Comparison

Basic Countdown Timer vs Count Up Down Timer

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

Head to head
About

Basic Countdown Timer

Features
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Count down to the things that matter in your day β€” the train you can't miss, the meeting that starts at 3pm, the school bus. Basic Countdown Timer keeps all your deadlines in one calm list. Each one ticks away on its own card, so you can see at a glance what's coming and how long you've got. Tap one for a full-screen dial that you can leave running on the side, while you get ready. WHY PEOPLE USE BASIC COUNTDOWN TIMER Β· Know how long you've got before an event Keep track of your time with a simple, easy-to-use interface. Β· All your deadlines, one glance Multiple countdowns run side by side. Active ones are sorted to the top and colour-tagged, so the next thing that matters is always the first thing you see. Β· Reuse the same countdown every day Set it up once, then switch it on with one tap. "Standup at 9:30" or "leave at 4:40". Then come back tomorrow, ready to go β€” no re-entering anything. Β· On your Lock Screen with Live Activities An armed countdown keeps ticking right on your Lock Screen, and a Home Screen control starts your regular countdowns in a tap. Β· Synced across iPhone and iPad with iCloud Set a countdown on one device, and it's waiting on your other device. Sync is automatic and private to your iCloud account, with no sign-up or setup needed. Β· Warned before time runs out (Pro) Ask for a nudge at 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 minutes before the deadline β€” separately from the final alert, so a flight reminder and bedtime reminder can behave differently. Β· Make each one recognisable (Pro) Tag countdowns with a colour and a symbol β€” a red backpack for the school run, a plane for that flight β€” so you recognise them instantly, by sight or by VoiceOver. Β· Full-screen focus mode Tap a countdown to fill the screen with the dial. No controls, no clutter β€” just the time you have left. Β· A finished alert, not a silent failure When time is up, the countdown stays on screen with a chime until you acknowledge it. Nothing quietly expires while you're not looking. Basic Countdown Timer is built to feel at home on iOS: Live Activities, a Lock Screen presence, haptics, Dynamic Type, VoiceOver labels throughout, and the familiar swipe-to-delete. Your countdowns sync over iCloud, privately, to every iPhone and iPad signed in to your Apple ID. It's free to time three countdowns. Countdown Pro unlocks unlimited countdowns, colour and symbol tags, and early notifications, with one simple purchase, and no subscription.

About

Count Up Down Timer

Features
Read full description

Zero hassle. Total control. "CountUpDownTimer" redefines how you interact with time. β–  The Magic of Swipe Forget tapping numbers. Just swipe to set your time with incredible smoothness. This intuitive interface lets you focus on what matters most, instantly. β–  Seamless Mode Switching Changed your mind? Switch between Count-Up and Count-Down even during measurement. Flexibility is now at your fingertips. β–  Groundbreaking Speed Control Adjust the flow of time itself. Run your timer at 2x or 0.5x speed. β€’ Use 2x speed to challenge yourself and boost productivity. β€’ Use slow-motion for tasks that require steady pacing. Experience a completely new way to manage your day. β–  Perfect For: β€’ Cooking: Set timers instantly with a simple swipe. β€’ Training & Study: Apply healthy pressure using speed-up features. β€’ Complex Tasks: Flexibly switch modes as your workflow evolves. Ultimate simplicity meets high-end functionality. Feel what it’s like to truly master your time.

Screenshots

Basic Countdown Timer4 screens
Count Up Down Timer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Basic Countdown Timer at none against Count Up Down Timer's shown. Count Up Down Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 24 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Basic Countdown Timer ships an update every 24 months, Count Up Down Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Basic Countdown Timer versus Count Up Down Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBasic Countdown TimerCount Up Down Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 3 weeks β€” better
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size6 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas DonohueSatoshi Yamakawa

In-app purchases

None

Basic Countdown Timer

No in-app purchases

None

Count Up Down Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Basic Countdown Timer free?
Basic Countdown Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Count Up Down Timer free?
Count Up Down Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Basic Countdown Timer or Count Up Down Timer have ads?
Count Up Down Timer shows ads; Basic Countdown Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Basic Countdown Timer or Count Up Down Timer?
Basic Countdown Timer ships an update every 24 months, and Count Up Down Timer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Basic Countdown Timer was updated on October 6, 2026 and Count Up Down Timer on October 19, 2026.

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