Comparison

Routine Time Watch vs Big Day

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

Head to head
About

Routine Time Watch

Features
Read full description

"Routine Time Watch" is an Apple Watch app that sequentially counts down through a list of tasks. ~ Features ~ -This app helps you efficiently complete your routines, such as a morning tasks, by making you more aware of time. -You can view your listed tasks on your Apple Watch and start from any step you like. -This app notifies you with a vibration when a time limit is reached. ~ How to Use ~ 1. On your Apple Watch, go to Settings > General > Return to Clock and select After 1 Hour. *1, *2 2. Open the app on your iPhone and enter your desired task in the text field at the top left. 3. After entering the text, set the time limit for the task to its right. 4. After you've finished entering the task, press the Add button to add it to your list. 5. Repeat the above steps to add more tasks. *3 6. Once your task list is complete, open the app on your Apple Watch. 7. Tap the Sync with Apple Watch button on your iPhone to sync the task list. 8. Confirm that the task list has been reflected on your Apple Watch. 9. Tap the Start button on your Apple Watch to begin the task countdown. *4 *1 You can also set a custom app setting to prevent the watch from returning to the clock face when you twist your wrist. *2 We recommend placing a shortcut to the app on your watch face for quick access. *3 To change the order or delete tasks, use the Edit button. *4 You can swipe left and right on the Apple Watch screen to switch to the task list.

About

Big Day

Track important dates with a visually appealing countdown. See your upcoming events on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Apple Watch without opening the app. Count down to future events or count up from past milestones.

Highlights
  • Home Screen widgets (all sizes)
  • Lock Screen widgets
  • Live Activities for real-time countdowns
  • Count up or count down functionality
  • Recurring events and weekday-only counting
  • Customizable alerts and categories
  • Apple Watch complications
Features
Read full description

Count down to what matters. See it on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Apple Watch. Countdown turns any date into a live countdown you can actually see — no opening an app, no digging through a calendar. Your next trip, your wedding, your exam, your due date. Always one glance away. FREE, AND ACTUALLY FREE No ads. Not on the free tier, not ever. No banners, no video walls, no "watch this to unlock." WIDGETS THAT DO MORE • Home Screen widgets in every size — small, medium, large, and inline • Lock Screen widgets so you see it without unlocking • Live Activities — watch the final hours tick down in real time on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island • Interactive widgets — mark events done or snooze right from the Home Screen • Apple Watch complication showing your next event COUNT DOWN — OR COUNT UP Days until your holiday. Or days since you quit smoking, since the baby arrived, since you started. Both directions, same app. BUILT FOR REAL LIFE • Recurring events that reset themselves — birthdays, anniversaries, rent, monthly deadlines • Weekday-only counting for work deadlines (17 working days, not 24 calendar days) • Multiple alerts per event — a week out, a day out, an hour out • Categories with colors and icons — travel, family, work, health • Custom photo backgrounds from your library or our gallery • Choose exactly what shows: years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds • Share a countdown to iMessage in one tap YOUR APPLE WATCH, INCLUDED Your countdowns sync to your Watch automatically — no iCloud account needed, no subscription, on the free tier. COUNTDOWN PRO — ONE PAYMENT, NOT A SUBSCRIPTION Unlimited events, iCloud sync between iPhone and iPad, unlimited custom backgrounds, and all widget styles. Pay once. Keep it forever. Free tier includes 5 events, all widget sizes, Apple Watch sync, and zero ads. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your events stay on your device and in your own iCloud. No accounts, no servers, no tracking. EULA: Apple’s Standard License Agreement applies.

Screenshots

Routine Time Watch4 screens
Big Day4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Big Day at Free against Routine Time Watch's $0.99. Routine Time Watch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Big Day is free to download; Routine Time Watch costs $0.99 up front. Big Day sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Routine Time Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Routine Time Watch ships an update every 3 days, Big Day every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Routine Time Watch versus Big Day: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoutine Time WatchBig Day
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkobunachou ozawaDamien Asseya

In-app purchases

None

Routine Time Watch

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Big Day

One-time1
  • Countdown Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Routine Time Watch free?
Routine Time Watch costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Big Day free?
Big Day is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Routine Time Watch or Big Day have ads?
Neither Routine Time Watch nor Big Day shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Routine Time Watch or Big Day?
Routine Time Watch ships an update every 3 days, and Big Day every 2 weeks. Most recently, Routine Time Watch was updated on October 30, 2026 and Big Day on October 25, 2026.

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