Comparison

Mathrubhumi Illustrated vs Aaro Ananda

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

Head to head
About

Mathrubhumi Illustrated

This app offers a digital version of a popular Malayalam magazine, covering culture, politics, cinema, literature, and lifestyle. Enjoy thought-provoking articles, interviews, and photography on the go. Subscribe to access a wide range of content.

Highlights
  • Culture and lifestyle content
  • Politics and cinema coverage
  • Literature and art articles
  • Exclusive interviews
  • Stunning photography
  • Current affairs in-depth
Features
Read full description

Mathrubhumi Illustrated is one of Kerala’s most popular Malayalam magazines. Mathrubhumi Illustrated delivers you a rich mix of culture, politics, cinema, literature, and lifestyle. Each issue features thought-provoking articles, exclusive interviews, stunning photography, and in-depth coverage of current affairs. From history and art to travel and entertainment, this magazine offers a unique perspective on the world. Subscribe to Mathrubhumi Illustrated! Please visit http://www.magzter.com/ns/privacy-policy.html for our Privacy Policy and http://www.magzter.com/ns/terms_condition.html for our Terms & Conditions

About

Aaro Ananda

Explore the richness of Bengali culture through literature, music, movies, and more. Access Pujabarshiki editions and popular Bengali magazines covering entertainment, women's interests, literature, and children's content. Discover engaging sections with games, photos, news, and historical archives.

Highlights
  • Pujabarshiki editions
  • Bengali magazines (Anandalok, Sananda, Desh, Anandamela)
  • Literature and news
  • Entertainment and current affairs
  • Games and photo galleries
  • Science updates and knowledge snippets
  • Historical archives
Features
Read full description

Aaro Ananda (আরও আনন্দ), an initiative from the ABP Group, is the ultimate digital destination for Bengali culture, literature, news, and entertainment. Access iconic Bengali magazines, exclusive Pujabarshiki editions, gripping audio stories, serialized novels, and daily cultural updates—all in one place. Explore Iconic Bengali Magazines & Pujabarshiki: Desh (দেশ): Thought-provoking literature, essays, contemporary culture, and in-depth socio-political analysis. Sananda (সানন্দা): The definitive voice on Bengali lifestyle, women's wellness, fashion, relationships, and recipes. Anandalok (আনন্দলোক): Exclusive celebrity interviews, Tollywood/Bollywood scoops, film reviews, and entertainment news. Anandamela (আনন্দমেলা): Timeless comics, science fiction, detective mysteries, and adventure stories for young readers and nostalgic minds. 6 Sharadiya Pujabarshiki Editions: Digital access to classic and current Durga Puja annuals packed with novels, short stories, and poems. What You’ll Love on Aaro Ananda: Exclusive Bengali Literature: Serialized novels, thrillers, romance, and classic reprints from renowned authors. Audio Stories & Podcasts: Immersive audio dramas and detective mysteries (including Byomkesh Bakshi). Lifestyle & Bengali Cuisine: Authentic recipes, regional travelogues, and cultural guides. Archival Treasures: Historic front pages and centennial collections from Anandabazar Patrika. Seamless Reading Experience: Offline saving, customizable fonts, and crisp digital rendering for mobile and tablet. Celebrate the essence of Bengal anytime, anywhere. Download Aaro Ananda today! Privacy policy: https://www.aaroananda.com/privacy-policy Terms of use : https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Mathrubhumi Illustrated4 screens
Aaro Ananda4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aaro Ananda at every 5 weeks against Mathrubhumi Illustrated's every 12 months. Aaro Ananda also leads on ratings volume (114 vs 2) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Mathrubhumi Illustrated's advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 30%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Mathrubhumi Illustrated sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Aaro Ananda sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Aaro Ananda holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aaro Ananda has 114 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Mathrubhumi Illustrated's written reviews are positive against 30% of Aaro Ananda's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mathrubhumi Illustrated ships an update every 12 months, Aaro Ananda every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mathrubhumi Illustrated versus Aaro Ananda: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathrubhumi IllustratedAaro Ananda
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings)4.8 (114 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better29.7% of reviews
Number of ratings2114 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMagzter Inc.ABP PRIVATE LIMITED

Customer experience

Mathrubhumi Illustrated

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Aaro Ananda

All ratings108 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral3.7%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive29.7%
Neutral10.8%
Negative59.5%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Mathrubhumi Illustrated

Subscriptions4
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated 30$3.991 Year
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated$4.493 Months
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated$9.496 Months
Show 1 more
  • 1 Year Digital Subscription$19.491 Year
One-time6
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated June 26 2016$0.99
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated July 3 2016$0.99
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated December 14 2016$0.99
Show 3 more
  • January 28 2018$0.99
  • Feb 25 2018$0.99
  • Mathrubhumi Illustrated$0.99
8 purchases

Aaro Ananda

Subscriptions8
  • Starter Plan$0.991 Month
  • Economi$0.991 Month
  • Silver$1.493 Months
Show 5 more
  • Gold$2.496 Months
  • Silver$2.993 Months
  • Platinum$4.491 Year
  • Gold$4.496 Months
  • Platinum$7.491 Year

Questions

Is Mathrubhumi Illustrated free?
Mathrubhumi Illustrated is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aaro Ananda free?
Aaro Ananda is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mathrubhumi Illustrated or Aaro Ananda?
Aaro Ananda is rated higher. Mathrubhumi Illustrated averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Aaro Ananda averages 4.8 from 114 ratings.
Do Mathrubhumi Illustrated or Aaro Ananda have ads?
Neither Mathrubhumi Illustrated nor Aaro Ananda shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mathrubhumi Illustrated or Aaro Ananda?
Mathrubhumi Illustrated ships an update every 12 months, and Aaro Ananda every 5 weeks. Most recently, Mathrubhumi Illustrated was updated on November 1, 2026 and Aaro Ananda on November 11, 2026.

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