# AARP Now vs Carson 311

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Carson 311 at none against AARP Now's 6. Carson 311 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). AARP Now's advantage is chart position (#111 vs unranked). On price, update cadence 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. Carson 311 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AARP Now | Carson 311 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (183K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-now/id394286729/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **183K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 28.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#111** | — |
| Size | 182 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AARP](https://appshunter.io/developer/394286732) | [City of Carson, CA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1791645809) |

## What reviewers say

### AARP Now

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

**Currently charting:** #111 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #141 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


### Carson 311

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carson-311/id6740784341)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AARP Now free?

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

### Is Carson 311 free?

Carson 311 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do AARP Now or Carson 311 have ads?

AARP Now shows ads; Carson 311 does not.

### Which is updated more often, AARP Now or Carson 311?

AARP Now ships an update monthly, and Carson 311 monthly. Most recently, AARP Now was updated on October 16, 2026 and Carson 311 on October 5, 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.*