# Shelf vs Aivi

The clearest difference is rating: Shelf at 4.5 against Aivi's 3.0. Shelf also leads on ratings volume (295 vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). Aivi's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Aivi sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shelf holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shelf has 295 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shelf ships an update every 2 days, Aivi every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelf | Aivi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (295 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-create-live-activities/id6443596253/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aivi-live-activity-and-widgets/id6749237387/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **295** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 18.4 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Tigas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1364337001) | [Krzysztof Jagiello](https://appshunter.io/developer/479804675) |

## What reviewers say

### Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-create-live-activities/id6443596253)

Pin photos, text, or app shortcuts to your iPhone's Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Customize the appearance with themes, colors, and fonts. Access content with a tap or use Siri and App Shortcuts for automatic launching.

**Highlights:** Pin photos, text, and app shortcuts, Dynamic Island and Home Screen support, Customizable themes, colors, and fonts, Always-on display integration, App Shortcuts and Siri integration, Quick access with a tap

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shelf Pro - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Shelf Pro - Yearly | $12.99 | per year |


### Aivi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aivi-live-activity-and-widgets/id6749237387)

Display smart home device status on your iPhone's lock screen and Dynamic Island. Track appliances, EV charging, and more with a simple API integration. Share real-time updates with family.

**Highlights:** Persistent lock screen display, Dynamic Island integration, Universal device compatibility, Simple REST API, Family sharing of activities, Home Assistant integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $23.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shelf free?

Shelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Aivi free?

Aivi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Shelf or Aivi?

Shelf is rated higher. Shelf averages 4.5 out of 5 from 295 ratings, while Aivi averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Shelf or Aivi have ads?

Neither Shelf nor Aivi shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shelf or Aivi?

Shelf ships an update every 2 days, and Aivi every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shelf was updated on October 30, 2026 and Aivi on October 30, 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.*