Comparison

NOVA vs Poke

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

Poke

This app offers a simple, direct way to connect with your closest friends. Send quick, pre-set messages or custom "pokes" with a single tap. Earn reputation to unlock new poke options and maintain streaks with your favorite contacts.

Highlights
  • One-tap friend notifications
  • Pre-set and custom poke messages
  • Emergency poke function
  • Reputation system to unlock new pokes
  • Streak tracking for close contacts
  • Private by design, contact-based connections
  • Reply from notifications
Features
Read full description

Poke your people. Poke is the fastest way to reach the people who matter. No conversations to keep up with, no group chats to mute — just one tap that lands as a notification on your friend's phone. Say what you mean in a poke and get on with your day. HOW IT WORKS Tap a friend, pick a poke, send. That's it. Choose from quick presets like: • wya? • wyd? • call me • come out • omw Tap to arm, tap POKE to send. Changed your mind? Armed pokes auto-cancel, so you're always in control. EMERGENCY POKE Need someone right now? Hold the emergency poke and it sends instantly. For the moments that can't wait. EARN REP, UNLOCK POKES Every poke you receive builds your Poke Rep. Climb from Rookie to Regular to Menace to Certified to Local Legend to Poke Icon — and unlock new pokes along the way like pull up, hungry?, hop on, and drinks? . KEEP YOUR STREAKS ALIVE Poke a friend back and forth to build a streak. See who you're closest with at a glance. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No usernames. No public directory. No strangers. Only people already in your contacts can connect with you, and you decide who gets in. Favorite your closest friends to keep them up top, and block or remove anyone, anytime. REPLY YOUR WAY Got poked? Fire back a quick snap or a short reply right from the notification. Poke is built for your inner circle — the friends worth poking. Download Poke and start poking your people.

Screenshots

NOVA4 screens
Poke4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NOVA at 4.3 against Poke's 1.0. NOVA also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 1) and chart position (#180 vs unranked). Poke's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Poke asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NOVA holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. 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 monthly, Poke every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
NOVA versus Poke: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNOVAPoke
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.2K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews36.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.2K — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#180 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size170 MB25 MB
Age rating+124+
DeveloperNova Network Inc.Daniel Eitam

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

Poke

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

Poke

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NOVA free?
NOVA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Poke free?
Poke is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NOVA or Poke?
NOVA is rated higher. NOVA averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Poke averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do NOVA or Poke have ads?
Neither NOVA nor Poke shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NOVA or Poke?
NOVA ships an update monthly, and Poke every 3 days. Most recently, NOVA was updated on November 7, 2026 and Poke on October 31, 2026.

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