# Smartlights countdown vs Elf Studio®

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smartlights countdown | Elf Studio® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartlights-countdown/id1248150372/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **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 | 2 MB | 350 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gemmy Industries Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/889851671) | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) |

## What reviewers say

### Smartlights countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartlights-countdown/id1248150372)

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