Comparison

AARP Now vs VIP Perks

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

Head to head
About

AARP Now

Access personalized news, events, and member benefits on the go. This app provides a mobile gateway to your membership, offering curated content, digital publications, and local event listings. Easily manage your account and discover exclusive savings.

Highlights
  • Personalized news and alerts
  • Digital editions of AARP publications
  • Local and virtual event listings
  • Member discounts and nearby benefits
  • Digital membership card
  • Save articles and events for later
  • Access to AARP games
Features
Read full description

Introducing the new and improved AARP Now. It’s the app that makes your AARP Membership truly mobile. AARP Now connects AARP Members to personalized news, alerts, events and savings that matter to you—whenever you want them. Download AARP Now and your membership is wherever you are. MY AARP The all-new My AARP includes top stories hand curated by our editorial team, uniquely personalized news, events, benefits, and new ways for you to customize your experience with AARP Now. Plus, videos and the latest digital editions of AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. Easily access your digital membership card, Inbox and My account with one tap from My AARP. MORE PERSONALIZED THAN EVER The new AARP Now personalizes recommendations based on your previous activity. Get more of the content you love on My AARP, News, Benefits and Events. ACCESS DIGITAL EDITIONS OF AMERICA’S TWO LARGEST PUBLICATIONS: AARP THE MAGAZINE AND AARP BULLETIN AARP Publications help people 50 and older live their best and most fulfilling lives. Read current and back issues in AARP Now. You’ll find these in the new AARP Publications tile. Don’t have time to read now? Save any magazine article for quick access later. And you can even listen to articles through our new audio feature. NEWS The new AARP Now includes more opportunities to catch up on the latest news in just a few minutes; read the latest Top Stories on the My AARP tab, or dig deeper on the all-new News tab, bringing you even more curated news, plus news uniquely personalized just for you. Save News stories for reading later. And join the conversation by sharing with friends and adding comments! MORE AARP The new More AARP tab lets you tailor your app experience. If you find something you’ll want to access often, use the Customize Your Navigation feature to add it to your navigation bar. SAVE FOR LATER We have expanded the save feature in AARP Now beyond just benefits and events. You can now save news stories and videos, and features in AARP Publications, as well as benefits and events. Access items Saved for Later by tapping the Saved for Later icon on News, Benefits or Events, or tap Saved for Later in My Account or My AARP. DIGITAL CARD/MEMBERSHIP Instantly access your digital membership card and add it to Apple Wallet alongside your other affinity and payment cards. Join AARP or renew your AARP Membership in seconds. Plus, manage your account on the go. EVENTS Explore hundreds of local community events and online virtual events – from farmers markets, movies, documentaries, workshops, fitness classes and more, to kid-friendly activities – and quickly register for them right from the app. MEMBER DISCOUNTS Easily find benefits and discounts in your neighborhood, now with new Nearby view, showing nearby benefits on a map. Offers are added monthly. GAMES Access AARP Games, wherever you are! From Word & Trivia Games to Arcade Games to Solitaire & Mahjongg, there's something for everyone. And if you want even easier access to Games, add Games to your navigation bar with the new Customize Your Navigation feature. NOTIFICATIONS Receive news alerts, reminders for upcoming events or when benefits you have saved are nearby. You can easily manage your notifications in My Account > Notifications. AARP REWARDS Get more from AARP Now with the AARP Rewards program! Earn Rewards points for downloading the app and visiting the app each day, plus synchronize your favorite fitness tracker or the Health app to get even more points for steps, swimming, and cycling. *AARP Membership is not required to use AARP Now, but AARP Members Edition™ exclusive content may require membership. Terms of Service: https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/privacy-policy/

About

VIP Perks

Access exclusive discounts at over 500,000 local and national locations. Save up to 50% on dining, shopping, attractions, and travel by simply showing your mobile screen for redemption. This app is designed for members of various loyalty, employee benefit, association, and fundraising programs.

Highlights
  • 500,000+ local and national savings locations
  • Up to 50% off savings
  • Discounts on restaurants, shops, attractions, golf, and travel
  • Mobile screen redemption
  • Membership program access
Features
Read full description

VIP Perks Mobile Coupon Savings App brings you the best of over 500,000 local and national savings locations. You will enjoy up to 50% off savings at local restaurants, shops, attractions, golfing, travel destinations and more! Simply login to your membership program, find the deal that interests you and show your mobile screen for redemption. NOTE: VIP Perks is an App for Members of Customer Loyalty Programs, Employee Benefit Programs, Associations and Fundraising Programs across North America.

Screenshots

AARP Now4 screens
VIP Perks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AARP Now at 4.8 against VIP Perks's 3.8. AARP Now also leads on ratings volume (184K vs 8) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). VIP Perks's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. AARP Now sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $20.00 per year. VIP Perks asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AARP Now holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AARP Now has 184K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AARP Now ships an update every 5 weeks, VIP Perks every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
AARP Now versus VIP Perks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAARP NowVIP Perks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (184K ratings) — better3.8 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews28.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings184K — better8
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#96 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size186 MB14 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAARPSweet Rewards

Customer experience

AARP Now

All ratings183,709 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews479 reviews
Positive28.0%
Neutral12.3%
Negative59.7%

VIP Perks

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

AARP Now

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and repeated sign-ins required
  • Rewards system not functioning properly
  • Video/quiz content not loading or working as expected
  • Compatibility problems on certain devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to save/bookmark articles
  • Improve navigation and flow between app and browser
  • Optimize app for tablet/iPad usage
  • Enhance rewards program and make it more reliable

VIP Perks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

AARP Now

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Membership Subscription1 Year trial$20.001 Year
One-time5
  • AARP Membership 1 Year$20.00
  • AARP Membership 3 Years$55.00
  • AARP Renew Membership 3 Years$55.00
Show 2 more
  • AARP Membership 5 Years$79.00
  • AARP Renew Membership 5 Years$79.00
None

VIP Perks

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AARP Now free?
AARP Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VIP Perks free?
VIP Perks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AARP Now or VIP Perks?
AARP Now is rated higher. AARP Now averages 4.8 out of 5 from 184K ratings, while VIP Perks averages 3.8 from 8 ratings.
Do AARP Now or VIP Perks have ads?
AARP Now shows ads; VIP Perks does not.
Which is updated more often, AARP Now or VIP Perks?
AARP Now ships an update every 5 weeks, and VIP Perks every 3 months. Most recently, AARP Now was updated on October 27, 2026 and VIP Perks on October 24, 2026.

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