countdown
No in-app purchases
The Big Timer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Countdown free?
Is The Big Timer free?
Which has better reviews, Countdown or The Big Timer?
Do Countdown or The Big Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Countdown or The Big Timer?
Other comparisons
