# KidNation vs Elf Studio®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: KidNation at 100% against Elf Studio®'s 45%. KidNation also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Elf Studio®'s advantage is ratings volume (3.8K vs 17) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. KidNation sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Elf Studio® sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

KidNation holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elf Studio® has 3.8K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of KidNation's written reviews are positive against 45% of Elf Studio®'s.

KidNation ships an update every 10 days, Elf Studio® every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KidNation | Elf Studio® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidnation/id1517081789/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 101 MB | 350 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KidNation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1555558564) | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) |

## What reviewers say

### KidNation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidnation/id1517081789)

This app offers high-quality, wholesome entertainment for children. It features enriching content developed by experts, focusing on health, inclusivity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking.

**Highlights:** Wholesome entertainment for children, Enriching content by experts, Focus on health & wellness, Multicultural inclusivity, Emotional intelligence development, Critical thinking skills

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription story teller | $4.99 | per month |
| Subscription videos | $6.99 | per month |
| Subscription storyteller | $19.99 | per month |
| Subscription videos | $19.99 | per month |
| 6 months | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual | $69.99 | per year |
| Story teller 5 stories | $4.99 | one-time |


### 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 (14)**

| 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 |
| Elf Studio Pro - Annual | $9.99 | 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 |
| 50 Credits - Pro Price | $34.99 | one-time |
| 50 Credits | $39.99 | 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 KidNation free?

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

### Is Elf Studio® free?

Elf Studio® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, KidNation or Elf Studio®?

KidNation is rated higher. KidNation averages 5.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Elf Studio® averages 4.6 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do KidNation or Elf Studio® have ads?

Neither KidNation nor Elf Studio® shows ads.

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

KidNation ships an update every 10 days, and Elf Studio® every 3 days. Most recently, KidNation was updated on October 7, 2026 and Elf Studio® on October 22, 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.*