What is the best countdown app for iPhone in 2026?

It depends on what you want. Countdown by Find Appiness (4.81 from about 188,000 ratings, 28 languages) is the most proven dedicated countdown app. Countdown Star (4.77 from about 216,000) is the long-standing budget pick with a one-time ad-free purchase. For a live ticking countdown in the Dynamic Island, Countdown: Event Countdown and DayDrop are the two apps whose listings include a Live Activity; DayDrop is the only one of the six that generates AI backgrounds.

Which countdown apps support the Dynamic Island?

Of the six compared, two describe a Dynamic Island Live Activity in their App Store listing: Countdown: Event Countdown by ROOT38 and DayDrop. The others offer Home Screen or Lock Screen widgets, which refresh on a schedule rather than ticking live.

Which countdown app has the most languages?

Countdown by Find Appiness lists 28 languages, Countdown Star 17, DayDrop 16, Countdown: Event Countdown 12, Days 10 and TimeCount 6, per each app's App Store listing on October 7, 2026.

Are these countdown apps free?

All six are free to download. Most charge for widgets or extras: Countdown Star sells a one-time ad-free version, Countdown by Find Appiness puts widgets in Premium, Countdown: Event Countdown and DayDrop offer subscriptions with a lifetime option, Days and TimeCount sell in-app upgrades. DayDrop's Home Screen widgets are free.

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6 Best Countdown Apps for iPhone in 2026 (Compared with App Store Data)

Updated October 7, 2026 (first published August 27, 2026) · 7 min read · written by the developer of DayDrop; every row is held to the same standard

Every number below comes from Apple's public App Store lookup on October 7, 2026 (US storefront): rating, rating count, version, language count, and what each app's own listing says it supports. "Per its listing" means exactly that; an app may offer a feature it doesn't mention.

Quick comparison

App	Rating	Languages	Download price	Standout (per its listing)
Countdown by Find Appiness (v7.4.0)	4.81★ (187,887)	28	Free	Most languages; Lock Screen and StandBy widgets, Apple Watch (Premium)
Countdown Star (v3.0.10)	4.77★ (215,980)	17	Free / one-time ad-free	Largest rating count; Apple Watch; a decade of updates
Countdown: Event Countdown (v5.29.0)	4.75★ (23,872)	12	Free	Dynamic Island Live Activity; Lock Screen and StandBy; lifetime option
DayDrop (v1.7.2)	4.6★ (85)	16	Free	AI-generated backgrounds; Dynamic Island Live Activity with progress ring; 10 widget placements
Days • Countdown & Widgets (v3.40)	4.77★ (12,599)	10	Free	Clean widget designs; Lock Screen widgets
TimeCount (v2.0.0)	4.60★ (24,298)	6	Free	Widget-first design; "unlimited free mode"

DayDrop's rating is worldwide across all storefronts (US alone: 4.76 from 21). Other apps show the US figure.

1. Countdown by Find Appiness — most proven, most languages

The biggest dedicated countdown app on the US store by ratings: 4.81★ from 187,887. Creating events and reminders is free; Home Screen, Lock Screen and StandBy widgets, calendar auto-import and the countdown format are Premium features per its listing. 28 languages, more than any other app here.

Nearly 188,000 ratings at 4.81★
Widgets on every surface, but in Premium
No Dynamic Island, Live Activity or AI backgrounds in its listing

Verdict: the default recommendation for most people, provided you're fine paying for widgets.

2. Countdown Star — the budget pick with a track record

Joseph Merrill's app has 215,980 ratings at 4.77★ and has been updated for over a decade (v3.0.10 in September 2026). The free version shows ads; a one-time remove-ads purchase or a separate paid ad-free version takes them away. Apple Watch support per its listing.

The most ratings of any app on this list
Pay once, no subscription
No Lock Screen widgets, Dynamic Island or AI backgrounds in its listing

Verdict: the safe, cheap choice if you don't need Lock Screen or Dynamic Island.

3. Countdown: Event Countdown — Live Activity without AI

ROOT38's app is the other one here with a Dynamic Island Live Activity in its listing, alongside Lock Screen and StandBy widgets. 4.75★ from 23,872 ratings, 12 languages, and Premium is available monthly, yearly or as a one-off lifetime purchase. Free version is ad-supported.

Live ticking countdown in the Dynamic Island
Lifetime purchase available
Ads in the free tier; no AI backgrounds

Verdict: if you want a Live Activity and don't care about generated backgrounds, this is the direct alternative to DayDrop with a much larger rating base.

4. DayDrop — AI backgrounds that follow the countdown everywhere

Full disclosure: this is my app. It is the only one of the six whose listing includes AI-generated backgrounds, and one of two with a Dynamic Island Live Activity (with a progress ring and the exact-time countdown in hours, minutes and seconds). The generated image is attached to the event, so it appears on all 10 widget placements, the Live Activity, StandBy and the full-screen view. 16 languages. It is also by far the newest and least-rated app here: 4.6★ from 84 ratings worldwide.

Free: unlimited countdowns, Small and Medium Home Screen widgets, themes, photo backgrounds
Premium ($1.99/mo, $12.99/yr with a one-month free trial, $24.99 lifetime): AI backgrounds, Lock Screen and Large widgets, Live Activity, iCloud sync
Small rating base; no Apple Watch app

Verdict: choose it for the AI background and the Live Activity; choose something above if a large rating count matters more to you.

5. Days • Countdown & Widgets — clean widgets

MD Apps' Days has 4.77★ from 12,599 ratings and focuses on good-looking Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, with 10 languages. Extras are sold as in-app purchases.

Well-designed widgets, Lock Screen included
No Dynamic Island, Live Activity or AI in its listing

Verdict: a solid mid-size option if the look of the widget is what you care about.

6. TimeCount — widget-first and free-leaning

App Forgeron's TimeCount, 4.60★ from 24,298 ratings, advertises an "unlimited free mode" and a widget-first design. Six languages. Its listing doesn't mention Lock Screen widgets, Dynamic Island or AI backgrounds.

Verdict: worth a look if you want a Home Screen widget and no paywall pressure.

Which countdown app should you choose?

Most proven, don't mind paying for widgets: Countdown by Find Appiness.

Cheapest proven option, pay once: Countdown Star.

Live countdown in the Dynamic Island: Countdown: Event Countdown (bigger rating base) or DayDrop (adds AI backgrounds and a progress ring).

A background generated for each event, on every surface: DayDrop; it's the only one here that does it.

Free Home Screen widgets, no ads: DayDrop's free tier or TimeCount.

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