# Are.na vs NOVA

The clearest difference is rating: Are.na at 4.9 against NOVA's 4.3. Are.na also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (52% vs 36%). NOVA's advantage is chart position (#122 vs unranked) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 315). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NOVA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Are.na asks for nothing beyond the download.

Are.na holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 315 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Are.na's written reviews are positive against 36% of NOVA's.

Are.na ships an update every 4 weeks, NOVA every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Are.na | NOVA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (315 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arena/id1299153149/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-the-creative-network/id1642834730/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 315 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **52.1% of reviews** | 36.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#122** |
| Size | 81 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [When It Changed Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1299153148) | [Nova Network Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642834732) |

## What reviewers say

### Are.na

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arena/id1299153149)

This platform allows creatives and researchers to save and organize any type of content into collections. It provides a distraction-free space to connect and build ideas, fostering collaboration and community.  It is independent, ad-free, and algorithm-free.

**Highlights:** Save any content type, Organize into collections, Distraction-free space, Collaborate on projects, Share ideas privately or publicly, Thoughtful community

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and clean
- 👍 Minimalist and accessible
- 🖤 Great community and content
- 🖤 Inspiring and creative
- 🖤 Organically curated experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🐛 Unintuitive navigation
- 🐛 Limited functionality compared to website

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to login or sign up
- Blocks not loading or duplicating
- App crashing when viewing GIFs/animations
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS versions
- Navigation issues due to 'Dynamic Island'

**Requested features**

- Ability to sort channels by connections
- Landscape mode support on iPad
- Password reset functionality
- Multiple image/video uploads
- Improved channel management


### NOVA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-the-creative-network/id1642834730)

**Currently charting:** #122 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

This platform connects creative professionals with clients seeking talent. Artists can build networks, showcase work, and find job opportunities. Clients gain direct access to vetted freelance creative talent.

**Highlights:** Network building for artists, Portfolio display for creatives, Access to job opportunities, Direct client access to talent, Application-based community, Community guidelines enforcement

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nova Pro (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| Nova Pro (Yearly) | $99.99 | per year |
| Nova Pro (Day Pass) | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💫 Best apps for creatives hands down!
- 🌟 Game changing for creatives
- 🎨 Wonderful!
- 🤝 Probably the best way for creatives to connect
- 🎨 Excellent Platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤷‍♀️ No support
- 🤦‍♂️ Not looking out for the little guy
- 🔒 Can't get in
- 🤯 Ummm
- 🐛 App Crashes Too Often

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes
- Freezing
- Buggy application process

**Requested features**

- Web Access
- Saved filter settings
- Notifications
- Profile customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Are.na free?

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

### Is NOVA free?

NOVA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Are.na or NOVA?

Are.na is rated higher. Are.na averages 4.9 out of 5 from 315 ratings, while NOVA averages 4.3 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Are.na or NOVA have ads?

Neither Are.na nor NOVA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Are.na or NOVA?

Are.na ships an update every 4 weeks, and NOVA every 3 weeks. Most recently, Are.na was updated on September 23, 2026 and NOVA on September 22, 2026.

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