Countdown Star is a personal event timer for iOS and Android that tracks past and future milestones with custom wallpaper support.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#75
▲10Entertainment · paid
Sentiment
4.6
5k reviews
Nemesis
Countdown by timeanddate.com
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the friction of manual calendar checking by surfacing time-until-event data directly on the home screen and wearable devices.
For Individuals tracking personal milestones, holidays, and recurring events with a preference for visual customization.
What does it look like?
Key features
Users apply personal photos or wallpapers to individual event timers, increasing user investment in the interface.
Paid-tier gate ($0.99 one-time) removes all advertisements, serving as a direct conversion lever for users seeking an uninterrupted experience.
Displays countdown events directly on the watch face, increasing daily app visibility and retention.
How much does it cost?
Monetization relies on a low-cost, one-time purchase to remove ads on iOS, while Android remains ad-supported.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
Development has ceased, with the latest release occurring 783 days ago. The app has remained inactive for well over the 12-month threshold for zombie status. No new features or stability updates have been introduced in the observed window, and the publisher has provided no evidence of ongoing support.
Who built it?
Joseph Merrill
3 apps tracked · Entertainment
Countdown Star
Number MashUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Not enough recent reviews to extract reliable themes yet.
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for Countdown Star (Ad-Free)
How's the Entertainment market?
Countdown Star holds the #78 Paid position in the US Entertainment category, but the lack of updates since mid-2024 suggests a declining competitive stance. The 4.74 iOS rating remains high, yet the 26-month release gap prevents the app from capturing new chart momentum.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Time and Date AS
A highly popular, dedicated countdown utility that serves the exact same user need for event tracking with high reliability.
Countdown Star (Ad-Free) vs Countdown by timeanddate.comCountdown Star (Ad-Free)Contender
Time Until...ContenderBBig Days - Events CountdownNemesisEEventime - Countdown TimerNemesisDDreamdays CountdownContenderDDays CounterContenderUnlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Countdown Star (Ad-Free)
Where is it heading?
The event-timer category is shifting toward high-frequency, widget-centric engagement that requires constant OS-level optimization. Countdown Star's maintenance-only posture leaves it exposed to technical debt, which will likely erode its current chart position as newer, actively maintained apps gain visibility.
- The 26-month release gap indicates a lack of active feature investment, which will eventually lead to user churn as OS requirements evolve.
The SWOT
- Apple Watch integration increases daily visibility via wearable-mapped triggers
- Localized pricing could capture untapped markets where competitors charge higher premiums
Next best moves
Audit OS compatibility because the two-year update gap risks breaking core widget functionality → maintain current rating baseline
The counter-intuitive read
The app's lack of updates is its current strength…
Read the full takeSince the last report: Countdown Star transitioned to a freemium monetization model and confirmed a 26-month development hiatus, moving the app into a maintenance-only lifecycle.
Bottom line
The app remains a stable utility for existing users, but the two-year development hiatus makes it a sunset candidate unless the developer commits to a maintenance refresh. Preserving the current rating requires ensuring compatibility with the latest OS builds.
Unlock 1 critical friction, 1 market threat and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Countdown Star still being updated?
Does Countdown Star have ads?
Can I use Countdown Star on my Apple Watch?
Sources
Report last updated