# Countdown Widget vs Riff Calendar

The clearest difference is ads: Riff Calendar at none against Countdown Widget's shown. Riff Calendar also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). Countdown Widget's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Widget sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Riff Calendar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Countdown Widget against 4.0 for Riff Calendar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Countdown Widget ships an update every 4 weeks, Riff Calendar every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Widget | Riff Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-events/id6748829624/reviews) | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riff-calendar/id6789502725/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Craig Osborne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653804952) | [KJELL MAGNUS REX](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789502727) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Widget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-events/id6748829624)

Easily create and track important dates like birthdays and deadlines. Organize events in a timeline with filters for upcoming, past, and all items. Personalize events with icons and receive optional reminders.

**Highlights:** Create and edit countdown events, Personalize events with icons, Optional local reminders, Home screen widgets, Customizable widget styles and colors, Upcoming, Past, and All filters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Countdown Pro Yearly | $6.99 | per year |


### Riff Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riff-calendar/id6789502725)

This calendar app allows you to zoom in and out of your schedule, viewing a half-year at a glance or a single day hour-by-hour. Events can be edited directly on the calendar, and it integrates with your existing device calendars without requiring an account.

**Highlights:** Zoomable calendar views, Direct event editing, Integrated weather forecasts, Daylight shading, Works with existing calendars, Home and Lock Screen widgets

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Widget free?

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

### Is Riff Calendar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown Widget or Riff Calendar?

Countdown Widget and Riff Calendar are both rated 4.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Countdown Widget or Riff Calendar have ads?

Countdown Widget shows ads; Riff Calendar does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown Widget or Riff Calendar?

Countdown Widget ships an update every 4 weeks, and Riff Calendar every 5 days. Most recently, Countdown Widget was updated on October 2, 2026 and Riff Calendar on October 21, 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.*