# Monkey Preschool Lunchbox vs Elmo Calls

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Monkey Preschool Lunchbox at none against Elmo Calls's 11. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (86% vs 73%). Elmo Calls's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox costs $1.99 and Elmo Calls $1.99 up front. Elmo Calls sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elmo Calls holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 325 and 956 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Monkey Preschool Lunchbox's written reviews are positive against 73% of Elmo Calls's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ships an update every 3 months, Elmo Calls every 7 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monkey Preschool Lunchbox | Elmo Calls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.1 (325 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monkey-preschool-lunchbox/id328205875/reviews) | **[4.3 (956 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elmo-calls/id467703220/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 325 | **956** |
| Positive reviews | **85.6% of reviews** | 73.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#33** | #36 |
| Size | 235 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THUP Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/328205878) | [Sesame Workshop (Apps)](https://appshunter.io/developer/339077104) |

## What reviewers say

### Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monkey-preschool-lunchbox/id328205875)

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app offers seven engaging educational games for preschoolers aged 2-5. Children help a friendly monkey pack a lunchbox by learning about colors, letters, counting, shapes, matching, and identifying differences. It provides unlimited play with positive reinforcement through animated stickers and voice recordings.

**Highlights:** 7 educational games, Teaches colors, letters, counting, shapes, Matching and difference identification, Lovable animated monkey guide, Animated sticker rewards, Unlimited play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging for kids
- 🎓 Helps with learning colors, shapes, and numbers
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 🎉 Keeps kids entertained for long periods

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🧠 Too easy for older kids
- 🔇 Annoying monkey sounds
- 💾 No ability to save progress

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes after extended playtime
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Difficulty levels to challenge older kids
- More variety of mini-games
- Option to turn off monkey sounds
- Ability to save sticker collections


### Elmo Calls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elmo-calls/id467703220)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Engage in interactive video and audio calls with a beloved Sesame Street character. This app encourages imaginative play, teaches healthy habits, and fosters self-confidence through fun conversations and scheduled calls.

**Highlights:** Receive audio and video calls from Elmo, Send and receive voicemails from Elmo, Live video of user during calls, Schedule calls for various situations, Learn about healthy habits and letters, Engage in imaginative play with Elmo

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Playdate With Elmo" Pack | Free | one-time |
| "Feelings" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "ABCs" pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Special Visits" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Firsts and Celebrations" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Elmo is Proud of You!" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Laugh With Elmo!" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Happy Habits" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "You Can Do It!" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Sing With Elmo!" Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| "All Calls" Pack | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Fun and engaging
- 👍 Great for kids
- 🤩 Elmo calls are entertaining
- 😊 Brings joy and laughter

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Weak parental controls
- 📵 Scheduled calls don't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Video calls don't work
- Purchased content not restoring
- Scheduled calls not triggering

**Requested features**

- More character call options (Big Bird, Cookie Monster, etc.)
- Ability to record video calls
- Improved UI for young users
- Scheduled calls that actually ring the device


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monkey Preschool Lunchbox free?

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Elmo Calls free?

Elmo Calls costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox or Elmo Calls?

Elmo Calls is rated higher. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox averages 4.1 out of 5 from 325 ratings, while Elmo Calls averages 4.3 from 956 ratings.

### Do Monkey Preschool Lunchbox or Elmo Calls have ads?

Neither Monkey Preschool Lunchbox nor Elmo Calls shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox or Elmo Calls?

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ships an update every 3 months, and Elmo Calls every 7 months. Most recently, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox was updated on November 3, 2026 and Elmo Calls on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox or Elmo Calls?

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox currently peaks at #33 in the App Store charts, and Elmo Calls at #36. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*