# ShortFlow vs Shelf

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shelf at every 2 days against ShortFlow's every 8 days. ShortFlow's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (68% vs 58%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShortFlow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shelf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ShortFlow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 196 and 280 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of ShortFlow's written reviews are positive against 58% of Shelf's.

ShortFlow ships an update every 8 days, Shelf every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShortFlow | Shelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (196 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortflow-lockscreen-shortcut/id1644057973/reviews)** | [4.5 (280 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-create-live-activities/id6443596253/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 196 | **280** |
| Positive reviews | **67.7% of reviews** | 57.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kenneth Kao](https://appshunter.io/developer/288711611) | [Michael Tigas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1364337001) |

## What reviewers say

### ShortFlow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortflow-lockscreen-shortcut/id1644057973)

Access your favorite apps, websites, and custom shortcuts directly from your iPhone's Lock Screen. Create personalized widget buttons with a vast icon library for quick launching. Supports Always-On display and offers advanced customization options.

**Highlights:** Launch apps from Lock Screen, Open URLs from Lock Screen, Access Shortcuts app actions, Customizable widget buttons, Over 4,000 icons available, Supports Always-On display

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShortFlow Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


### Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-create-live-activities/id6443596253)

Pin photos, text, or app shortcuts to your iPhone's Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Customize the appearance with themes, colors, and fonts. Access content with a tap or use Siri and App Shortcuts for automatic launching.

**Highlights:** Pin photos, text, and app shortcuts, Dynamic Island and Home Screen support, Customizable themes, colors, and fonts, Always-on display integration, App Shortcuts and Siri integration, Quick access with a tap

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shelf Pro - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Shelf Pro - Yearly | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ShortFlow free?

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

### Is Shelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ShortFlow or Shelf?

ShortFlow is rated higher. ShortFlow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 196 ratings, while Shelf averages 4.5 from 280 ratings.

### Do ShortFlow or Shelf have ads?

Neither ShortFlow nor Shelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ShortFlow or Shelf?

ShortFlow ships an update every 8 days, and Shelf every 2 days. Most recently, ShortFlow was updated on September 7, 2026 and Shelf on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*