# Countdown vs Countdown Widget with Emoji

The clearest difference is ads: Countdown Widget with Emoji at none against Countdown's shown. Countdown's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (24K vs 336). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Countdown Widget with Emoji sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Countdown against 4.6 for Countdown Widget with Emoji. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 24K ratings behind it against 336, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 59% of Countdown Widget with Emoji's.

Countdown ships an update weekly, Countdown Widget with Emoji every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Countdown Widget with Emoji |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-event-countdown/id983258067/reviews)** | [4.6 (336 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-with-emoji/id1411285986/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 336 |
| Positive reviews | **79.9% of reviews** | 59.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 197 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROOT38 LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1206411222) | [Lasmit TLB Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/535281397) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-event-countdown/id983258067)

Easily track important dates and events with a beautifully designed countdown timer and calendar. Set unlimited countdowns, customize with icons and colors, and receive basic reminders. Share your upcoming events with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Unlimited event countdowns, Count up or down to events, Customizable icons and colors, Add notes to events, Basic notifications and reminders, Event sharing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium 3 Months | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly (50% Off) | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Customizable colors and icons
- 🕰️ Helpful for tracking upcoming events
- 💻 Works well on multiple devices
- 🧠 Assists with time management and organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Premium features locked behind paywall
- 💸 Aggressive promotion of premium version
- 🔔 Lack of customizable notifications
- 🗓️ Missing calendar view and repeat event options
- 🐛 Issues with past event tracking and data loss after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Premium subscription issues after updates
- Inconsistent font sizing and layout
- Countdown accuracy problems for distant events

**Requested features**

- Calendar view integration
- Repeat/recurring event options
- More customization for notifications
- Ability to view past event details
- Improved handling of long-term countdowns


### Countdown Widget with Emoji

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-with-emoji/id1411285986)

Track upcoming events with a personalized countdown. Choose a date, assign a representative emoji, and see how much time remains until your special occasion. Features include customizable widgets and calendar integration.

**Highlights:** Event countdowns, Emoji representation, Customizable widgets, Calendar import, Dark Mode support, Apple Watch app, iCloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Club - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Pro Club - Annual | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime - No subscription | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Great for organizing events
- 🤩 Widgets look amazing
- 💯 Simple and useful
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💖 Makes counting down fun

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Requires payment for features
- 😩 Nagging for reviews
- ❌ Not working on Apple Watch
- ⚠️ Deceptive marketing
- 🔒 Repeating events locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Glitchy emoji selection
- Contact form not sending
- Doesn't work on Apple Watch SE 2
- Icon selection not appearing until re-opened
- Widgets not supported (claimed)

**Requested features**

- Ability to hide menu bar
- Menu bar visually aligns with events
- Insert own photos instead of Apple icons
- Section for past events
- Make more features free


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Countdown Widget with Emoji free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Countdown Widget with Emoji?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Countdown Widget with Emoji averages 4.6 from 336 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Countdown Widget with Emoji have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Countdown Widget with Emoji does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Countdown Widget with Emoji?

Countdown ships an update weekly, and Countdown Widget with Emoji every 6 weeks. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 24, 2026 and Countdown Widget with Emoji on September 23, 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.*