Countly Alternative: Tax Days vs Countly Compared (2026)
Countly launched in June 2026 and is one of the most thorough new entrants: its listing names trackers for US Substantial Presence, FEIE, green card and naturalisation day counts, six state statutory-residence tests plus California and Hawaii presumptions, the UK SRT, and tax, citizenship and permanent-residence rules across many other countries. It also imports history from photos with a review step before anything is added. It is small so far, with 11 ratings across 16 storefronts in October 2026. The main practical difference is price: Countly Pro is required to use the app, at $49.99/year, while Tax Days has a free tier and Pro is $29.99/year. (Countly facts below are from its App Store listing as of October 2026.)
Pricing at a glance
Tax Days
Privacy-first iPhone app. No accounts, and your travel history never reaches our servers. Optional iCloud sync through Apple's CloudKit.
Countly
Countly (Country Days Tracker) is a 2026 iPhone app with ready-made trackers for tax, immigration and citizenship day counts across dozens of countries and several US states, plus Photo Rewind history import with a review step. Countly Pro is required to use the app.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tax Days | Countly |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $29.99/year or $4.99/month Yes | $49.99/year, $9.99/month, $4.99/week, or $99.99 lifetime (App Store, October 2026) |
| Free use | Yes, a free tier Yes | No, Countly Pro is required (free trial for eligible customers) |
| US state residency | All 50 states Yes | Statutory residence for NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA, MN, plus California and Hawaii presumptions |
| US federal tests | Substantial Presence Test | Substantial Presence, FEIE days abroad, green card and N-400 day counts |
| UK SRT | Yes | Yes |
| Immigration and citizenship counters | Schengen 90/180 | Settlement, citizenship and permanent-residence counters for many countries |
| Automatic tracking | Yes, or log trips by hand | Yes, automatic counting in the background |
| Photo history import | No | Photo Rewind, with review before anything is added |
| Days in two places | Arrival and departure days count in both jurisdictions | Not described on its listing |
| Exports | Yes, with evidence attached to days | PDF and CSV reports |
| Data location | On your iPhone + optional iCloud | On your device, no account |
| Platform | iPhone (iOS 17+) | iPhone (iOS 16.4+) |
Which one is right for you?
Tax Days is best for…
- Anyone who wants to try the full day count before paying.
- US taxpayers with exposure to a state outside Countly's named list.
- People who want evidence attached to each day in their records.
Countly is best for…
- Immigrants tracking green card, citizenship or settlement day counts alongside tax.
- People who want to backfill past travel from photos and review each stay.
- Anyone who prefers a one-time lifetime purchase.
Bottom line: Countly is a careful, broad product, and its immigration and citizenship counters go further than Tax Days does. On tax residency the two overlap heavily. Tax Days costs less, has a free tier where Countly requires Pro, and covers all 50 US states rather than a named subset. If you mainly need tax residency, start with Tax Days; if green card or naturalisation counts are your main concern, Countly is worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Countly alternative?
For tax residency, Tax Days: it covers the US Substantial Presence Test, all 50 states and the UK Statutory Residence Test, with a free tier and Pro at $29.99/year. For a country counter with a free history window, Country Days Tracker. For Schengen planning only, Schengen Simple.
How much does Countly cost?
As of October 2026 Countly's App Store listing shows Countly Pro at $49.99/year, $9.99/month, $4.99/week, or $99.99 as a lifetime purchase. The listing says Countly Pro is required to use the app, and eligible customers may start with a free trial.
Does Countly cover every US state?
Its listing names statutory residence trackers for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, plus California's 9-month and Hawaii's 200-day presumptions, and you can create custom rules. Tax Days ships residency rules for all 50 states.
Is Countly private?
Its listing says location and travel history stay on the device, photo contents are never uploaded, and there is no account. Tax Days is similar: data stays on your iPhone with optional sync through your own iCloud, and location tracking is optional.
Compare Tax Days with other trackers
Ready to try Tax Days?
$29.99/year. No accounts. No ads. Free tier included.