# Backstage Competition vs Elf Studio®

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backstage Competition at none against Elf Studio®'s 11. Backstage Competition also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Elf Studio®'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 12 months). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. Backstage Competition asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Backstage Competition against 4.7 for Elf Studio®. 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 are what separate them: 50% of Backstage Competition's written reviews are positive against 45% of Elf Studio®'s.

Backstage Competition ships an update every 12 months, Elf Studio® every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backstage Competition | Elf Studio® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstage-competition/id1501149539/reviews) | [4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 350 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Backstage Competition LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1501149538) | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) |

## What reviewers say

### Backstage Competition

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstage-competition/id1501149539)

Stay updated with real-time event statuses, including routines, award presentations, and breaks. Access social media links, judge bios, and provide feedback to ensure a VIP experience. Location services are optional for receiving relevant messages.

**Highlights:** Real-time event status tracking, Award presentation updates, Break time notifications, Judge biographies, Event feedback submission, Social media and website links

**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 Backstage Competition free?

Backstage Competition 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, Backstage Competition or Elf Studio®?

Backstage Competition and Elf Studio® are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 18 and 3.8K ratings respectively.

### Do Backstage Competition or Elf Studio® have ads?

Backstage Competition shows ads; Elf Studio® does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backstage Competition or Elf Studio®?

Backstage Competition ships an update every 12 months, and Elf Studio® every 3 days. Most recently, Backstage Competition was updated on October 4, 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.*