# Beam vs HSBC UAE

The clearest difference is update cadence: HSBC UAE at fortnightly against Beam's every 4 months. HSBC UAE also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 808). Beam's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (47% vs 33%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Beam against 4.7 for HSBC UAE. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 808 and 3.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Beam's written reviews are positive against 33% of HSBC UAE's.

Beam ships an update every 4 months, HSBC UAE fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beam | HSBC UAE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (808 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam/id560637969/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsbc-uae/id1459836567/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 808 | **3.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **46.9% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 682 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GBC S.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1230943315) | [HSBC Global Services (UK) Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1112071557) |

## What reviewers say

### Beam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam/id560637969)

This app offers personalized deals and dollar rewards from local stores. Merchants can create targeted marketing campaigns to connect with specific customer profiles. It aims to help customers save money, businesses increase profits, and reduce waste.

**Highlights:** Personalized offers from stores, Earn rewards in dollars, Merchant campaign creation, Targeted offers to user profiles, Pay with your phone, 10% back on every spend

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Rewarding with cash back and discounts
- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure payment method
- 👍 Smooth and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and technical issues
- ❌ Limited merchant acceptance and availability
- 🕰️ Slow and unreliable payment processing
- 💸 Unauthorized charges and deductions from accounts
- 🔍 Poor customer support and lack of responsiveness

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- Payment transactions fail or get stuck
- Account verification and card linking issues
- Rewards and credits not properly tracked or applied

**Requested features**

- Expand merchant network and availability
- Improve payment reliability and speed
- Provide better customer support channels
- Add Apple Watch support
- Introduce more rewards and discounts


### HSBC UAE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsbc-uae/id1459836567)

Manage your finances conveniently and securely with this banking application. Open accounts, view balances, make transfers, manage cards, and explore investment options. Access banking services 24/7 from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Instant account management and digital registration, View local and global account balances and transactions, Multi-currency global account for spending and transfers, Domestic and international pay and transfer options, Card management including Apple Pay integration, Installment plans for credit card limits and balances, Access to wealth solutions and investment markets

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure banking
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Innovative features
- ✨ Significant improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Unfair exchange rates
- 🔍 Limited functionality
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🤖 Poor customer service
- 🕰️ Slow transaction updates

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and app freezes
- Inability to upload documents
- Inconsistent transaction display
- Face recognition not working
- App quitting during use

**Requested features**

- Global transfer capability
- Landscape mode support
- Ability to download statements
- Option to pay full credit card balance
- Improved in-app notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beam free?

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

### Is HSBC UAE free?

HSBC UAE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Beam or HSBC UAE?

HSBC UAE is rated higher. Beam averages 4.6 out of 5 from 808 ratings, while HSBC UAE averages 4.7 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Beam or HSBC UAE have ads?

Neither Beam nor HSBC UAE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beam or HSBC UAE?

Beam ships an update every 4 months, and HSBC UAE fortnightly. Most recently, Beam was updated on October 15, 2026 and HSBC UAE on October 19, 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.*