# Opera Now vs The Big Issue UK

The clearest difference is monetization model: The Big Issue UK at free with in-app purchases against Opera Now's subscription. The Big Issue UK also leads on update cadence (every 7 months vs every 42 months) and ratings volume (22 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opera Now sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and The Big Issue UK sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $33.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Opera Now against 5.0 for The Big Issue UK. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Big Issue UK has 22 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Opera Now ships an update every 42 months, The Big Issue UK every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opera Now | The Big Issue UK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opera-now/id1455470416/reviews) | [5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-issue-uk/id1504499826/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 42 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 4 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MA Business & Leisure](https://appshunter.io/developer/531388396) | [The Big Issue Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504499705) |

## What reviewers say

### Opera Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opera-now/id1455470416)

This app offers in-depth coverage of the opera world, featuring profiles of artists, companies, and behind-the-scenes insights. Explore diverse cultural influences on opera through articles, reviews, and opinion pieces from global writers. It aims to deepen readers' passion and knowledge of this art form.

**Highlights:** Profiles of opera companies, singers, directors, and designers, In-depth features on cultural influences, Reviews and opinion pages from global critics, Searchable archive and current issues, Offline reading of synced back issues, Page linking to external websites and contacts, Social media sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Opera Now | $5.99 | per month |
| Opera Now | $29.99 | per year |


### The Big Issue UK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-issue-uk/id1504499826)

Access a weekly news and entertainment magazine with a social justice focus. Explore inspiring community stories and vendor updates. Support a mission to help vulnerable people in the UK.

**Highlights:** Award-winning weekly publication, Big Community channel with inspiring stories, Vendor updates and news, Save favorite articles, Offline reading, Night mode and adjustable text size, Share stories via social media

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3-month Subscription | $33.99 | per 3 months |
| 12-month Subscription | $134.99 | per year |
| Issue#1418 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1421 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1422 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1423 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1426 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1435 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1447 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1517 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1593 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1610 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1658 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue#1619 | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opera Now free?

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

### Is The Big Issue UK free?

The Big Issue UK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Opera Now or The Big Issue UK?

Opera Now and The Big Issue UK are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 22 ratings respectively.

### Do Opera Now or The Big Issue UK have ads?

Neither Opera Now nor The Big Issue UK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opera Now or The Big Issue UK?

Opera Now ships an update every 42 months, and The Big Issue UK every 7 months. Most recently, Opera Now was updated on October 26, 2026 and The Big Issue UK on October 29, 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.*