Comparison

TIME Magazine vs Forbes

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

Head to head
About

TIME Magazine

Access award-winning articles and photography covering global issues, politics, health, and technology. Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth analysis from experts. Experience news events through personal accounts and inspiring features.

Highlights
  • Award-winning articles
  • Eye-opening photography
  • Global issue coverage
  • Health breakthroughs
  • Political analysis
  • Tech advances
Features
Read full description

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from around the world with TIME Magazine! 

Stay informed with award-winning articles and eye-opening photography. Learn about global issues from the experts and get the breaking new details. Meet the people who are changing the world and shaping social change. Experience news events firsthand through personal accounts and inspiring features. Plus discover new health breakthroughs, political analyses, the latest tech advances – and so much more! Download the app and receive a FREE ISSUE when you say yes to a monthly or annual subscription. TIME publishes 50 issues per year, including 16 double issues. 
TIME® Magazine Subscriptions Available: 
1 month and 1 year 
SUBSCRIBERS’ AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, as stated above, within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Current subscriptions may not be cancelled during the active subscription period, but you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. NOTE: WHEN PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION OR SINGLE-COPY OF THIS TITLE, YOU AGREE TO THE PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS OF SERVICE WHICH CAN BE VIEWED BY GOING TO: Privacy Policy US: https://time.com/privacy/generic_privacy_new.html Privacy Policy US (California): https://time.com/privacy/generic_privacy_new.html#california EU Privacy Policy: http://time.com/privacy/generic_privacy_new_eu.html Terms of Service: https://time.com/privacy/privacy_terms_service.html

About

Forbes

Access actionable business news, in-depth reporting, and market insights across entrepreneurship, investing, and technology. Stay informed with breaking news, curated content, and powerful search tools to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Highlights
  • Actionable business news
  • In-depth reporting
  • Market-moving insights
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Tabbed content channels
  • Enhanced search functionality
  • Article saving
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Download the Forbes app for actionable business news, insights, and trusted journalism—now with enhanced search, intuitive navigation, and the ability to save articles. Stay up to date on the stories that shape industries, change landscapes, and define conversations, with bold and in-depth reporting across entrepreneurship, business, investing, technology, and more. Immerse yourself in market-moving insights, cutting-edge strategies, and timely analysis trusted by the world's top leaders and trailblazers shaping the global economy. Key Features: • Home feed with popular content, daily cover story, and editors picks. Designed to keep you updated with the most important news of the day. • Breaking news. Follow live stories unfolding in real-time. More to explore with infinite scroll for easy access to past news. • A refreshed layout featuring tabbed channels for easier browsing across all content, making it easy to find the content that matters most to you. • Smarter, faster search to help you instantly discover articles, topics, and breaking news. • Article saving. Easily access all your favorite stories, wherever you are. For more than a century, Forbes been the authoritative voice in business, providing the insight and analysis needed to navigate a rapidly evolving world, empowering those who shape what’s next to think even bigger and better. With the Forbes app, you have the intelligence, knowledge, inspiration and tools necessary to achieve success. By downloading the Forbes app, you accept and agree to our Terms of Service and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. Forbes Terms of Service: https://www.forbes.com/terms/ Forbes Privacy Policy: https://www.forbes.com/fdc/privacy.html

Screenshots

TIME Magazine4 screens
Forbes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Forbes at 85% against TIME Magazine's 38%. Forbes also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). TIME Magazine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 165). On price, in-app purchases, chart position 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. TIME Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Forbes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Forbes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TIME Magazine has 2.5K ratings behind it against 165, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of TIME Magazine's written reviews are positive against 85% of Forbes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TIME Magazine ships an update every 3 months, Forbes every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
TIME Magazine versus Forbes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTIME MagazineForbes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2.5K ratings)4.8 (165 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.7% of reviews84.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.5K — better165
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#138 — better#147
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.1
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB92 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperTIMEForbes Media LLC

Customer experience

TIME Magazine

All ratings2,506 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.5%
Written reviews191 reviews
Positive37.7%
Neutral6.8%
Negative55.5%

Forbes

All ratings165 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral0.6%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%

Bugs and requests

TIME Magazine

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Subscription not recognized
  • Unable to download latest issues
  • Login issues and account problems
  • Compatibility problems with iOS updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add audio playback for articles
  • Implement bookmarking and note-taking
  • Improve syncing and offline access
  • Provide better customization options
  • Integrate social sharing features

Forbes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

TIME Magazine

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Month Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • 1 Month Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • 1 Year Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • 1 Year Subscription1 Month trial$29.991 Year
One-time6
  • April 12, 2010$4.99
  • TIME 100, 2010$4.99
  • December 27, 2010$4.99
Show 3 more
  • May 20, 2011$4.99
  • October 17, 2011$4.99
  • March 04, 2013$4.99
2 purchases

Forbes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$89.001 Year

Questions

Is TIME Magazine free?
TIME Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Forbes free?
Forbes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TIME Magazine or Forbes?
Forbes is rated higher. TIME Magazine averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Forbes averages 4.8 from 165 ratings.
Do TIME Magazine or Forbes have ads?
Forbes shows ads; TIME Magazine does not.
Which is updated more often, TIME Magazine or Forbes?
TIME Magazine ships an update every 3 months, and Forbes every 3 weeks. Most recently, TIME Magazine was updated on September 24, 2026 and Forbes on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, TIME Magazine or Forbes?
TIME Magazine currently peaks at #138 in the App Store charts, and Forbes at #147. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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