# Elmo Calls vs Curio

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 (#15 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elmo Calls | Curio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (956 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elmo-calls/id467703220/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curio-interactive-toys/id6463757554/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **956** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 73.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 171 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sesame Workshop (Apps)](https://appshunter.io/developer/339077104) | [Curio Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/1704920126) |

## What reviewers say

### Elmo Calls

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

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Paid · Education, #145 Top Paid (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 (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Playdate With Elmo" Pack | Free | 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


### Curio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curio-interactive-toys/id6463757554)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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