# Countdown vs Highlights

The clearest difference is ads: Highlights at none against Countdown's shown. Highlights also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Highlights sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown ships an update every 3 months, Highlights weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Highlights |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 84 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rounded Peak Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/921102939) | [SmartSilly Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888748574) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widgets-and-more/id6476434868)

Visually track important life events like trips and birthdays with real-time countdowns. Personalize each event with photos and receive smart reminders. Enjoy immersive full-screen views and access on widgets and Apple Watch.

**Highlights:** Photo-based countdowns, Real-time tracking (years to seconds), Full-screen immersive view, Home & Lock Screen widgets, Apple Watch app & complications, Smart event reminders, Celebration animations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


### Highlights

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/highlights-countdown-and-dates/id6761298846)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Highlights free?

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

### Do Countdown or Highlights have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Highlights does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Highlights?

Countdown ships an update every 3 months, and Highlights weekly. Most recently, Countdown was updated on October 1, 2026 and Highlights on October 6, 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.*