# AARP Now vs R1 Cha

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: R1 Cha at none against AARP Now's 6. R1 Cha also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). AARP Now's advantage is ratings volume (184K vs 2) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AARP Now sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $20.00 per year. R1 Cha asks for nothing beyond the download.

R1 Cha holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AARP Now has 184K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

AARP Now ships an update every 5 weeks, R1 Cha every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AARP Now | R1 Cha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (184K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-now/id394286729/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r1-cha-ching/id1124197739/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **184K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 27.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#90** | — |
| Size | 186 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AARP](https://appshunter.io/developer/394286732) | [Resource One Credit Union](https://appshunter.io/developer/523193923) |

## What reviewers say

### AARP Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-now/id394286729)

**Currently charting:** #90 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #139 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Membership Subscription | $20.00 | per year |
| AARP Membership 1 Year | $20.00 | one-time |
| AARP Membership 3 Years | $55.00 | one-time |
| AARP Renew Membership 3 Years | $55.00 | one-time |
| AARP Membership 5 Years | $79.00 | one-time |
| AARP Renew Membership 5 Years | $79.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Informative articles and content
- 👍 Useful for seniors and retirees
- 💡 Variety of features (games, workouts, community)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🤯 Clunky and frustrating user interface
- 💸 Ads despite paid membership
- 🤔 Inconsistent app behavior across devices

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### R1 Cha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r1-cha-ching/id1124197739)

Access local coupons and online deals directly from your phone. Present mobile coupons to retailers for instant savings on dining, shopping, and travel. Save favorite merchants and view current benefits without needing to print or pay in advance.

**Highlights:** Redeem local coupons and online deals, Present mobile coupons for instant savings, Save favorite merchants, Discover deals via GPS, Access travel discounts, Unlimited coupon usage

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AARP Now free?

AARP Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is R1 Cha free?

R1 Cha is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AARP Now or R1 Cha?

R1 Cha is rated higher. AARP Now averages 4.8 out of 5 from 184K ratings, while R1 Cha averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do AARP Now or R1 Cha have ads?

AARP Now shows ads; R1 Cha does not.

### Which is updated more often, AARP Now or R1 Cha?

AARP Now ships an update every 5 weeks, and R1 Cha every 4 months. Most recently, AARP Now was updated on November 8, 2026 and R1 Cha on November 2, 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.*