# NCBA NOW vs Alpha Smart System

The clearest difference is rating: NCBA NOW at 2.2 against Alpha Smart System's 1.0. NCBA NOW also leads on review sentiment (14% vs 0%) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). Alpha Smart System's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). 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.

NCBA NOW holds the better App Store score, 2.2 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NCBA NOW has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of NCBA NOW's written reviews are positive against 0% of Alpha Smart System's.

NCBA NOW ships an update every 2 months, Alpha Smart System every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NCBA NOW | Alpha Smart System |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ncba-now/id725534467/reviews)** | [1.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-smart-system/id6449657983/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **14.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 115 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [NIC BANK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1342536358) | [Alpha Systems LImited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689985079) |

## What reviewers say

### NCBA NOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ncba-now/id725534467)

Manage your banking needs with this app, offering features for both customers and non-customers. Perform various payments, manage accounts, and access customer support conveniently.

**Highlights:** eCitizen Government services payment, Account balance hiding/unhiding, Credit card bill payment and statement viewing, Debit & Credit Card Set/Change PIN, Insurance premium payments, M-Pesa to NCBA Account transfer, KRA domestic payments (iTax)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alpha Smart System

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-smart-system/id6449657983)

Monitor and manage your water and electricity usage with this integrated mobile app. Track daily consumption, make easy unit purchases, and pay bills conveniently. Spot potential anomalies in your utility usage.

**Highlights:** View water and electricity consumption, Monitor daily usage, Purchase utility units, Pay bills conveniently, Spot usage anomalies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NCBA NOW free?

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

### Is Alpha Smart System free?

Alpha Smart System is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NCBA NOW or Alpha Smart System?

NCBA NOW is rated higher. NCBA NOW averages 2.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Alpha Smart System averages 1.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do NCBA NOW or Alpha Smart System have ads?

Neither NCBA NOW nor Alpha Smart System shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NCBA NOW or Alpha Smart System?

NCBA NOW ships an update every 2 months, and Alpha Smart System every 10 days. Most recently, NCBA NOW was updated on September 7, 2026 and Alpha Smart System on September 2, 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.*