# Collections Application vs Shelf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shelf at none against Collections Application's 1. Shelf also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). Collections Application's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 81%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Collections Application sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Shelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shelf holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shelf has 53 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Collections Application's written reviews are positive against 81% of Shelf's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Collections Application ships an update every 3 weeks, Shelf every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Collections Application | Shelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collections-application/id1466366385/reviews) | **[4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-app-for-collectors/id6473172576/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **53** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 81.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 153 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SoftWyer Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466366384) | [UKRSOFTPOSTACH, TOV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718522278) |

## What reviewers say

### Collections Application

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collections-application/id1466366385)

Organize and manage any type of collection with customizable fields, tags, and search functionality. Share collections with family or friends and control their access levels. Syncs across devices via cloud storage.

**Highlights:** Create custom collections with nested containers, Add items with default and custom fields, Search and filter items by any field or tag, Attach photos to items, Cloud sync across devices, Share collections with user roles, View public collections

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $3.99 | per year |


### Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-app-for-collectors/id6473172576)

Organize and showcase your collections with photos and details. Discover new items from other collectors and connect with a global community of enthusiasts. Share your passion and finds with ease.

**Highlights:** Create and showcase collections, Add photos and details, Discover rare items, Connect with collectors, Organize and tag items, Share finds globally

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Collections Application free?

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

### Is Shelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Collections Application or Shelf?

Shelf is rated higher. Collections Application averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shelf averages 4.4 from 53 ratings.

### Do Collections Application or Shelf have ads?

Collections Application shows ads; Shelf does not.

### Which is updated more often, Collections Application or Shelf?

Collections Application ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shelf every 2 weeks. Most recently, Collections Application was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shelf on November 8, 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.*