# Elf Studio vs i

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: i at none against Elf Studio's 10. Elf Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Elf Studio ships an update every 3 days, i every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elf Studio | i |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 228 MB | 43 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) | [Interactive Images Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494991353) |

## 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


### i

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-shine-immersive/id6742913460)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elf Studio free?

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

### Is i free?

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

### Do Elf Studio or i have ads?

Neither Elf Studio nor i shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elf Studio or i?

Elf Studio ships an update every 3 days, and i every 3 weeks. Most recently, Elf Studio was updated on September 25, 2026 and i on September 9, 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.*