# Decalcomania AR vs Elf Studio®

The clearest difference is rating: Elf Studio® at 4.7 against Decalcomania AR's 3.3. Elf Studio® also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3.8K vs 18). Decalcomania AR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elf Studio® sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Decalcomania AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elf Studio® holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elf Studio® has 3.8K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Decalcomania AR's written reviews are positive against 45% of Elf Studio®'s.

Decalcomania AR ships an update every 2 months, Elf Studio® every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decalcomania AR | Elf Studio® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decalcomania-ar/id1205653338/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **45.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 110 MB | 350 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Decalcomania LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490487933) | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) |

## What reviewers say

### Decalcomania AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decalcomania-ar/id1205653338)

This app uses augmented reality to bring static images to life. Point your device at special decals to reveal bonus digital content on your screen. Explore interactive experiences tied to physical products.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality experiences, Animate static images, Reveal bonus digital content, Interactive AR features, View and purchase AR decals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Elf Studio®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616)

Create magical videos and photos of Santa and his elves visiting your home using augmented reality. Place characters in any environment, customize their appearance and animations, and record your own festive scenes.

**Highlights:** Add Santa Claus and elves, Unlimited elves and recording time, Create custom elves with Elf Workshop, Customize elf outfits and accessories, Elves with walking and dancing animations, Pre-plan or perform animations, Customize lighting, shadows, and camera filters

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Elf Studio | $1.99 | per month |
| Elf Studio™ - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlock Elf Studio | $3.99 | per year |
| Elf Studio™ - Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| 50+ Elf Dance Animations | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Credit - Pro Price | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 Credits - Pro Price | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5 Elf Video Credits | $7.99 | one-time |
| 10 Credits - Pro Price | $9.99 | one-time |
| Elf Studio - Lifetime Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| 25 Credits - Pro Price | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎅 Elf-themed game
- 👍 Fun for kids
- 💡 Ability to create elf scenes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Glitchy performance
- 🚫 Limited free functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to scan surfaces for elf placement
- Crashes and freezes when trying to use app

**Requested features**

- More free customization options
- Ability to save and share created scenes
- Improved surface detection for elf placement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decalcomania AR free?

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

### Is Elf Studio® free?

Elf Studio® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Decalcomania AR or Elf Studio®?

Elf Studio® is rated higher. Decalcomania AR averages 3.3 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Elf Studio® averages 4.7 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do Decalcomania AR or Elf Studio® have ads?

Neither Decalcomania AR nor Elf Studio® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Decalcomania AR or Elf Studio®?

Decalcomania AR ships an update every 2 months, and Elf Studio® every 3 days. Most recently, Decalcomania AR was updated on September 25, 2026 and Elf Studio® on October 16, 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.*