Short answer: choose Kounts if you want a free countdown with Live Activities, a Dynamic Island countdown, Siri & Apple Intelligence and shared albums — without a subscription. Choose Pretty Progress if you specifically love progress-bar and life-progress visuals, want native iPad and Mac apps, and don't mind paying for Pro. Both have a polished iOS 26 look; the deciding factors are Live Activities, sharing and price.
At a glance
Kounts and Pretty Progress side by side. Pretty Progress details verified from its App Store listing as of June 2026.
✓ = supported · ~ = partial / different approach · “Not mentioned” = not listed on the current App Store page.
Where each app pulls ahead
Live Activities & Dynamic Island
On event day, Kounts puts a self-ticking countdown in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen as a Live Activity. Pretty Progress' listing doesn't mention Live Activities — it focuses on Home, Lock Screen and StandBy widgets — so Kounts leads for the live final countdown.
Progress bars vs countdown cards
This is the real personality difference. Pretty Progress is built around beautiful progress bars and life/year-progress widgets. Kounts is built around countdown cards — five styles, ten gradients and photo posters. If you think in percentages and progress, Pretty Progress is lovely; if you think in days and moments, Kounts fits better.
Sharing & shared albums
Kounts lets you invite up to five people to follow one live countdown and add photos to a shared album. Pretty Progress' listing doesn't mention shared or collaborative countdowns, so if counting down together matters, Kounts has the edge.
Price
Kounts keeps its core countdown features free, with an optional Premium for advanced customization. Pretty Progress puts much of its customization behind a Pro subscription (around $25/year) or a roughly $60 lifetime purchase. If you'd rather not subscribe, that's a meaningful difference.
Devices & platforms
Where Pretty Progress is ahead: it has native iPad and Mac apps plus StandBy widgets for your nightstand. Kounts focuses on iPhone and Apple Watch. Both count up from past dates as well as down, so “days since” tracking is a tie.
Siri & Apple Intelligence
Ask Siri how long until your next event, or describe an event in plain language and let Create with AI fill in the details. Pretty Progress' listing mentions a Shortcuts action but not Siri or AI, so Kounts is stronger for hands-free and smart entry.
Kounts countdown cards, Live Activities and widgets.
When to choose Pretty Progress instead
Pretty Progress is genuinely lovely, and it's the better pick for some people. Choose it if:
- You specifically want progress-bar visuals for goals and deadlines.
- You want life-progress widgets (year, month and week) on your Home Screen.
- You want native iPad and Mac apps and StandBy widgets.
- You enjoy swapping between lots of themes and don't mind a subscription.
You can find Pretty Progress on its official site and the App Store.
Pricing & platforms
Kounts
Free to download, with the core experience — events, widgets, Live Activities, Apple Watch and sharing — fully functional for free. An optional Kounts Premium (a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase) unlocks advanced customization.
iPhone & Apple Watch.
Pretty Progress
Free to download with in-app purchases. As of June 2026 the listing shows a Pro subscription (around $4.99/month or $24.99/year) plus a lifetime option around $59.99 to unlock the full customization set.
iPhone, iPad, Mac & Apple Watch (Android also available).
Prices and features can change — check each app's current App Store listing before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kounts a free alternative to Pretty Progress?
Yes. Kounts is free to download and its core countdown features stay fully functional without a subscription. Pretty Progress is free to download too, but much of its customization is unlocked through a Pro subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.
Does Pretty Progress have Live Activities or a Dynamic Island countdown?
As of June 2026 the Pretty Progress App Store listing doesn't mention Live Activities or Dynamic Island. Kounts has a self-ticking Live Activity and Dynamic Island countdown on event day. Features change, so check the current listing.
How much does Pretty Progress cost?
Pretty Progress is free to download with in-app purchases. As of June 2026 its listing shows a Pro subscription around $4.99/month or $24.99/year, plus a lifetime option around $59.99. Kounts keeps its core features free.
Can you share a countdown with other people?
Kounts lets you share an event with up to five people who follow the same live countdown and add photos to one shared album. Pretty Progress' listing doesn't mention shared or collaborative countdowns.
Which is better, Kounts or Pretty Progress?
Choose Kounts for Live Activities, Dynamic Island, Siri and Apple Intelligence, collaborative shared albums, and no subscription. Choose Pretty Progress if you specifically want progress-bar and life-progress visuals and native iPad and Mac apps, and don't mind a subscription.
Try Kounts free
Beautiful countdown cards, widgets, Live Activities and an Apple Watch app — free on the App Store.
See also: Kounts vs Days · Kounts vs Countdown Star · all countdown apps compared
Kounts is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Pretty Progress or keinois OÜ. Pretty Progress and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Comparison based on publicly available information from each app's App Store listing as of June 2026; features and pricing may have changed since. Found something out of date? Let us know.