# Shutterfly vs Aura Frames

The clearest difference is monetization model: Aura Frames at free against Shutterfly's free with in-app purchases. Aura Frames also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Shutterfly's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 62%) and ratings volume (602K vs 28K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Aura Frames holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shutterfly has 602K ratings behind it against 28K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Shutterfly's written reviews are positive against 62% of Aura Frames's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Shutterfly ships an update weekly, Aura Frames every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shutterfly | Aura Frames |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (602K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutterfly-prints-cards-gifts/id309465525/reviews) | **[4.8 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aura-frames/id990062908/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **602K** | 28K |
| Positive reviews | **86.0% of reviews** | 62.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#62** | #87 |
| Size | 327 MB | 279 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Shutterfly](https://appshunter.io/developer/309465528) | [Aura Home, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/909140012) |

## What reviewers say

### Shutterfly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutterfly-prints-cards-gifts/id309465525)

**Currently charting:** #62 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Transform your cherished photos into personalized photo books, custom cards, wall art, and unique gifts directly from your smartphone. Easily design and order prints, with options for professional design assistance and unlimited storage for active customers.

**Highlights:** Photo book creation, Custom card design, Personalized gifts, Wall art and decor, Unlimited 4x4 & 4x6 prints, 24-Hour Photo Book Designer Service, Unlimited photo storage

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and easy to make photo products
- 💡 Lots of design options and templates
- 🚀 Convenient app integration with phone photos
- 👍 Great customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive shipping costs
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🔍 Limited editing options in app
- 🔍 Inconsistent quality of prints
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and manage photos

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Issues with saving and loading projects
- Problems with photo uploads and ordering

**Requested features**

- Add more editing tools in the app
- Improve syncing and organization between app and website
- Provide more transparent and affordable shipping options


### Aura Frames

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aura-frames/id990062908)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Easily display and share your favorite photos with loved ones. This smart frame allows you to preload images, connect to Wi-Fi quickly, and invite family to contribute their own memories. Relive moments together and even scan physical prints to digitize them.

**Highlights:** Preload photos and messages as gifts, Quick Wi-Fi frame setup, Invite family to share photos, Unlimited photo and video sharing, View family contributions, Scan physical prints with phone camera

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 👍 Ability to share photos with family
- 👍 Great quality of photos on frame
- 👍 Convenient way to display family photos
- 👍 Helpful for grandparents to stay connected

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes frequently
- 🐛 Issues with uploading and displaying photos
- 🐛 Inconsistent WiFi connectivity
- 🐛 Limited customization options for photo display
- 🐛 Buggy software after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to upload photos
- Frame randomly disconnects from WiFi
- Live Photos feature not working as expected
- Inability to delete individual photos from frame
- Inconsistent behavior when changing WiFi networks

**Requested features**

- Add ability to organize photos into albums
- Implement manual photo sorting and ordering
- Allow more control over photo display timing
- Integrate with cloud storage services like OneDrive
- Improve photo positioning and cropping algorithms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shutterfly free?

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

### Is Aura Frames free?

Aura Frames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shutterfly or Aura Frames?

Aura Frames is rated higher. Shutterfly averages 4.7 out of 5 from 602K ratings, while Aura Frames averages 4.8 from 28K ratings.

### Do Shutterfly or Aura Frames have ads?

Neither Shutterfly nor Aura Frames shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shutterfly or Aura Frames?

Shutterfly ships an update weekly, and Aura Frames every 5 days. Most recently, Shutterfly was updated on October 30, 2026 and Aura Frames on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Shutterfly or Aura Frames?

Shutterfly currently peaks at #62 in the App Store charts, and Aura Frames at #87. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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