Comparison

Elmo Calls vs Curio

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Elmo Calls

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
Read full description

This is an app full of fun phone calls from Elmo, which will help teach your child about healthy habits, self-confidence, and letters. Pick up the phone, Elmo’s calling! Receive video calls, audio calls, and voice mail from Sesame Street’s own furry, red monster. Or, give him a call yourself! With Elmo Calls you can laugh, play, and sing with Elmo! FEATURES • Receive audio and video calls from Elmo, or dial Elmo yourself. • Receive voicemail from Elmo regularly and listen to the messages any time. • See live video of yourself in the corner of the screen while you’re chatting with Elmo. • Grown-ups can activate calls or schedule calls for a variety of situations, such as time to wake up! (more calls for going to the doctor, bath time and learning to potty available with additional call packs) LEARN ABOUT "Elmo Calls" encourages children to engage in imaginative play, practice listening skills and sing songs with Elmo! This app also fosters self-confidence by encouraging children to celebrate important life moments, such as visiting the doctor, going to the potty and learning the alphabet! CALL PACKS Elmo Calls comes with The Sunny Day Sampler Call Pack. This pack includes 13 fun-filled calls for you and your child to enjoy right away! For even more calls, get "Playdate with Elmo" which is ready to download, plus you can buy additional Call Packs easily right within the app: • Firsts and Celebrations: Special calls for special days. Elmo calls you during big events, such as your birthday! • Elmo is Proud of You: You're proud of your achievements and so is Elmo! • Feelings: Everybody has feelings and Elmo can call you to share and talk about those feelings. • ABCs: Saying your ABCs is fun! It’s even more fun with Elmo! • Special Visits: Elmo wants to talk about your special plans for today. • Holidays: Holidays are fun to celebrate and Elmo wants to celebrate with you! • You Can Do It!: No matter what you're learning, whether its your ABCs or using the potty, Elmo wants to cheer you on. • Sing with Elmo!: Elmo sings for you! You can sing along or just listen. • Happy Habits: Healthy habits are more fun when you do them with Elmo. • Laugh with Elmo: Elmo just wants to say hi! • Playdate with Elmo: Play and pretend with Elmo! Ready to download! TIPS • Please allow Notifications to receive scheduled calls from Elmo! ABOUT US Sesame Workshop’s mission is to use the educational power of media to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Delivered through a variety of platforms, including television programs, digital experiences, books and community engagement, its research-based programs are tailored to the needs of the communities and countries they serve. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org. ABOUT IDEO IDEO is a human-centered design and innovation firm ranked independently among the ten most innovative companies in the world. Learn how our team of child-development experts, veteran toy designers and interaction designers approach the creation of award-winning kid apps at www.ideotoylab.com. PRIVACY POLICY The Privacy Policy can be found here: https://www.sesameworkshop.org/privacy-policy/ CONTACT US Your input is very important to us. If you have any questions, comments or need help, please contact us at: sesameworkshopapps@sesame.org.

About

Curio

This app brings AI-powered toys to life, offering interactive storytelling, games, and educational content. It provides a safe, screen-free experience for children, allowing parents to manage toy onboarding and monitor insights.

Highlights
  • Easy toy onboarding via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
  • Engaging storytelling and games
  • Educational content (ABCs, numbers, math)
  • Parental insights and controls
  • Safe, screen-free interactive experience
Read full description

Unlock a World of Imagination with Curio! Curio is a magical workshop where toys come to life. Our soft and cuddly magical companions bring stories, games, and learning to life through a safe, screen free, and interactive experience. Key Features: - Easy Toy Onboarding: Seamlessly connect your Curio toy via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for an effortless start to your magical journey. - Engaging Storytelling & Games: Our toys weave enchanting tales and fun games, fostering creativity and imagination. - Educational Fun: From ABCs and numbers to basic math, we make learning exciting and interactive. - Insights & Controls: Stay informed with insights and ensure a safe experience with robust filters. Join Our Magical Journey: Download the Curio app and step into a world where toys come to life. Welcome to the Curio Family!

Screenshots

Elmo Calls4 screens
Curio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Curio at Free against Elmo Calls's $1.99. Curio also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). Elmo Calls's advantage is ratings volume (956 vs 6) and chart position (#14 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Curio is free to download; Elmo Calls costs $1.99 up front. Elmo Calls sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Curio asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Curio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elmo Calls has 956 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Elmo Calls's written reviews are positive against 100% of Curio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elmo Calls ships an update every 7 months, Curio every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Elmo Calls versus Curio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElmo CallsCurio
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (956 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings956 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size171 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSesame Workshop (Apps)Curio Interactive

Customer experience

Elmo Calls

All ratings956 ratings
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews275 reviews
Positive73.5%
Neutral4.7%
Negative21.8%

Curio

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Elmo Calls

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Curio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Elmo Calls

One-time10
  • "Playdate With Elmo" PackFree
  • "ABCs" pack$0.99
  • "Special Visits" Pack$0.99
Show 7 more
  • "Firsts and Celebrations" Pack$0.99
  • "Elmo is Proud of You!" Pack$0.99
  • "Laugh With Elmo!" Pack$0.99
  • "Happy Habits" Pack$0.99
  • "You Can Do It!" Pack$0.99
  • "Sing With Elmo!" Pack$0.99
  • "All Calls" Pack$6.99
None

Curio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Elmo Calls free?
Elmo Calls costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Curio free?
Curio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Elmo Calls or Curio?
Curio is rated higher. Elmo Calls averages 4.3 out of 5 from 956 ratings, while Curio averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Elmo Calls or Curio have ads?
Neither Elmo Calls nor Curio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elmo Calls or Curio?
Elmo Calls ships an update every 7 months, and Curio every 3 weeks. Most recently, Elmo Calls was updated on November 6, 2026 and Curio on November 3, 2026.

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