Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Create eye-catching announcement bars and countdown timers to add store engagement.
| Matat Announcement bar | Essential Countdown Timer Bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed |
Boost Your Sales with Sales Countdown Timer (when people see a count down timer, they rush to buy)
| Metric | Matat Announcement bar | Essential Countdown Timer Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 ★ | ★ 5.0 ★ |
| Total reviews | 10 | ★ 1.5k |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | ★ Yes |
| Pricing tiers | 2 tiers | ★ 4 tiers |
| Listed features | 3 | ★ 5 |
| Featured placements | — | 4 |
| Languages | 1 supported | 19 supported |
| Listed since | Nov 2025 | Feb 2022 |
Based on the data on this page, Essential Countdown Timer Bar is the stronger choice for most Shopify App Store merchants — 5.0★ vs Matat Announcement bar's 4.6★ is a meaningful gap that usually reflects real product or support quality differences across the user base. Pricing entry tiers: Matat Announcement bar at Free plan available, Essential Countdown Timer Bar at Free plan available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (apps, orders, integrations) varies. Essential Countdown Timer Bar has the larger user base (1,510 reviews vs 10), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Matat Announcement bar's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Essential Countdown Timer Bar; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Matat Announcement bar's 10-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Essential Countdown Timer Bar's broader-but-shallower coverage. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Matat Announcement bar audit • Essential Countdown Timer Bar audit
| Last updated | — | — |
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| Keyword | Matat Announcement bar | Essential Countdown Timer Bar |
|---|---|---|
| countdown timers | Not ranked | #1 |
| countdown timer bar | Not ranked | #1 |
| countdown timer | Not ranked | #1 |
Not featured in any section recently.
Both Matat Announcement bar and Essential Countdown Timer Bar offer paid plans only. Matat Announcement bar starts at Free plan available; Essential Countdown Timer Bar starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
Essential Countdown Timer Bar has the higher average rating (5.0★ from 1,510 reviews) compared to Matat Announcement bar (4.6★ from 10 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Matat Announcement bar fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; Essential Countdown Timer Bar is the call if you need the higher-rated option. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store marketplace. Essential Countdown Timer Bar has more onboarding documentation maturity (1,510 reviews vs 10), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
Matat Announcement bar typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (10 reviews). Essential Countdown Timer Bar aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (1,510 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Matat Announcement bar and Essential Countdown Timer Bar both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Matat Announcement bar" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
