Comparison

Storysurf. Short Stories vs ErgScan

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Storysurf. Short Stories

Discover thoughtful, timely, and timeless stories designed to make you think and feel. This app offers a unique way to engage with narratives that align with your moods, providing a mental gymnasium for productive leisure.

Highlights
  • Snackable, contextual stories
  • Mood-aligned narratives
  • Thought-provoking content
  • Timely and timeless stories
  • Mental gymnasium for users
Features
Read full description

Every story here is under 300 words. Read one while your cab is four minutes away, or ten before you sleep. There are fables your grandmother told you, and love stories she wouldn't have. There's satire too, and the odd riddle. New stories every week. Every story you read is also a story about you. That's the side effect. Tap Reflect after any story, answer three short questions, and discover what it tells you about yourself.

About

ErgScan

Effortlessly log indoor rowing machine workouts by taking a photo of your screen. AI automatically detects and saves your session data, eliminating manual entry. Seamlessly sync your workouts with popular training platforms like Strava and TrainingPeaks.

Highlights
  • AI-powered photo scanning for workout data
  • Automatic detection of splits and session details
  • Syncs with Strava, TrainingPeaks, Concept2 Logbook
  • Optimized for Concept2 rowing machines
  • Structured workout data without manual entry
Features
Read full description

ErgScan is the fastest way to log your indoor rowing workouts. Simply take a photo of your Concept2 rowing machine screen (or upload a photo), and ErgScan uses AI to automatically detect and save your workout - no manual typing, no spreadsheets, no screenshots. Designed for rowers, rowing clubs, and indoor rowing athletes, ErgScan turns your erg results into clean, structured workout data in seconds. How it works: - Finish your row - Take a photo of your Concept2 display - ErgScan scans your results and saves your workout automatically Smart AI workout scanning: ErgScan uses advanced AI image recognition to convert photos of your rowing machine screen into accurate workout data, including splits and session details. It works even when lighting or angles aren’t perfect! Sync with your favourite training platforms: You can automatically upload your rowing workouts to Strava, TrainingPeaks, Concept2 Logbook and more! Once connected, your workouts - including split data - sync seamlessly, so your training history stays complete across all platforms. Built for indoor rowing: Optimised for Concept2 rowing machines. Perfect for erg sessions, testing pieces, and training blocks. Ideal for club rowers, competitive athletes, and coaches. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Storysurf. Short Stories4 screens
ErgScan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Storysurf. Short Stories at none against ErgScan's 4. ErgScan's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ErgScan sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Storysurf. Short Stories asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ErgScan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 13 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Storysurf. Short Stories ships an update every 5 weeks, ErgScan every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Storysurf. Short Stories versus ErgScan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStorysurf. Short StoriesErgScan
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (26 ratings)4.9 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings26 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB135 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperGonecaseBUNEME KYAKILIKA

Customer experience

Storysurf. Short Stories

All ratings26 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ErgScan

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Storysurf. Short Stories

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

ErgScan

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • ErgScan Premium Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • ErgScan Premium$12.99

Questions

Is Storysurf. Short Stories free?
Storysurf. Short Stories is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ErgScan free?
ErgScan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Storysurf. Short Stories or ErgScan?
ErgScan is rated higher. Storysurf. Short Stories averages 4.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while ErgScan averages 4.9 from 13 ratings.
Do Storysurf. Short Stories or ErgScan have ads?
Neither Storysurf. Short Stories nor ErgScan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Storysurf. Short Stories or ErgScan?
Storysurf. Short Stories ships an update every 5 weeks, and ErgScan every 8 days. Most recently, Storysurf. Short Stories was updated on November 7, 2026 and ErgScan on November 3, 2026.

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