Short answer: choose Kounts if you want an ad-free countdown with Live Activities, a Dynamic Island countdown, Siri & Apple Intelligence and collaborative shared albums. Choose TheDayBefore if you want ready-made D-Day templates, staggered countdown alarms (D-7 to D-1), multiple calculation methods and a huge existing community. The biggest practical differences are ads, Live Activities and how you like to set events up.
At a glance
Kounts and TheDayBefore side by side. TheDayBefore 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
Ads
TheDayBefore is free but ad-supported, with a one-time purchase (around $9.99) to remove ads. Kounts has no ads at all — the core experience is free, with an optional Premium for advanced customization. If ads bother you, this is the clearest difference.
Live Activities & Dynamic Island
On event day, Kounts shows a self-ticking countdown in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen as a Live Activity. TheDayBefore's listing advertises Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets but doesn't mention Live Activities, so Kounts leads for the live final countdown.
D-Day templates & alarms
This is TheDayBefore's home turf. It ships with preset event types (Love, Birthday, Exam, Diet, Trip), multiple calculation methods, and staggered D-Day alarms at 7, 5, 3 and 1 days out. Kounts uses categories and reminders, but if you love ready-made D-Day templates, TheDayBefore is purpose-built for them.
Sharing
Both apps share. TheDayBefore lets you share a D-Day and group related events together. Kounts goes collaborative: invite up to five people to follow one live countdown and add photos to a shared album — useful for a trip or a wedding everyone's counting down to.
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. TheDayBefore's listing doesn't mention Siri or AI, so Kounts is stronger for hands-free and smart entry.
Community & reach
TheDayBefore is hugely popular, especially across Asia, with a long track record and a big user base. Kounts is the newer, design-led option built for iOS 26. If you want the established name with the most users, TheDayBefore has it.
Kounts widgets, Live Activities and full-screen countdowns.
When to choose TheDayBefore instead
TheDayBefore is a deservedly popular app, and it's the better fit for some people. Choose it if:
- You want ready-made D-Day templates for exams, diets, anniversaries and trips.
- You like staggered alarms that remind you at 7, 5, 3 and 1 days out.
- You want multiple calculation methods (days, months, weeks, count-up).
- You value joining a large, established community of users.
You can find TheDayBefore on the App Store.
Pricing & platforms
Kounts
Free to download with no ads. The core experience — events, widgets, Live Activities, Apple Watch and sharing — is fully functional for free. An optional Kounts Premium (a yearly subscription or one-time lifetime purchase) unlocks advanced customization.
iPhone & Apple Watch.
TheDayBefore
Free to download and ad-supported. As of June 2026 the listing shows a one-time Remove Ads purchase of around $9.99; there's no subscription.
iPhone, 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 an ad-free alternative to TheDayBefore?
Yes. Kounts has no ads, and its core countdown features are free with an optional Premium tier. TheDayBefore is free but ad-supported; as of June 2026 its listing shows a one-time Remove Ads purchase of about $9.99.
Does TheDayBefore have Live Activities or a Dynamic Island countdown?
As of June 2026 the TheDayBefore App Store listing doesn't mention Live Activities or Dynamic Island; it advertises Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets. Kounts has a self-ticking Live Activity and Dynamic Island countdown on event day. Check the current listing, as features change.
What is a D-Day countdown?
“D-Day” is a popular way of writing a countdown to an important date — D-7 means seven days to go, D+10 means ten days since. TheDayBefore is built around this style. Kounts shows the same days-to-go counting with countdown cards, widgets and a Live Activity on the day.
Does TheDayBefore work without ads?
TheDayBefore is ad-supported by default. As of June 2026 you can remove ads with a one-time in-app purchase of around $9.99. Kounts has no ads at all.
Which is better, Kounts or TheDayBefore?
Choose Kounts for an ad-free experience with Live Activities, Dynamic Island, Siri and Apple Intelligence, and collaborative shared albums. Choose TheDayBefore if you want ready-made D-Day templates, staggered countdown alarms, multiple calculation methods, and a huge existing community.
Try Kounts free
An ad-free countdown with beautiful cards, widgets, Live Activities and an Apple Watch app.
See also: Kounts vs Days · Kounts vs Pretty Progress · all countdown apps compared
Kounts is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by TheDayBefore or TheDayBefore, Inc. TheDayBefore 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.