Comparison

Smartlights countdown vs Elf Studio®

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

Head to head
About

Smartlights countdown

Control Christmas projectors with Bluetooth, set custom countdown dates and titles, and read time. Get technical support directly from the developer.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Projector password function
  • Read time in phone
  • Calculate Christmas distance
  • Set custom countdown dates
  • Type custom titles for countdowns
Features
Read full description

This is a two in one App which can control “Countdown to Christmas projector” and “Countdown to Christmas and More projector”. Includes Bluetooth connectivity, projector password function, read time in phone and calculate the distance of Christmas function. For “Countdown to Christmas and More projector” you can not only countdown to Christmas but also set the date which you want and typing a title for it. If you need technical guidance, the App has contact information with Gemmy company in the page which can enter from the button in the lower right corner.

About

Elf Studio®

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
Read full description

Welcome to Elf Studio®! The latest marvel from the Software Elves here at the North Pole Command Center (Creators of Speak to Santa)! Turn your elf's Christmas mischief into photos and videos set in your own home! Put them under the tree, send them towards the cookie jar, or dream up a surprise of your own. - SCAN YOUR OWN ELF! Start with one photo of your elf toy, with room for up to four views. Every account includes one elf scan. Elf Studio Pro includes ten a month, with no additional credit charge. - NO TOY? DRAW OR DESCRIBE ONE! Sketch your elf on the drawing pad or describe it in words, and the AI turns it into an elf you can cast in any scene. - QUICK CREATE OR STUDIO! Pick an elf and a photo, then describe the action, or stage your photo by dragging elves and props into place, choosing poses and adjusting sizes. - GET HELP WITH THE WORDS! Studio builds a scene script from your layout. Get Ideas suggests actions for your photo, and Improve helps rewrite your prompt. - AI PHOTOS & VIDEOS! Make photo takes, compare them and animate your favorite. Cast up to three elves with their own roles in the scene. - DIRECT THE SHOT! Create five-second AI videos with Natural, Stop Motion or Storybook styling, camera movement, portrait or landscape framing and optional generated sound. Use start and end images to guide the action. - MAKE AN EXAMPLE YOUR OWN! Browse scene ideas and use an example recipe with your chosen elf and your own photo. - THE ELF WORKSHOP! Choose ready-made elves in classic and felt styles, or design one in 3D with hair, hats, outfits, gloves, shoes, glasses and colors, with a live preview. - ENHANCE WITH AI! Give your elf a lifelike look and keep different looks to choose from. - BRING THE PROPS! Pick from the prop shelf, scan a toy or describe a prop for the AI to create reference pictures. - STICKERS & POSES! Make AI stickers of your elf striking new poses, then use those poses in your Studio photos. Add a bust sticker of any custom elf, made right on your device. - SEND THEM IN MESSAGES! Open Elf Studio® in the Messages app drawer to send the cast, your own elves and the stickers you have made. - HOME SCREEN WIDGETS! Count the sleeps until Christmas or until your elf arrives, with a posed elf of your choice keeping watch. - MAKE THEM AR-READY! Generate a 3D model of a scanned elf or prop before placing it in your room. - FILM IN AUGMENTED REALITY! Place AR-ready elves and props on your floor, draw walking routes, add stops and choose animations. Capture AR photos and videos, with Look at Camera, footsteps, lighting and actions you can trigger while filming. AR needs a compatible device. - CATCH THEIR FACES! Record the viewer's reaction as your video plays. Reaction recordings stay on your device and are not uploaded to Elf Studio®. - ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH! Apply eight video looks and filters without changing the original. Find your creations in the Gallery, save them to Photos and share the files. AI generation needs an internet connection. Once a job is sent, it can continue on our servers while you leave the app. Enable notifications to hear when it is ready. Your Gallery is stored on this device. Elf Studio® does not provide cloud library backup, so export the memories you want to keep. AI or AR. Photo or video. Your elf, your home, your Christmas story! Elf Studio® is created by North Pole Command Centre Limited and works with any toy. Elf Studio® is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Elf on the Shelf®, but many families use Elf Studio® alongside their existing Elf on the Shelf traditions. Made by the software elves here at the North Pole Command Center! Elf Studio® is a registered trademark in the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States. All rights reserved.

Screenshots

Smartlights countdown4 screens
Elf Studio®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Elf Studio® at 4.7 against Smartlights countdown's 2.5. Elf Studio® also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3.8K vs 20). Smartlights countdown's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Elf Studio® sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Smartlights countdown asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Elf Studio® holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elf Studio® has 3.8K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Smartlights countdown's written reviews are positive against 45% of Elf Studio®'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smartlights countdown ships an update every 2 months, Elf Studio® every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Smartlights countdown versus Elf Studio®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartlights countdownElf Studio®
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (20 ratings)4.7 (3.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews45.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings203.8K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB350 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGemmy Industries CorporationNorth Pole Command Centre Limited

Customer experience

Smartlights countdown

All ratings20 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Elf Studio®

All ratings3,778 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral6.1%
Negative48.5%

Bugs and requests

Smartlights countdown

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Elf Studio®

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Unable to scan surfaces for elf placement
  • Crashes and freezes when trying to use app

Requested features

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

In-app purchases

None

Smartlights countdown

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

Elf Studio®

Subscriptions4
  • Unlock Elf Studio$1.991 Month
  • Elf Studio™ - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Unlock Elf Studio$3.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Elf Studio™ - Annual$6.991 Year
One-time7
  • 50+ Elf Dance Animations$0.99
  • 1 Credit - Pro Price$1.99
  • 5 Credits - Pro Price$5.99
Show 4 more
  • 5 Elf Video Credits$7.99
  • 10 Credits - Pro Price$9.99
  • Elf Studio - Lifetime Pass$19.99
  • 25 Credits - Pro Price$22.99

Questions

Is Smartlights countdown free?
Smartlights countdown 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, Smartlights countdown or Elf Studio®?
Elf Studio® is rated higher. Smartlights countdown averages 2.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Elf Studio® averages 4.7 from 3.8K ratings.
Do Smartlights countdown or Elf Studio® have ads?
Neither Smartlights countdown nor Elf Studio® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smartlights countdown or Elf Studio®?
Smartlights countdown ships an update every 2 months, and Elf Studio® every 3 days. Most recently, Smartlights countdown was updated on October 13, 2026 and Elf Studio® on October 18, 2026.

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