Comparison

NOVA vs UBU

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. Artists can build networks, showcase work, and find job opportunities. Clients gain direct access to vetted freelance creative talent.

Highlights
  • Network building for artists
  • Portfolio display for creatives
  • Access to job opportunities
  • Direct client access to talent
  • Application-based community
  • Community guidelines enforcement
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

UBU

This app connects you with real people through short video responses to prompts. It emphasizes authenticity and genuine connection over traditional texting, with a focus on verified, human profiles to prevent catfishing and AI-generated content.

Highlights
  • 10-second video profile responses
  • Manual user and video verification
  • Personality-based matching
  • Video-based conversations before texting
  • Real people, no bots or catfishing
  • Authenticity and connection focused
Features
Read full description

When you join UBU, you record a 10-second video answering one of our prompts. Every profile is real, reviewed, and human. No bots. No catfishes. No hiding behind old pictures. HOW UBU WORKS 1. Show your real self - Start with a short video. We verify every user so you know who you’re seeing is who they say they are. 2. Match through personality, not posing - Scroll through other people’s video responses and match with the ones that make you smile, laugh, or feel curious. 3. Talk face to face before texting - Once you match, you don’t unlock chat. Instead, you answer fun, meaningful prompts back and forth through short videos. This creates natural conversation and real chemistry. 4. Caption your video response! - Your match will see it alongside your video response. Messaging is still provided for setting up a date or moving the conversation off the app. WHY UBU IS DIFFERENT Most social media and dating apps start with texting and hoping they're one in a million. UBU starts with connection so if you find someone that you want to meet in person, it feels natural. - Real faces instead of filtered photos - Real conversations - Real people instead of fake profiles - Real chemistry - No more endless swiping. Actually get to know someone. SAFE, VERIFIED, AND HUMAN We manually review every profile and video to keep UBU authentic and respectful. Videos and prompt responses make catfishing nearly impossible and help you feel confident meeting in person or messaging off the app. BUILT FOR THE GENUINE WHO WANT TO MEET UBU is for people who: - Want to have fun on a social app by seeing real people without AI slop - Want to feel someone’s vibe before chatting - Are tired of dead-end-text conversations - Care about authenticity and effort - Prefer connection over convenience Be You. Meet Them. That’s UBU.

Screenshots

NOVA4 screens
UBU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: UBU at 5.0 against NOVA's 4.3. UBU also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). NOVA's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 1) and chart position (#180 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, 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. UBU asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

UBU 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NOVA ships an update every 3 weeks, UBU every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
NOVA versus UBU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNOVAUBU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.2K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.2K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#180 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB4 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperNova Network Inc.UBU, Limited Liability Company

Customer experience

NOVA

All ratings1,158 ratings
Positive82.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive36.8%
Neutral3.5%
Negative59.7%

UBU

All ratings1 ratings
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

UBU

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

UBU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NOVA free?
NOVA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is UBU free?
UBU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NOVA or UBU?
UBU is rated higher. NOVA averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while UBU averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do NOVA or UBU have ads?
Neither NOVA nor UBU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NOVA or UBU?
NOVA ships an update every 3 weeks, and UBU every 2 weeks. Most recently, NOVA was updated on October 18, 2026 and UBU on October 8, 2026.

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