Frankenstein vs Shelfie!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Frankenstein
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.
- 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
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+ 'a brilliantly designed app; the current benchmark for high-quality storytelling via tablet.' Kirkus starred review + ‘This masterful new adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel may be the best interactive fiction yet’ — Laura Miller, Salon.com + “Superb” — Tim Harford, senior columnist for the FT + ‘the most eye-catching development in April's digital publishing’ — The Guardian + “Enormous sensitivity to Shelley's narrative... There's enormous intelligence behind the reworking” — Dr. Dale Townshend, lecturer in Gothic and Romantic Literature at Stirling University + ‘a visual and textual masterpiece that you will be thrilled to experience’ — John Bardinelli, Jayisgames.com --------------------------------------------------------- The year is 1792 and in his Paris laboratory, Victor Frankenstein is building a man... Guide his tale with your choices in this unique literary app. Written by best-selling author Dave Morris, designed and developed by creative studio inkle and published by award-winning independent publisher, Profile Books, Frankenstein is a new way of experiencing Mary Shelley's classic tale of terror and revenge. The original text has been fully adapted into interactive form, allowing you the reader to visit Frankenstein's workshop, help him make his monster, and guide him through the disastrous events that follow. This is a reading experience like no other, that will put you into the heart of the story. With breath-taking visuals and sleek design, Frankenstein is an unputdownable reading experience, and a whole new kind of ebook. * * * Features: - New novel-length interactive re-telling of the classic story - Weave your own narrative as you guide Victor Frankenstein's choices - Innovative and beautiful easy-to-use interface provides a seamless reading experience - 65 illustrations including detailed 16th century anatomical engravings - The full text of the original Frankenstein, as published in 1818 - The Art of Frankenstein, an annotated gallery of the illustrations used
Shelfie!
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Shelfie! Your Cozy Book Nook Every book deserves a beautiful home. So does every reader. Shelfie! is your own digital library, a living little world that grows with every book you read. Tuck your favorite titles onto warm wooden shelves, light a candle, string up some fairy lights, and make it entirely, wonderfully yours. A Shelf That Comes Alive Watch your bookshelf drift from golden morning light to cozy candlelit evenings, Shelfie! changes with the time of day. In Night Mode, your glow props flicker to life, casting warm light across your collection. Decorate Your World Visit Granny Pip's Shop for 40+ herbs, glows, and trinkets to place on your shelves. An ivy jar here, a glowing mushroom there, a pumpkin lantern on the bottom shelf, no two Shelfies are ever the same. Read in Peace Upload your own PDFs and EPUBs, or step into Reading Mode: a distraction-free sanctuary with an illustrated room, a built-in reading timer, and ambient soundscapes - crackling fire, falling rain, or ocean waves. Read in dark mode, highlight your favorite lines, or doodle in the margins with the Pen tool. Watch Yourself Grow Every reading session is tracked. Watch your reading speed, total hours lost in books, and your stats grow one chapter at a time. And much more… Begin your story. Light a candle. Open a book. Welcome to Shelfie! Apple EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Shelfie! at Free against Frankenstein's $3.99. Frankenstein's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#137 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and device support 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
Shelfie! is free to download; Frankenstein costs $3.99 up front. Shelfie! sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Frankenstein asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Frankenstein | Shelfie! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (32 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 32 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #137 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 227 MB | 104 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | inkle | Aarav Singh |
In-app purchases
Frankenstein
No in-app purchases
Shelfie!
- Shelfie Premium$3.991 Month
- Shelfie Premium$29.991 Year
- Shelfie Premium Lifetime$49.99









