# Elf Studio® vs The North Pole Gnomes

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The North Pole Gnomes at 100% against Elf Studio®'s 45%. The North Pole Gnomes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Elf Studio®'s advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (3.8K vs 4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elf Studio® sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. The North Pole Gnomes asks for nothing beyond the download.

The North Pole Gnomes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elf Studio® has 3.8K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Elf Studio®'s written reviews are positive against 100% of The North Pole Gnomes's.

Elf Studio® ships an update every 6 days, The North Pole Gnomes every 12 months. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elf Studio® | The North Pole Gnomes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-north-pole-gnomes/id6444081454/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 343 MB | 681 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) | [North Pole Letters LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1652174900) |

## What reviewers say

### Elf Studio®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616)

Create magical videos and photos of Santa and his elves visiting your home using augmented reality. Place characters in any environment, customize their appearance and animations, and record your own festive scenes.

**Highlights:** Add Santa Claus and elves, Unlimited elves and recording time, Create custom elves with Elf Workshop, Customize elf outfits and accessories, Elves with walking and dancing animations, Pre-plan or perform animations, Customize lighting, shadows, and camera filters

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Elf Studio | $1.99 | per month |
| Elf Studio™ - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlock Elf Studio | $3.99 | per year |
| Elf Studio™ - Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| Elf Studio Pro - Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| 50+ Elf Dance Animations | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Elf Video Credit | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 Elf Video Credits | $7.99 | one-time |
| Elf Studio - Lifetime Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| 50 Credits - Pro Price | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎅 Elf-themed game
- 👍 Fun for kids
- 💡 Ability to create elf scenes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Glitchy performance
- 🚫 Limited free functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to scan surfaces for elf placement
- Crashes and freezes when trying to use app

**Requested features**

- More free customization options
- Ability to save and share created scenes
- Improved surface detection for elf placement


### The North Pole Gnomes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-north-pole-gnomes/id6444081454)

Embark on a magical adventure with Santa's helpers! Explore snowy landscapes, play mini-games, customize your gnome, and discover festive challenges. Track your Naughty or Nice status and capture memories with photo frames.

**Highlights:** Explore Mt. Gnomemore, Snowboard Showdown mini-game, Snow Maze challenge, Spider Stomp combat, Name and customize your gnome, Naughty Meter tracking, Advent Calendar challenges

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elf Studio® free?

Elf Studio® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The North Pole Gnomes free?

The North Pole Gnomes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Elf Studio® or The North Pole Gnomes?

The North Pole Gnomes is rated higher. Elf Studio® averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while The North Pole Gnomes averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Elf Studio® or The North Pole Gnomes have ads?

Neither Elf Studio® nor The North Pole Gnomes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elf Studio® or The North Pole Gnomes?

Elf Studio® ships an update every 6 days, and The North Pole Gnomes every 12 months. Most recently, Elf Studio® was updated on November 7, 2026 and The North Pole Gnomes on November 7, 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.*