# EssayGuide vs Mini Star

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mini Star at none against EssayGuide's 2. EssayGuide's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 11 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EssayGuide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Mini Star asks for nothing beyond the download.

EssayGuide ships an update every 4 days, Mini Star every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EssayGuide | Mini Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 11 months |
| Size | 95 MB | 104 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yiek Siew Hao](https://appshunter.io/developer/1750971097) | [Alpha EduTech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731763124) |

## What reviewers say

### EssayGuide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essayguide-spm-essays-notes/id6504120853)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EssayGuide Pro Monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| EssayGuide Pro Lifetime | $17.99 | one-time |


### Mini Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-star/id6744519096)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EssayGuide free?

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

### Is Mini Star free?

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

### Do EssayGuide or Mini Star have ads?

Neither EssayGuide nor Mini Star shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EssayGuide or Mini Star?

EssayGuide ships an update every 4 days, and Mini Star every 11 months. Most recently, EssayGuide was updated on September 18, 2026 and Mini Star on September 28, 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.*