# GO FRIEND vs Monster Hunter Now

The clearest difference is ads: Monster Hunter Now at none against GO FRIEND's shown. Monster Hunter Now also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GO FRIEND sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Monster Hunter Now sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Monster Hunter Now holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monster Hunter Now has 49K ratings behind it against 985, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of GO FRIEND's written reviews are positive against 58% of Monster Hunter Now's.

GO FRIEND ships an update every 3 months, Monster Hunter Now fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GO FRIEND | Monster Hunter Now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (985 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/go-friend/id1420003965/reviews) | **[4.7 (49K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-hunter-now/id6445906110/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 985 | **49K** |
| Positive reviews | 49.6% of reviews | **57.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#83** |
| Size | 17 MB | 219 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [takumi suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420003964) | [Scopely Explore, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037205060) |

## What reviewers say

### GO FRIEND

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/go-friend/id1420003965)

Connect with trainers globally to participate in remote raid battles. Host raids by posting details and recruiting guests, or join worldwide raids by searching active invitations and sending friend requests.

**Highlights:** Find trainers for remote raids, Host raids by posting details, Recruit guest trainers, Search active worldwide raids, Join raids via invitations, Send friend requests

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 PLUGS (PREMIUM) | $0.99 | one-time |
| 550 PLUGS (PREMIUM) | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1100 PLUGS (PREMIUM) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2200 PLUGS (PREMIUM) | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and convenient for raiding
- 🌍 Ability to raid globally
- 👥 Helps connect players for raids
- 🏆 Useful for getting rare/legendary Pokémon

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times to join raids
- 💰 Expensive paid features (plugs)
- 🤖 Hosts not sending invites
- 🤯 Confusing rating system
- 🔒 Lack of transparency/communication from developers

**Reported bugs**

- Refreshing issues after hosting raids
- Inability to rate players after raids
- Randomly getting banned/locked out of app

**Requested features**

- Group chat functionality
- Better raid coordination tools
- Refund system for unused raid passes
- Improved anti-abuse measures


### Monster Hunter Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-hunter-now/id6445906110)

**Currently charting:** #83 Top Grossing · Action, #126 Top Grossing · Role Playing (US App Store)

Embark on a real-world hunting adventure, tracking and battling iconic monsters. Team up with friends to take down formidable foes using crafted weapons and armor. Experience authentic hunting action adapted for mobile with AR features and quick, engaging 75-second hunts.

**Highlights:** Hunt monsters in the real world, Team up with fellow hunters, Craft powerful weapons and armor, AR Camera for monster encounters, 75-second hunt challenges, Adventure Sync for marking monsters

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 150 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Item Box Expansion | $1.99 | one-time |
| LNY 2026 Event Pass | $3.99 | one-time |
| Spring Egg Bonus Pass | $3.99 | one-time |
| 400 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| 750 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter bundle pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack(7 Days Only) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Summer Hunt 2024 Ticket | $6.99 | one-time |
| Winter Hunt 2025 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Halloween Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Prime Hunter's Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| NY 2024 Bargain Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1,400 Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2,250 Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| Anniversary Gem Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| NY 2025 Bargain Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| MH Now 2024 Global Ticket | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1st Anniversary Gem Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Gems | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Faithful Monster Hunter experience
- 🎨 Great graphics
- 🤝 Fun multiplayer
- 🌍 Engaging real-world exploration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restrictive gameplay when moving
- 💰 Expensive microtransactions
- 🔍 Limited monster and resource spawns
- 🔍 Slow progression
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes during battles
- Login issues and lost progress
- Unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent GPS tracking

**Requested features**

- Ability to craft potions
- Wider search radius
- More weapon types
- Long-distance multiplayer
- Improved social features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GO FRIEND free?

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

### Is Monster Hunter Now free?

Monster Hunter Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GO FRIEND or Monster Hunter Now?

Monster Hunter Now is rated higher. GO FRIEND averages 4.3 out of 5 from 985 ratings, while Monster Hunter Now averages 4.7 from 49K ratings.

### Do GO FRIEND or Monster Hunter Now have ads?

GO FRIEND shows ads; Monster Hunter Now does not.

### Which is updated more often, GO FRIEND or Monster Hunter Now?

GO FRIEND ships an update every 3 months, and Monster Hunter Now fortnightly. Most recently, GO FRIEND was updated on October 26, 2026 and Monster Hunter Now on October 31, 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.*