Comparison

NOVA vs Kibu

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

Head to head
About

NOVA

This platform connects creative professionals with clients seeking talent. It allows artists to build their network, showcase their work, and find job opportunities. Clients can discover and hire top freelance creative talent.

Highlights
  • Build creative network
  • Display artwork
  • Access job opportunities
  • Hire freelance talent
  • Application-based platform
  • Community guidelines
Features
Read full description

NOVA is the curated freelancer platform for the next generation of creatives. Our mission is to provide Network, Opportunity, and Visibility to Artists. For creatives, NOVA is a first-of-its-kind multi application platform for artists to build their network, display their work, and easily access job opportunities. For clients, NOVA is the next evolution of creative hiring, providing a direct link to top freelance creative talent. _ At NOVA, our priority is community, which is why we are an application-based platform. Prospective members should download the mobile app here and submit an application. As a creative, we'll ask you to include information like skills and past project work. As a client, we'll ask you to include your company name and job title. Once you've submitted an application, it will be placed into the queue to be reviewed by our board of creatives and internal team. You could receive your acceptance at any time, so keep your push notifications on! Once admitted, creatives and clients will have full-access to the platform. Users must continuously abide by our community guidelines of integrity, professionalism, and privacy. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Kibu

A private, end-to-end encrypted messaging app designed exclusively for your closest relationships. It features group chats, direct messages, and calls, with robust security and transparent sharing controls. All members are real people, with no bots or ads.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted communication
  • Invite-only, real-person network
  • Transparent screenshot and copy notifications
  • Group voting for changes and member additions
  • Biometric account security
  • Per-chat notification controls
Read full description

Most messaging apps are built to reach anyone. Kibu is built for the people you trust most. Kibu is a private, end-to-end encrypted space for your closest relationships. Group chats, direct messages, and calling, shared only with the people who belong there. HUMANS ONLY No bots, no spam, no ads, no strangers. Kibu is invite-only, and every member is a real person. With Kibu, you always know exactly who you're talking to. PRIVATE, SECURE CHAT Your group chats, direct messages, and calls are all end-to-end encrypted, from messages to files and everything in between. Only the people in the conversation can see what's shared. FULL TRANSPARENCY Nothing leaves a chat quietly. Screenshots, copied text, and exported files all notify the chat, so nothing gets shared without everyone knowing. GROUPS, GOVERNED TOGETHER In group chats, changes happen together, not by any one person alone. Important actions like adding members and changing settings go to a vote. • Assign Admin and Member roles to match how your group works • Require a majority, unanimous, or a set number of approvals • Invite people already on Kibu, or bring people in by link or QR code SECURE BY DESIGN • Your account lives on your device, not behind a username, password, or phone number. • Only you can get in. Your account unlocks with your face, on your device, and nowhere else • Per-chat notification controls keep sensitive conversations off your lock screen. Kibu is invite-only — you'll need an invitation or an organization to get started. Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you. contact@kibu.us

Screenshots

NOVA4 screens
Kibu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kibu at 100% against NOVA's 37%. Kibu also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). NOVA's advantage is chart position (#166 vs unranked) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 173). On price, ads 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. NOVA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Kibu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kibu holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NOVA has 1.2K ratings behind it against 173, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of NOVA's written reviews are positive against 100% of Kibu's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NOVA ships an update monthly, Kibu every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
NOVA versus Kibu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNOVAKibu
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.2K ratings)5.0 (173 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K — better173
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#166 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size170 MB124 MB
Age rating+124+
DeveloperNova Network Inc.Kibu, Inc.

Customer experience

NOVA

All ratings1,182 ratings
Positive83.1%
Neutral1.9%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive36.8%
Neutral3.5%
Negative59.7%

Kibu

All ratings173 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

NOVA

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes
  • Freezing
  • Buggy application process

Requested features

4 requests
  • Web Access
  • Saved filter settings
  • Notifications
  • Profile customization

Kibu

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

NOVA

Subscriptions2
  • Nova Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Nova Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Nova Pro (Day Pass)$3.99
None

Kibu

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NOVA free?
NOVA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kibu free?
Kibu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NOVA or Kibu?
Kibu is rated higher. NOVA averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Kibu averages 5.0 from 173 ratings.
Do NOVA or Kibu have ads?
Neither NOVA nor Kibu shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NOVA or Kibu?
NOVA ships an update monthly, and Kibu every 6 days. Most recently, NOVA was updated on November 7, 2026 and Kibu on November 5, 2026.

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