# TIME Magazine vs Forbes

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | TIME Magazine | Forbes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-magazine/id369021520/reviews) | **[4.8 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forbes/id1638757310/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 165 |
| Positive reviews | 37.7% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#140** | #146 |
| Size | 22 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TIME](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457280645) | [Forbes Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/310628793) |

## What reviewers say

### TIME Magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-magazine/id369021520)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #190 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| April 12, 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| TIME 100, 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| December 27, 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| May 20, 2011 | $4.99 | one-time |
| October 17, 2011 | $4.99 | one-time |
| March 04, 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 💡 Innovative features
- 🚀 Beautifully designed
- 👍 Excellent content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Subscription issues
- 🐛 Inability to download current issues
- 🐛 Poor customer support
- 🐛 Confusing layout and navigation

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Forbes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forbes/id1638757310)

**Currently charting:** #146 Top Free · News (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Annual | $89.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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 #140 in the App Store charts, and Forbes at #146. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*