Comparison

Nova vs Carnival

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

Head to head
About

Nova

This browser offers a fast, private, and visually appealing web experience. It features built-in ad blocking, tracker protection, and app lock for enhanced security. Customize your browsing with dark mode and dynamic themes.

Highlights
  • Built-in Ad Blocker & Tracker Protection
  • PIN Lock for Browser Security
  • True Dark Mode & Custom Themes
  • Smart Download Manager
  • Voice Search & Custom Search Engines
Features
Read full description

The Ultimate Fast, Private & AdBlock Video Browser. Welcome to Nova Browser — the premier mobile web browser engineered for speed, privacy, and flawless ad-free media streaming. Say goodbye to intrusive video ads, annoying popups, and aggressive trackers. Nova provides an ultra-fast, secure, and aesthetically stunning browsing environment tailored for modern iOS users. WHY CHOOSE NOVA ADBLOCK BROWSER? • Advanced AdBlock & Popup Shield Browse websites up to 3x faster without annoying popups, banner ads, or video pre-rolls. Nova automatically filters out intrusive scripts, reducing mobile data consumption by up to 40% while extending battery life. • Ad-Free Video Streaming Experience Stream your favorite online videos without ad interruptions. Enjoy smooth, high-definition media playback with optimized buffer handling and picture-in-picture capability. • Absolute Privacy & Built-In App Lock Keep your browsing activity completely private. Protect your entire browser with a secure PIN code lock. Nova automatically purges temporary data and guards your digital footprint against third-party analytics. • Algorithmic True Dark Mode Protect your eyes during night browsing. Nova’s intelligent dark mode forces dark themes onto websites, beautifully blended with obsidian glass aesthetics. • Smart Download Manager & File Preview Effortlessly download, view, and organize images, videos, and documents with built-in preview thumbnails. • Voice Search & Flexible Search Engines Navigate hands-free with instant voice search. Easily switch between Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, and other privacy-first search engines. UNLOCK NOVA PRO (In-App Purchase): Upgrade to Nova Pro for an unrestricted, premium browsing experience! • 100% Ad-Free Experience: Remove all interstitial and in-app ads. • Continuous Speed & Updates: Get instant access to priority updates and advanced filter lists. Subscription Plans: • Nova Pro Monthly: $3.99 per month • Nova Pro Yearly: $19.99 per year (Best Value - Save 60%) Payment & Subscription Details (App Store Policy): • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your App Store Account Settings after purchase. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited upon purchasing a subscription. • Disclaimer: While Nova blocks the vast majority of intrusive ads and popups, some website-injected ads may occasionally bypass filters. We cannot control 100% of third-party web content. Legal Links: Privacy Policy: https://novabrowser.lovestoblog.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Carnival

Features
Read full description

Carnival is a premier media player designed to directly stream and browse videos, photos, and documents stored on your home NAS (Network Attached Storage) or Windows / Mac / Linux PC via SMB. Enjoy your vast media library instantly without taking up precious device storage! KEY FEATURES: ◆ Seamless NAS & SMB Connection - Automatic local network server discovery - Full SMB2 & SMB3 support for ultra-fast, secure streaming - Guest and authenticated logins with secure credential storage - Biometric protection (Face ID / Touch ID) for private folders and servers ◆ High-Performance Video Player - Instant, buffer-free playback directly from your network shares - Crystal-clear 4K and HDR (EDR) video playback support - Long-press for 2.0x speed playback (intuitive YouTube style) - Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and background audio playback - Customizable skip intervals and automatic playback position resume ◆ Fast, Fluid Image & Document Reader - Smooth paging through images and archives stored on your NAS - Dual-page spread, right-to-left, left-to-right, and vertical scrolling modes - Smart margin fitting and eye-friendly color filters - Automatic folder-level reading progress tracking and resume ◆ Privacy & Convenience First - Zero device storage wasted: stream everything on demand - Quick access with comprehensive playback history and bookmarks - App Lock with Face ID / Touch ID to keep your private files secure Turn your local home network into your ultimate private entertainment hub with Carnival!

Screenshots

Nova4 screens
Carnival4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Carnival at every 5 days against Nova's every 2 months. Nova's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Nova sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Carnival sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nova ships an update every 2 months, Carnival every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nova versus Carnival: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNovaCarnival
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB80 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperANAS BOUKETIREiji Shibayama

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Nova

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
3 purchases

Carnival

Subscriptions2
  • Carnival Pro(月額)$1.991 Month
  • Carnival Pro(年額)$11.991 Year
One-time1
  • Carnival Pro(買い切り)$34.99

Questions

Is Nova free?
Nova is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Carnival free?
Carnival is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nova or Carnival have ads?
Both Nova and Carnival show ads.
Which is updated more often, Nova or Carnival?
Nova ships an update every 2 months, and Carnival every 5 days. Most recently, Nova was updated on October 31, 2026 and Carnival on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons