# Forbes vs Reason

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reason at none against Forbes's 2. Reason also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Forbes's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forbes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Reason asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Forbes against 4.8 for Reason. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 165 and 284 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Forbes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reason's.

Forbes ships an update every 3 weeks, Reason every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forbes | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forbes/id1638757310/reviews) | [4.8 (284 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reason/id6480322558/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 165 | **284** |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#129** | #207 |
| Size | 92 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Forbes Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/310628793) | [Reason](https://appshunter.io/developer/340034132) |

## What reviewers say

### Forbes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forbes/id1638757310)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Free · News, #145 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Access actionable business news, in-depth reporting, and market insights across entrepreneurship, investing, and technology. Stay informed with breaking news, curated content, and powerful search tools to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

**Highlights:** Actionable business news, In-depth reporting, Market-moving insights, Breaking news alerts, Tabbed content channels, Enhanced search functionality, Article saving

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Annual | $89.00 | per year |


### Reason

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reason/id6480322558)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access accurate and honest news, ideas, videos, and podcasts from a libertarian perspective. Personalize notifications and stream exclusive content, including documentaries and newsletters.

**Highlights:** Libertarian news and ideas, Exclusive videos and documentaries, Podcast streaming, Personalized news notifications, Newsletter access, Reason Plus subscription for early magazine access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forbes free?

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

### Is Reason free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forbes or Reason?

Forbes and Reason are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 165 and 284 ratings respectively.

### Do Forbes or Reason have ads?

Forbes shows ads; Reason does not.

### Which is updated more often, Forbes or Reason?

Forbes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Reason every 4 months. Most recently, Forbes was updated on September 28, 2026 and Reason on September 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Forbes or Reason?

Forbes currently peaks at #129 in the App Store charts, and Reason at #207. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*