Comparison

SkyText vs NOVA

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

Head to head
About

SkyText

Type messages on your device and display them as scrolling text in real time. Ideal for noisy environments or when silent communication is needed. Offers preset messages and customizable display options.

Highlights
  • Real-time scrolling text display
  • Silent communication
  • Preset message storage and editing
  • Day/night color themes
  • Automatic scrolling on orientation change
  • Supports upside-down display
Features
Read full description

SkyText is the premier text-scrolling application for the iPhone and iPod Touch from Heynow Software. SkyText allows you to type messages on your touch device and display them instantly as scrolling text on its screen. In real time. All from one screen. Here's how it works: 1. Hold your iPhone/iPod Touch in portrait orientation and type text on the keyboard, just like text messaging. 2. Raise your hand (the one holding the device) and face the screen toward the person that you want to display the message to, in landscape orientation. SkyText uses the accelerometer to sense the change in orientation and automatically scrolls the message. That's it. Quick and easy. The way it should be. When would you use SkyText? • In a loud, crowded bar • A hottie is looking at you from a distance and you want to break the ice • You've become thirsty • Your buddy is a the end of the bar, and you just need to taunt him • At a concert • On the golf course • At the airport • At a sporting event • In the parking lot, picking up your kids after a concert • At the beach • In the library • At the race track • While hunting or fishing • Six of you are going skiing, 3 people each in 2 cars. Cell reception is spotty, you need to communicate and don't want to "scream & freeze" • You're a sound engineer and you need to tell the guitar player to turn down • You're in church and need to discreetly tell the reverend that his fly is unzipped • Anywhere you need to communicate with somebody and: • They are unable to hear you • You need to get their attention • You can't get to them • You can't make a sound but want to get a message across When would *you* use SkyText? And, in case you're wondering: √ Yes, after the message ends there's a brief delay, you get a single vibration, and the message scrolls again. √ Yes, when you bring your hand back down, SkyText has cleared the text-entry box and the cursor is blinking, ready for you to type your next message.    √ Yes, if you want re-display the last message, it's still available on the screen. Just tap on it to display it again. √ Yes, you can store messages as preset messages and quickly select them for display with one tap. √ Yes, you can also edit a preset message quickly and display it, with or without saving the edits to the preset itself! √ Yes, you can quickly go between hand-typing and preset messages on the same screen. √ Yes, there are two font/background color combinations for day and night display, quickly accessible on the screen. √ Yes, we know some people are left-handed. SkyText scrolls the text properly regardless of which way you turn it into landscape. You can even flip your phone upside down once it's scrolling, and watch the fun. We put a lot of time and effort into SkyText because, frankly, you shouldn't have to. We're Heynow.

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/

Screenshots

SkyText3 screens
NOVA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SkyText at 82% against NOVA's 37%. SkyText also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). NOVA's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (monthly vs every 21 months). On ads, chart position, 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

NOVA is free to download; SkyText costs $1.99 up front. NOVA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SkyText asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SkyText 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. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of SkyText's written reviews are positive against 37% of NOVA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyText ships an update every 21 months, NOVA monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
SkyText versus NOVA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyTextNOVA
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.3 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews82.4% of reviews — better36.8% of reviews
Number of ratings11.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#89 — better#149
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB170 MB
Age rating4++12
DeveloperHeynow SoftwareNova Network Inc.

Customer experience

SkyText

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

NOVA

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

Bugs and requests

SkyText

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NOVA

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes
  • Freezing
  • Buggy application process

Requested features

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

In-app purchases

None

SkyText

No 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

Questions

Is SkyText free?
SkyText costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NOVA free?
NOVA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SkyText or NOVA?
SkyText is rated higher. SkyText averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while NOVA averages 4.3 from 1.2K ratings.
Do SkyText or NOVA have ads?
Neither SkyText nor NOVA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SkyText or NOVA?
SkyText ships an update every 21 months, and NOVA monthly. Most recently, SkyText was updated on November 10, 2026 and NOVA on November 7, 2026.
Which is more popular, SkyText or NOVA?
SkyText currently peaks at #89 in the App Store charts, and NOVA at #149. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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