# DubaiNow vs PayBy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DubaiNow at 63% against PayBy's 15%. DubaiNow also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.4) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 10). PayBy's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

DubaiNow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DubaiNow has 1.5K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of DubaiNow's written reviews are positive against 15% of PayBy's.

DubaiNow ships an update every 9 days, PayBy every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DubaiNow | PayBy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dubainow/id619712783/reviews)** | [2.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payby-mobile-payment/id1513907527/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **62.7% of reviews** | 15.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 192 MB | 139 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dubai eGovernment Department](https://appshunter.io/developer/567993892) | [Botim Money Technology LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1513907526) |

## What reviewers say

### DubaiNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dubainow/id619712783)

This app serves as a unified digital platform for all individual services in Dubai, connecting users to over 320 essential services from more than 50 entities. It simplifies managing bills, driving, housing, health, education, and more, offering convenient and secure access to government and private sector services.

**Highlights:** Effortless bill payments, Smart driving services, Seamless housing management, Simplified residency applications, Comprehensive health services, Empowered education resources, Secure police and legal access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Comprehensive app for Dubai services
- ⚡ Efficient bill payment
- 🗓 Convenient access to government services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Login and authentication issues
- 💳 Payment processing problems
- 🔄 Unreliable service and app functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or access accounts
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Incorrect or outdated information displayed
- Payment failures and processing errors

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and reliability
- Seamless integration with other apps and services
- Enhanced user interface and experience
- Expanded payment options and support


### PayBy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payby-mobile-payment/id1513907527)

This app offers a secure and convenient way to make cashless and contactless payments using facial recognition and fingerprint technology. It provides access to discounts, coupons, and loyalty benefits at various merchants, and allows users to manage bank cards, mobile top-ups, and cash transactions without visiting a bank.

**Highlights:** Facial recognition and fingerprint security, QR code payments, Cashless and contactless transactions, Access to coupons and discounts, Loyalty benefits, Manage bank cards and mobile top-ups, Cash in and out functionality

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DubaiNow free?

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

### Is PayBy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DubaiNow or PayBy?

DubaiNow is rated higher. DubaiNow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while PayBy averages 2.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do DubaiNow or PayBy have ads?

Neither DubaiNow nor PayBy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DubaiNow or PayBy?

DubaiNow ships an update every 9 days, and PayBy every 5 weeks. Most recently, DubaiNow was updated on November 6, 2026 and PayBy on November 3, 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.*