Countdown vs HoldOn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Countdown
Track upcoming events with a beautifully designed countdown. Offers free basic features and a premium upgrade for unlimited events, widgets, and an ad-free experience. Perfect for anticipating special moments.
- Event countdowns
- Customizable widgets
- Smart reminders
- Stylish backgrounds
- Icon library
- Unlimited events (Premium)
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This app started as a countdown I made for my family. Hello, my name is Sergei. I’m the solo developer behind Events. In the spring of 2025, I found out I was going to be a father for the second time. I was so excited that I kept checking how much time was left until the baby arrived. But none of the apps I tried had a widget that was both beautiful and free. So I built one – Events, an app that helps you track the time until the moments you wait for. It combines thoughtful design with real affordability. Free version includes: - 3 events + 1 widget, up to 74 icons - Stylish backgrounds, notifications, and smart reminders Premium version adds: - Unlimited events & widgets - 800+ icons - Ad-free experience - One-time payment → lifetime access If you find Events useful, please leave a review and tap 5 stars – it means a lot. Share the app with friends and family if you think they might like it. And if you run into any issues or have an idea to improve it, I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for your time. Enjoy Events! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula
HoldOn
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Stop before you regret it. HoldOn helps you break autopilot scrolling and open the apps you choose with intention — not impulse. Built on Apple’s Screen Time framework, HoldOn adds a calm pause between you and the apps that steal your time, so you can decide on purpose instead of reacting on reflex. THE MOMENT YOU KNOW You unlock your phone for one quick thing. Minutes later you’re deep in a feed or a loop you never meant to start. The apps you use most are built to pull you back in. Willpower alone rarely wins that fight. What helps is friction at the right moment: a breath, a question, a single beat before the habit runs. That’s what HoldOn is for. HOW HOLD ON WORKS 1. Create a block — Choose apps you want to slow down: social, video, games, messaging, or anything you open on autopilot. 2. Set a schedule — Every day, weekdays, weekends, custom days, or overnight windows that match your life. 3. Pick a pause challenge — When you open a blocked app, HoldOn shows a short step first. Finish it, then the app opens for a few minutes. Walk away anytime. 4. Choose with intention — Nothing is permanently locked. HoldOn adds a mindful pause, not punishment. PAUSE CHALLENGES 15+ challenges across different styles: • Timed resets — A calm countdown before you continue • Breathing — Box breathing and guided patterns • Reflect — Prompts, future-self checks, reflection roulette • Focus — Quick math, type an intention, name an alternative • Commit — Hold, tap, or slide to confirm you mean it Pick one per block or set a default. Preview how a challenge feels before you need it. BUILT ON APPLE SCREEN TIME HoldOn uses Apple’s official Family Controls APIs — the same privacy-respecting layer Apple provides for digital wellbeing. No VPN tricks. No overlay hacks. Grant Screen Time access once. Pick apps through Apple’s secure picker. HoldOn receives opaque tokens, not readable app names. Your choices stay private by design. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY • No account or sign-in required • No backend server — blocks, schedules, and pause history stay on your device • No ads or third-party analytics SDKs • Apple hides which apps you select — HoldOn never reads app names • Reset blocks or delete all data anytime from Settings HoldOn is for people who want control without surveillance. FLEXIBLE BLOCKS • Multiple blocks for work, evenings, or weekends • Enable or disable without deleting • 5, 10, or 15 minute unlock after a completed pause • Optional block start/end notifications • Home dashboard shows what’s active and what’s next INSIGHTS WITHOUT SHAME See intentional pauses completed this week and apps you’re slowing down — honest numbers without guilt streaks or shame mechanics. CALM BY DESIGN Dark, minimal interface built for focus. No clutter. No noise. No engagement bait. HoldOn should feel like a quiet hand on your shoulder — not another app shouting for your attention. WHO IT’S FOR • Anyone tired of doom scrolling or “just five more minutes” • Students and professionals protecting focus • People rebuilding a healthier phone relationship without deleting every app • Anyone who tried harsh blockers that felt punitive or easy to bypass GET STARTED Allow Screen Time access → create a block → pick apps and a schedule → choose your challenge. Next time you open a blocked app on autopilot, you’ll get a pause — and a real choice. IMPORTANT HoldOn is a digital wellbeing tool, not medical advice, therapy, or treatment. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately. Download HoldOn. Create your first block. Stop before you regret it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HoldOn at none against Countdown's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Countdown sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. HoldOn asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Countdown | HoldOn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sergei Ainozerov | Ece Birinci |
In-app purchases
Countdown
- Monthly Plan$0.991 Month
- Premium Lifetime Offer$3.99
- Premium Lifetime$7.99
HoldOn
No in-app purchases









