# Nova Now vs BC Safe

The clearest difference is rating: BC Safe at 4.3 against Nova Now's 2.5. Nova Now's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 84 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BC Safe holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 6 respectively.

Nova Now ships an update every 7 months, BC Safe every 84 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nova Now | BC Safe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-now/id357150332/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bc-safe/id1483792329/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 84 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 14 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Villanova University](https://appshunter.io/developer/357150335) | [Boston College](https://appshunter.io/developer/457546789) |

## What reviewers say

### Nova Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-now/id357150332)

Access Villanova University information on your mobile device. View class schedules, dining hall menus, campus events, lectures, and manage your Wildcard balance. Navigate campus with the virtual map and stay updated on university happenings.

**Highlights:** Class and course roster access, Dining hall information, Campus event listings, Lecture viewing, Wildcard balance check, Virtual campus map

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### BC Safe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bc-safe/id1483792329)

This official safety application provides Boston College students, faculty, and staff with enhanced campus security. It offers emergency preparedness guides, real-time location sharing with friends, and direct access to campus safety resources and reporting tools.

**Highlights:** Campus emergency documentation, Real-time location sharing, Access to support resources, Emergency contact directory, Crime prevention and reporting, Mass notification check-in, Instant safety alerts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nova Now free?

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

### Is BC Safe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nova Now or BC Safe?

BC Safe is rated higher. Nova Now averages 2.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while BC Safe averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Nova Now or BC Safe have ads?

Neither Nova Now nor BC Safe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nova Now or BC Safe?

Nova Now ships an update every 7 months, and BC Safe every 84 months. Most recently, Nova Now was updated on October 13, 2026 and BC Safe on October 6, 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.*