# Exam Countdown vs Chkela

The clearest difference is rating: Exam Countdown at 4.7 against Chkela's 3.8. Exam Countdown also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 40%) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 10). Chkela's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Exam Countdown sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Chkela asks for nothing beyond the download.

Exam Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Exam Countdown has 1.7K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Exam Countdown's written reviews are positive against 40% of Chkela's.

Exam Countdown ships an update every 5 weeks, Chkela every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Exam Countdown | Chkela |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exam-countdown-school-and-uni/id873279955/reviews)** | [3.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chkela/id6738397728/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **82.2% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 102 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ROOT38 LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1206411222) | [Tefera Bereket](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780639054) |

## What reviewers say

### Exam Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exam-countdown-school-and-uni/id873279955)

This app helps students, teachers, and schools keep track of important dates. It provides countdown timers for exams, tests, and coursework deadlines, with options for reminders and sharing progress with others. Users can organize their academic schedule and stay on top of their responsibilities.

**Highlights:** Countdown timers for exams and tests, Unlimited exam countdowns, Color-coded exams, Icon customization, Share countdowns with others, Add notes to exams, Basic and detailed notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium 3 Months | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly Subscription | $5.49 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for organizing exams
- 🎨 Customizable with colors and icons
- ⏱️ Countdown timer for exams
- 🎯 Tracks completed exams
- 🆓 Free with optional premium features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Some features locked behind paywall
- 🔍 Limited customization options in free version
- 🔋 High battery consumption reported
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues after device change
- Subscription not working as expected
- Loading screen freezes
- Incompatibility with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Calendar view
- Sync with device calendar
- Customizable exam reminders
- Widget support
- More icons and color options


### Chkela

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chkela/id6738397728)

This app is a comprehensive study companion for Ethiopian high school students preparing for matric exams. It offers engaging lessons, practice tests, study tools, and a supportive community. Gamified elements and scholarship listings enhance the learning experience.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive educational content, Practice exams and quizzes, Study planner and progress tracker, Gamified learning with rewards, Collaborative student community, Scholarship listings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Exam Countdown free?

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

### Is Chkela free?

Chkela is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Exam Countdown or Chkela?

Exam Countdown is rated higher. Exam Countdown averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Chkela averages 3.8 from 10 ratings.

### Do Exam Countdown or Chkela have ads?

Exam Countdown shows ads; Chkela does not.

### Which is updated more often, Exam Countdown or Chkela?

Exam Countdown ships an update every 5 weeks, and Chkela every 3 weeks. Most recently, Exam Countdown was updated on October 29, 2026 and Chkela on October 27, 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.*