# Essentials Studio vs PLANK HQ

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Essentials Studio at 13.0 against PLANK HQ's 16.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essentials Studio | PLANK HQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 8 months |
| Size | 265 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lani Hitchen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761976394) | [Plank HQ PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1539478867) |

## What reviewers say

### Essentials Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentials-studio/id1580642663)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PLANK HQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plank-hq/id1625485705)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essentials Studio free?

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

### Is PLANK HQ free?

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

### Do Essentials Studio or PLANK HQ have ads?

Neither Essentials Studio nor PLANK HQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essentials Studio or PLANK HQ?

Essentials Studio ships an update every 8 months, and PLANK HQ every 8 months. Most recently, Essentials Studio was updated on September 9, 2026 and PLANK HQ on September 10, 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.*