# Story Maker vs Effects Expert

The clearest difference is update cadence: Effects Expert at every 3 months against Story Maker's every 21 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Story Maker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Effects Expert sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Story Maker ships an update every 21 months, Effects Expert every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Story Maker | Effects Expert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/story-maker-slideshow-maker/id1527978064/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **101** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 17 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Appnap Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553618191) | [Lindsay Arnold](https://appshunter.io/developer/852915834) |

## What reviewers say

### Story Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/story-maker-slideshow-maker/id1527978064)

Easily create and share captivating slideshows with music. Select photos from your device's library and generate stunning videos in moments. Unlock premium features with a subscription for enhanced video creation.

**Highlights:** Create slideshows with music, Select photos from device library, Share videos instantly, Premium subscription for advanced features, Automatic renewal options

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Slidegram Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Social Video Maker with Music | $49.99 | per year |


### Effects Expert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/effects-expert/id1595023555)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Upgrade for MiniCine users | Free | one-time |
| Effects Expert Pro Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Story Maker free?

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

### Is Effects Expert free?

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

### Do Story Maker or Effects Expert have ads?

Neither Story Maker nor Effects Expert shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Story Maker or Effects Expert?

Story Maker ships an update every 21 months, and Effects Expert every 3 months. Most recently, Story Maker was updated on September 27, 2026 and Effects Expert on September 3, 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.*