# Countdown vs The Big Timer

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | The Big Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-big-timer-and-clock/id582556043/reviews) | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-timer/id969746649/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **79.4% of reviews** | 77.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BitBit Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/507383985) | [Joel Klabo](https://appshunter.io/developer/969746648) |

## 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


### The Big Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-timer/id969746649)

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.

**Highlights:** Large, clear timer display, Countdown functionality, Stopwatch functionality, Minimalist interface

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is The Big Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or The Big Timer?

The Big Timer is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.1 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while The Big Timer averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Countdown or The Big Timer have ads?

Neither Countdown nor The Big Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or The Big Timer?

Countdown ships an update every 2 months, and The Big Timer every 10 days. Most recently, Countdown was updated on October 12, 2026 and The Big Timer on October 6, 2026.

---

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