# NOVA vs Beaconaut

The clearest difference is rating: Beaconaut at 5.0 against NOVA's 4.3. Beaconaut also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). NOVA's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 1) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NOVA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Beaconaut asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beaconaut 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.

NOVA ships an update monthly, Beaconaut every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NOVA | Beaconaut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-the-creative-network/id1642834730/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaconaut/id6793691435/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 36.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 170 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | +12 | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nova Network Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642834732) | [FutureNow, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/6793691437) |

## What reviewers say

### NOVA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-the-creative-network/id1642834730)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nova Pro (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| Nova Pro (Yearly) | $99.99 | per year |
| Nova Pro (Day Pass) | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💫 Best apps for creatives hands down!
- 🌟 Game changing for creatives
- 🎨 Wonderful!
- 🤝 Probably the best way for creatives to connect
- 🎨 Excellent Platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤷‍♀️ No support
- 🤦‍♂️ Not looking out for the little guy
- 🔒 Can't get in
- 🤯 Ummm
- 🐛 App Crashes Too Often

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes
- Freezing
- Buggy application process

**Requested features**

- Web Access
- Saved filter settings
- Notifications
- Profile customization


### Beaconaut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaconaut/id6793691435)

This app facilitates spontaneous social connections by allowing users to share their current location with trusted friends. It focuses on low-pressure invitations and a sense of shared presence, rather than direct navigation or performance metrics.

**Highlights:** Send temporary location beacons, See friends' general presence on a globe, Invite-only circles, No public profiles or performance metrics, Temporary beacons expire automatically, Shared gallery within circles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NOVA free?

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

### Is Beaconaut free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NOVA or Beaconaut?

Beaconaut is rated higher. NOVA averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Beaconaut averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do NOVA or Beaconaut have ads?

Neither NOVA nor Beaconaut shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NOVA or Beaconaut?

NOVA ships an update monthly, and Beaconaut every 5 days. Most recently, NOVA was updated on November 7, 2026 and Beaconaut on October 31, 2026.

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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.*