# VariTheme vs Nova Standby

The clearest difference is ads: Nova Standby at none against VariTheme's shown. Nova Standby also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.8). VariTheme's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VariTheme sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year and Nova Standby sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nova Standby holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

VariTheme ships an update every 3 weeks, Nova Standby monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VariTheme | Nova Standby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varitheme/id6447333832/reviews) | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-standby-color-widgets/id6449999319/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 268 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MeetStar Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483723700) | [Beesoft Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420966143) |

## What reviewers say

### VariTheme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varitheme/id6447333832)

Customize your device with unique themes that combine widgets and wallpapers. Access essential information like time, alarms, and calendars directly from your home screen with various widget options.

**Highlights:** 2-in-1 themes with widgets and images, Various widgets for time, alarm, calendar, Information on home screen, VIP-exclusive features, 3-day free trial

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $6.99 | per year |
| VIP | $6.99 | per year |


### Nova Standby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-standby-color-widgets/id6449999319)

Personalize your device's home and standby screens with a variety of customizable widgets. Adjust colors, fonts, and styles to create a unique and visually appealing interface that reflects your personal taste.

**Highlights:** Personalize home and standby screens, Customizable widgets, Diverse functional widgets (time, date, calendar, weather), Adjustable fonts, colors, and styles, Up-to-date and diverse themes, Optimized for iOS 17

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime | Free | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VariTheme free?

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

### Is Nova Standby free?

Nova Standby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VariTheme or Nova Standby?

Nova Standby is rated higher. VariTheme averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Nova Standby averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do VariTheme or Nova Standby have ads?

VariTheme shows ads; Nova Standby does not.

### Which is updated more often, VariTheme or Nova Standby?

VariTheme ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nova Standby monthly. Most recently, VariTheme was updated on September 26, 2026 and Nova Standby on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*