# Countdown vs Time Blocking

The clearest difference is rating: Time Blocking at 5.0 against Countdown's 4.6. Countdown's advantage is ratings volume (162 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Time Blocking sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Time Blocking holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 162 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Countdown ships an update weekly, Time Blocking every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Time Blocking |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (162 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-upcoming-events/id964477476/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-blocking-time-boxed/id6762071236/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **162** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 39 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rob Sammons](https://appshunter.io/developer/659065077) | [GREGORY COLTON ADAMS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892766435) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-upcoming-events/id964477476)

Easily track upcoming events, holidays, and important dates with custom photos and notifications. View your countdowns on your Apple Watch, Mac, or Lock Screen widgets. Share events and enjoy a private, ad-free experience with optional Pro features.

**Highlights:** Add, modify, and view countdowns, Customizable photos from library or web, Siri integration for easy access, Apple Watch and Mac support, Widgets for home and lock screens, Shareable countdown images, Customizable event notifications

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown Pro | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🖼️ Customizable background images
- ✨ Clean and elegant design
- 🚀 Fast and reliable performance
- 💰 Good value for one-time purchase

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 App became paid/premium required
- 🖼️ Widget customization limitations
- ⏳ Date selector can be cumbersome
- 📸 Photo cropping/zooming issues
- 🚫 Limited free features

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Cannot add more than two countdowns
- 🐛 Widget colors "washing out"
- 🐛 Incorrect countdowns
- 🐛 Countdown data disappeared
- 🐛 Keyboard shows up and won't go away

**Requested features**

- Recurring event option
- Ability to crop images
- Import calendar events
- Integration with Google/iCloud calendars
- Option to show more than one goal in a large widget


### Time Blocking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-blocking-time-boxed/id6762071236)

Organize your day by assigning specific time slots to tasks. This productivity app helps you create a realistic schedule, track your progress, and build better habits. Customize your layout and export your plans to your existing calendar.

**Highlights:** Assign time blocks to tasks, Create realistic daily schedules, Modular and customizable layout, Review historical time usage, Export to calendar and reminders, Light and dark mode options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time Boxed Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Time Boxed Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Time Blocking free?

Time Blocking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Time Blocking?

Time Blocking is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.6 out of 5 from 162 ratings, while Time Blocking averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Time Blocking have ads?

Neither Countdown nor Time Blocking shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Time Blocking?

Countdown ships an update weekly, and Time Blocking every 2 weeks. Most recently, Countdown was updated on November 6, 2026 and Time Blocking on November 9, 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.*