# Elf Studio vs Christmas Elf Tracker

The clearest difference is update cadence: Elf Studio at every 3 days against Christmas Elf Tracker's every 34 months. Elf Studio also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (3.7K vs 473). Christmas Elf Tracker's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 45%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elf Studio sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Christmas Elf Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Elf Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elf Studio has 3.7K ratings behind it against 473, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of Elf Studio's written reviews are positive against 73% of Christmas Elf Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Elf Studio ships an update every 3 days, Christmas Elf Tracker every 34 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elf Studio | Christmas Elf Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews)** | [4.4 (473 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/christmas-elf-tracker/id6444728113/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 473 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **73.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 34 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 228 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) | [Julian Collado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655180842) |

## 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

**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 |
| 50+ Elf Dance Animations | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Credit - Pro Price | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 Credits - Pro Price | $5.99 | one-time |
| 10 Credits - Pro Price | $9.99 | one-time |
| Elf Studio - Lifetime Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| 25 Credits - Pro Price | $22.99 | 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


### Christmas Elf Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/christmas-elf-tracker/id6444728113)

This app lets you pretend to track Santa's elves on Christmas Eve. It offers realistic animations and multiple tracking modes to surprise friends and family. Enjoy a fun, interactive holiday experience with this free tool.

**Highlights:** Pretend Christmas elf tracking, North Pole phone simulation, Realistic animations, Three tracking modes (satellite, map), Surprise friends and family, Easy to use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elf Studio free?

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

### Is Christmas Elf Tracker free?

Christmas Elf Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Elf Studio or Christmas Elf Tracker?

Elf Studio is rated higher. Elf Studio averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Christmas Elf Tracker averages 4.4 from 473 ratings.

### Do Elf Studio or Christmas Elf Tracker have ads?

Neither Elf Studio nor Christmas Elf Tracker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elf Studio or Christmas Elf Tracker?

Elf Studio ships an update every 3 days, and Christmas Elf Tracker every 34 months. Most recently, Elf Studio was updated on September 25, 2026 and Christmas Elf Tracker on August 14, 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.*