# Elf dance maker on the shelf vs Portraitify

The clearest difference is ads: Portraitify at none against Elf dance maker on the shelf's shown. Portraitify also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 11 months). Elf dance maker on the shelf's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elf dance maker on the shelf sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Portraitify sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Elf dance maker on the shelf ships an update every 11 months, Portraitify every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elf dance maker on the shelf | Portraitify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 7.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 181 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maria Gascon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265018007) | [Harrison Wong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1839747156) |

## What reviewers say

### Elf dance maker on the shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-dance-maker-on-the-shelf/id1328234726)

Transform yourself into a dancing Christmas character by placing your face on a 3D model. Create personalized, funny holiday videos with Santa, elves, and other festive figures to share with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Place face on 3D Christmas characters, Create personalized dance videos, Dance with Santa, elves, and snowman, Select various dance themes and backgrounds, Record and share animated videos, Festive holiday tradition

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads. | $3.99 | one-time |
| All Costumes | $3.99 | one-time |
| All Backgrounds | $3.99 | one-time |
| Remove Watermark | $3.99 | one-time |
| Full Pack | $8.99 | one-time |


### Portraitify

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portraitify/id6757073092)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Credits | $2.99 | one-time |
| 20 Credits | $5.99 | one-time |
| 50 Credits | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elf dance maker on the shelf free?

Elf dance maker on the shelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Portraitify free?

Portraitify is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Elf dance maker on the shelf or Portraitify have ads?

Elf dance maker on the shelf shows ads; Portraitify does not.

### Which is updated more often, Elf dance maker on the shelf or Portraitify?

Elf dance maker on the shelf ships an update every 11 months, and Portraitify every 6 days. Most recently, Elf dance maker on the shelf was updated on November 8, 2026 and Portraitify on October 30, 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.*