Looking for a Smiirl alternative?
A Smiirl counter costs $399 to $629 once, excluding tax, and shows one number on one wall. CountDeck needs no new hardware: it puts your followers, GitHub stars and MRR on the phone you already own, free for one source, with StandBy and Desk mode in Pro. Smiirl makes beautiful flip counters for cafés, shops and brands; CountDeck is built for creators and indie hackers watching their own growth.
Choose Smiirl counter if
- You run a café or shop, track Instagram or TikTok, and want a counter customers can see without setting up a screen.
- You want a physical object, as decor or a gift.
- You mainly track Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Choose CountDeck if
- You are a creator or indie hacker watching your own growth.
- You track several platforms, or revenue like MRR, in one place.
- You want goals, a daily summary and a celebration when you hit them.
- You want the flip-counter feeling on your desk with StandBy, or on a spare iPad or TV with Desk mode, without buying hardware.
- You want your team or customers to see the number on a TV or monitor you already own.
What each option costs
| Feature | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Smiirl counter, 5 digits (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) | $399 once, excl. tax | One flip counter showing one account |
| Smiirl counter, 7 digits | $559 once, excl. tax | Same, for counts in the millions |
| Smiirl Custom, 5 or 7 digits | $459 or $629 once, excl. tax | Any number you send it (JSON or Zapier) |
 CountDeck | $0 for 1 source | Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets on the phone you already own. StandBy and Desk mode come with Pro: $3.99/month, $29.99/year or $89.99 once |
| CountDeck free desk counter | $0 | Full-screen split-flap counter for YouTube, GitHub stars or Bluesky followers in any browser (old iPad, TV), no signup |
Smiirl counter vs CountDeck at a glance
| Feature | Smiirl counter | CountDeckOurs |
|---|---|---|
| Where you see it | On one wall or desk | Home Screen and Lock Screen, plus StandBy, Mac and any browser with Desk mode (Pro) |
| Numbers per device | One | As many as you like (Pro) |
| Platforms | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, plus custom data | YouTube, X, GitHub, Bluesky, Stripe, RevenueCat and more, plus a custom counter for anything |
| Revenue and MRR | Through a custom integration | Built in for Stripe and RevenueCat (read-only keys) |
| Goals and celebrations | Not included | Goals, pace, celebrations and share cards |
| Seen by your customers | Yes, that is what it is made for | Yes, on any screen you already have: an old iPad, a TV or a wall monitor with Desk mode (Pro), with a QR code to follow you |
| Setup | Wi-Fi device, plugged in | App Store, about 10 seconds |
Questions
Is there a cheaper alternative to a Smiirl counter?
If you only need to see your numbers yourself, yes. CountDeck is an app for iPhone and Android that tracks your followers, subscribers, GitHub stars and MRR in one place, and puts them in Home Screen widgets, plus Lock Screen, StandBy, Mac and Apple Watch on iPhone. It is free for one source, or Pro from $3.99 a month.
Can my iPhone work as a follower counter on my desk?
Yes, with Pro. With StandBy, put your iPhone on its side while it charges and CountDeck shows your number full screen in a split-flap style.
Can I use an old iPad or a TV instead?
Yes, with Desk mode (Pro): open your private desk link in any browser and your numbers fill the screen, refreshing every minute.
Does CountDeck support Instagram and TikTok?
Not yet. Today CountDeck supports YouTube, X, GitHub, Bluesky, Stripe, RevenueCat and more. Instagram and TikTok are on the roadmap.
My Smiirl counter is not updating. What can I do?
Smiirl's help center (help.smiirl.com) suggests unplugging it for 10 seconds, then checking in your My.Smiirl account that it is online: a striped flap on the far left means it is disconnected. After a Wi-Fi password change or a power cut, reset it. If the flaps still stop on wrong digits, Smiirl support can recalibrate it. If you track a platform CountDeck supports, Desk mode (Pro) can show the count on any screen in the meantime.
What other Smiirl alternatives are there?
SocialCounters runs in a browser on a shop TV or tablet and adds Google Reviews and a QR code (free with updates every 30 minutes, or €7.99 a month for every 2 minutes). LaMetric TIME is a $199 smart clock that also shows Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitch counts. Tikky is a small physical counter with no subscription. Our Smiirl alternatives list compares them all.
Is CountDeck made by Smiirl?
No. CountDeck is an independent app made by an indie hacker, and is not affiliated with Smiirl.
