# Frankenstein vs Shelf Scan

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Frankenstein at 78% against Shelf Scan's 0%. Frankenstein also leads on rating (3.9 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (32 vs 2). Shelf Scan's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Shelf Scan is free to download; Frankenstein costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Frankenstein holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Frankenstein has 32 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Frankenstein's written reviews are positive against 0% of Shelf Scan's.

Frankenstein ships an update every 3 weeks, Shelf Scan monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Frankenstein | Shelf Scan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frankenstein-interactive/id516047066/reviews)** | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-scan-book-spine-scanner/id6754824642/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **77.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#147** | — |
| Size | 227 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [inkle](https://appshunter.io/developer/576695514) | [Daniel Anthony Dolewski Ii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850317130) |

## What reviewers say

### Frankenstein

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frankenstein-interactive/id516047066)

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

Experience Mary Shelley's classic novel like never before. Make choices that shape Victor Frankenstein's story, from building his creation to navigating the tragic consequences. This interactive adaptation features stunning visuals and the original 1818 text.

**Highlights:** Interactive novel-length retelling, Shape Victor Frankenstein's choices, Beautiful, easy-to-use interface, 65 illustrations including anatomical engravings, Full text of the 1818 original, Annotated gallery of illustrations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shelf Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-scan-book-spine-scanner/id6754824642)

Instantly identify books from a photo of any bookshelf using AI. See ratings at a glance and discover your next great read. Integrates with your reading list to highlight books you want to read.

**Highlights:** Instant book recognition from shelf photos, View book ratings at a glance, Reading list integration, Smart highlighting of to-read books, Scan history saving, No account required for basic use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Frankenstein free?

Frankenstein costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shelf Scan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Frankenstein or Shelf Scan?

Frankenstein is rated higher. Frankenstein averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Shelf Scan averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Frankenstein or Shelf Scan have ads?

Neither Frankenstein nor Shelf Scan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Frankenstein or Shelf Scan?

Frankenstein ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shelf Scan monthly. Most recently, Frankenstein was updated on October 26, 2026 and Shelf Scan on October 16, 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.*