# Countdown for Disney vs Universal Studios Countdown

The clearest difference is rating: Universal Studios Countdown at 4.3 against Countdown for Disney's 3.6. Universal Studios Countdown also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 40%). Countdown for Disney's advantage is ratings volume (254 vs 6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown for Disney sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Universal Studios Countdown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Studios Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown for Disney has 254 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Countdown for Disney's written reviews are positive against 50% of Universal Studios Countdown's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown for Disney | Universal Studios Countdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (254 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-for-disney/id955356588/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-studios-countdown/id6761145371/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **254** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 39.8% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 77 MB | 192 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jason Bestor](https://appshunter.io/developer/375579742) | [Austin Garlick](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829816182) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown for Disney

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-for-disney/id955356588)

Plan your magical Disney vacation with a personalized countdown. Customize your background with Disney images or your own photos, view the weather forecast, and receive helpful tips. Keep the excitement building until your trip to the happiest place on Earth!

**Highlights:** Personalized Disney vacation countdown, Customizable backgrounds with Disney images or own photos, Slideshow option for backgrounds, 7-day Disney World weather forecast, Planning tips for before and during your trip, Customizable countdown widget, Social sharing of countdown images

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Customizable backgrounds
- 🕰️ Helpful countdown feature
- 📰 Useful news and weather information
- 💫 Fun way to wait for Disney trip
- 🔍 Detailed trip planning reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid version still has ads
- 🕰️ Countdown not always accurate
- 🗓️ Outdated information on Disney policies
- 🔒 Difficulty resetting or editing trip details
- 📱 Lack of widget or home screen integration

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing or crashing issues
- Paid version not unlocking all features
- Weather and news information not working properly

**Requested features**

- Multiple Disney trip countdowns
- Automatic lock screen or home screen countdown
- More frequent app updates to reflect Disney changes
- Option to set custom reminders for dining, FastPasses, etc.


### Universal Studios Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-studios-countdown/id6761145371)

Track the exciting anticipation for your Universal Studios trip with a live, second-by-second countdown. Features include home screen widgets, smart notifications for trip milestones, and customizable backgrounds. Plan and share your upcoming adventure with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Live second-by-second countdown, Home screen widget, Smart milestone notifications, Customizable wallpapers, Trip naming and date setting, Shareable countdown cards

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown for Disney free?

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

### Is Universal Studios Countdown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown for Disney or Universal Studios Countdown?

Universal Studios Countdown is rated higher. Countdown for Disney averages 3.6 out of 5 from 254 ratings, while Universal Studios Countdown averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Countdown for Disney or Universal Studios Countdown have ads?

Neither Countdown for Disney nor Universal Studios Countdown shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown for Disney or Universal Studios Countdown?

Countdown for Disney ships an update fortnightly, and Universal Studios Countdown fortnightly. Most recently, Countdown for Disney was updated on October 12, 2026 and Universal Studios Countdown on October 14, 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.*