# Essentialist vs Nobu

Essentialist and Nobu both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Essentialist's written reviews are positive against 0% of Nobu's. Essentialist also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Nobu holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 19 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Essentialist's written reviews are positive against 0% of Nobu's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Essentialist ships an update fortnightly, Nobu every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essentialist | Nobu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentialist/id1176133286/reviews) | **[4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nobu/id1529505631/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **19** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 87 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Bellhop](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166864351) | [NOBU Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529505787) |

## What reviewers say

### Essentialist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentialist/id1176133286)

Discover unique travel experiences curated by a global network of experts. Access exclusive recommendations and insider tips for your next adventure.

**Highlights:** Private travel service, Global community of tastemakers, Travel editor recommendations, Beyond-the-obvious experiences, Member access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nobu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nobu/id1529505631)

Book hotel stays and restaurant reservations, manage your itinerary, and communicate with hotel staff. Enjoy convenient mobile check-in/out, in-room dining, and local recommendations. Access your mobile key for seamless entry.

**Highlights:** Book hotel stays, Reserve dinner, View itinerary, Chat with hotel teams, Mobile check-in/out, 24-hour in-room dining, Local recommendations, Mobile key access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essentialist free?

Essentialist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nobu free?

Nobu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Essentialist or Nobu?

Nobu is rated higher. Essentialist averages 4.0 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Nobu averages 4.2 from 19 ratings.

### Do Essentialist or Nobu have ads?

Nobu shows ads; Essentialist does not.

### Which is updated more often, Essentialist or Nobu?

Essentialist ships an update fortnightly, and Nobu every 2 months. Most recently, Essentialist was updated on October 20, 2026 and Nobu on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*