# ELPA vs Ref Guide for Essential Oils

The clearest difference is price: ELPA at Free against Ref Guide for Essential Oils's $4.99. ELPA also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). Ref Guide for Essential Oils's advantage is chart position (#35 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

ELPA is free to download; Ref Guide for Essential Oils costs $4.99 up front. Ref Guide for Essential Oils sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. ELPA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ELPA ships an update every 4 weeks, Ref Guide for Essential Oils every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ELPA | Ref Guide for Essential Oils |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | — | **[4.1 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-guide-for-essential-oils/id937793199/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **51** |
| Positive reviews | — | 58.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#35** |
| Size | 44 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ELPA GROUP (HK) LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/443121128) | [Abundant Health](https://appshunter.io/developer/937793198) |

## What reviewers say

### ELPA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elpa/id443121125)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ref Guide for Essential Oils

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-guide-for-essential-oils/id937793199)

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Paid · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

This app provides a comprehensive guide to essential oils and related products, offering quick information for supporting health and wellness. It includes detailed product information, everyday tips, recipes, and application instructions for hundreds of health conditions.

**Highlights:** Quick on-the-go information, Detailed product information, Everyday tips and recipes, Essential oil application instructions, Search and note-taking, Information on single oils and blends

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Comprehensive essential oil information and reference
- 🔍 Easy search functionality by oil or ailment
- 📱 Convenient portable access without carrying physical books
- ✅ Well-organized and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Detailed information on oil properties and applications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Unfair pricing model with upfront cost plus subscription fees
- 🔄 Lack of regular updates for new oils and products
- ❌ Outdated product information and discontinued items still listed
- 🐛 Notes section frequently buggy and unreliable
- 🔧 App crashes and black screen issues

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen when opening app or selecting options
- App crashes and stops working after updates
- Notes disappear or move to wrong oil categories
- Notes section doesn't allow text entry
- Contact and bug report links are broken/non-functional

**Requested features**

- Regular updates for new oils and reformulated blends
- Personal inventory tracking system
- Shopping list for oils running low or needed
- Ability to mark favorite oils or oils you own
- Click-through navigation from ailments to specific oils


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ELPA free?

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

### Is Ref Guide for Essential Oils free?

Ref Guide for Essential Oils costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Do ELPA or Ref Guide for Essential Oils have ads?

Neither ELPA nor Ref Guide for Essential Oils shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ELPA or Ref Guide for Essential Oils?

ELPA ships an update every 4 weeks, and Ref Guide for Essential Oils every 3 months. Most recently, ELPA was updated on November 1, 2026 and Ref Guide for Essential Oils on November 1, 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.*