Comparison

FluStar vs bub

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FluStar

Track current cold and flu activity by ZIP code across the US. Get information on influenza symptoms, past epidemics, and how to differentiate between a cold and the flu.

Highlights
  • Real-time flu activity by ZIP code
  • Cold and flu symptom information
  • Educational content on influenza
  • Data on past flu epidemics
  • Distinguish between cold and flu
Features
Read full description

FluSTAR provides up to date cold and flu activity information for every ZIP code in the country. If you're like most people -- catching the flu virus is something you'd rather NOT do. And if you have already come down with the flu, FluSTAR.com will provide you with information on how to help alleviate some of the symptoms caused by the influenza virus. FluSTAR.com can educate you about the Influenza virus, past flu epidemics as well as flu activity in every zip code in the United States. You will also see information on the difference between a cold and the flu. The FluSTAR system was developed to provide health care professionals and consumers with the most up to date information on the spread of the flu during the influenza season. Data for FluSTAR is gathered from different surveillance methods including RaPID Assay data, laboratory confirmation and clinical diagnosis data. Based on all of the surveillance methods, a regional as well as a national picture on influenza activity is generated.

About

bub

Receive real-time health risk alerts and 30-day forecasts for various illnesses and allergens, personalized to your location. Plan ahead and stay informed about potential health concerns for yourself and your community.

Highlights
  • Hyper-local risk scores
  • 30-day health risk outlook
  • Nationwide risk search
  • Community risk sharing
  • Instant risk spike alerts
  • Interactive maps and charts
  • Widgets and watch app support
Features
Read full description

Get real-time alerts and 30-day forecasts for COVID-19, flu, RSV, allergies, and more — personalized to your exact location. Do you check weather forecasts? bub is the same, but for health risks. Why bub: • Hyper-local risk scores refreshed all day • Nationwide view — search any city, state, or the whole US • Community risk — stay safe with friends and family • 30-day outlook — plan ahead with confidence • Instant alerts when risks spike at home, school or work • Interactive maps and 30-day charts for deeper insight • Widgets, watch app and Siri for at-a-glance updates Built for everyone Parents, travelers, and anyone caring for seniors or immunocompromised loved ones use bub to stay informed — not worried. Pricing • First day free — explore every feature. • bub+ subscription keeps 30-day forecasts, advanced charts and maps, and comprehensive alerts. Terms of Service: https://www.hubbubworld.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.hubbubworld.com/privacy

Screenshots

FluStar4 screens
bub4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: bub at 86% against FluStar's 0%. bub also leads on rating (3.7 vs 1.7) and ads (none vs shown). FluStar's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. bub sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. FluStar asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

bub holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of FluStar's written reviews are positive against 86% of bub's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FluStar ships an update fortnightly, bub every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FluStar versus bub: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFluStarbub
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (25 ratings)3.7 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better12
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB65 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperIQVIA Inc.Hubbub World

Customer experience

FluStar

All ratings13 ratings
Positive30.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative69.2%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

bub

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

FluStar

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

bub

Subscriptions5
  • bub+ Weekly$4.997 Days
  • bub+ Monthly$9.991 Month
  • bub+ 6 months$39.996 Months
Show 2 more
  • bub+ Annual$79.991 Year
  • bub+ Home – up to 6 users$119.991 Year

Questions

Is FluStar free?
FluStar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is bub free?
bub is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FluStar or bub?
bub is rated higher. FluStar averages 1.7 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while bub averages 3.7 from 12 ratings.
Do FluStar or bub have ads?
FluStar shows ads; bub does not.
Which is updated more often, FluStar or bub?
FluStar ships an update fortnightly, and bub every 11 days. Most recently, FluStar was updated on November 3, 2026 and bub on November 4, 2026.

Other comparisons