# Santa's Workshop vs Elemental Merge

The clearest difference is rating: Santa's Workshop at 4.7 against Elemental Merge's 3.9. Santa's Workshop also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). Elemental Merge's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 60%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elemental Merge sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Santa's Workshop asks for nothing beyond the download.

Santa's Workshop holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Santa's Workshop's written reviews are positive against 69% of Elemental Merge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Santa's Workshop ships an update every 3 weeks, Elemental Merge monthly. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Santa's Workshop | Elemental Merge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/santas-workshop-idle-game/id6738013587/reviews)** | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-merge/id6741715769/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **68.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 147 MB | 319 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [aleros.io LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552999210) | [Bigyan Tripathi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1795227954) |

## What reviewers say

### Santa's Workshop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/santas-workshop-idle-game/id6738013587)

Help the elves craft toys and find Santa before it's too late in this holiday-themed idle game. Manage your workshop, care for reindeer, and complete missions to spread joy.

**Highlights:** Tap to build 25 unique toys, Offline toy crafting, Complete missions, Care for reindeer, Search for Santa, Collect achievements, Accessibility mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Elemental Merge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-merge/id6741715769)

This game lets you merge atoms to discover new elements and progress through the periodic table. Earn resources to upgrade production and unlock bonuses, offering a relaxing yet strategic science-inspired experience.

**Highlights:** Merge atoms to unlock new elements, Collect elements across the periodic table, Strategic upgrades with Particles, Anti-matter, Magic flasks, Relaxing chemistry game inspired by science, Long-term goal of reaching Element 118, Idle progression and discovery gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quick Boost 3 Hour | $0.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick Boost 12 Hour | $1.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge V2! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Quick Boost 1 Day | $2.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge V3! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V3 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Disable all ads! | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Santa's Workshop free?

Santa's Workshop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Elemental Merge free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Santa's Workshop or Elemental Merge?

Santa's Workshop is rated higher. Santa's Workshop averages 4.7 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Elemental Merge averages 3.9 from 24 ratings.

### Do Santa's Workshop or Elemental Merge have ads?

Elemental Merge shows ads; Santa's Workshop does not.

### Which is updated more often, Santa's Workshop or Elemental Merge?

Santa's Workshop ships an update every 3 weeks, and Elemental Merge monthly. Most recently, Santa's Workshop was updated on November 4, 2026 and Elemental Merge on November 4, 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.*