# Scout Elf® Ideas vs Elf Studio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scout Elf® Ideas at none against Elf Studio's 6. Scout Elf® Ideas also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 45%). Elf Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elf Studio sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Scout Elf® Ideas asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Scout Elf® Ideas against 4.7 for Elf Studio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.6K and 3.7K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of Scout Elf® Ideas's written reviews are positive against 45% of Elf Studio's.

Scout Elf® Ideas ships an update monthly, Elf Studio every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scout Elf® Ideas | Elf Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-elf-ideas/id909087462/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-studio/id6443879616/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.6K | **3.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **65.0% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 228 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Elf on the Shelf CCA & B LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/559893611) | [North Pole Command Centre Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/976131058) |

## What reviewers say

### Scout Elf® Ideas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-elf-ideas/id909087462)

This app provides daily photo inspiration and creative ideas for Scout Elves during the Christmas season. Discover crafts, clothes, and instructions to recreate scenes and enhance your holiday traditions. Get alerts from the North Pole to prepare for elf arrivals and departures.

**Highlights:** Daily photo feed with inspiration, Idea Spinner for random suggestions, Filterable ideas and photos, Materials and instructions included, North Pole alerts for preparation, Elf arrival and departure notifications, Kids Mode with North Pole activities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎅 Fun and creative elf ideas
- 👍 Helpful for keeping Christmas traditions alive
- 🎨 Inspires family creativity and bonding
- 🕰️ Useful reminder for elf activities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Concerns about app access for children
- 🤔 Some ideas too complex or require extra purchases
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with app functionality
- 🔍 Lack of ability to easily switch between kid and adult modes

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or freezing
- Inability to delete the app
- Saved favorites/ideas not persisting
- Videos and images not loading properly

**Requested features**

- More original and simple elf ideas
- Ability to save/share custom elf ideas
- Password protection for adult section
- Expanded content for international users


### 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 (6)**

| 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 |
| Elf Studio - Lifetime Pass | $19.99 | 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scout Elf® Ideas free?

Scout Elf® Ideas is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Elf Studio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scout Elf® Ideas or Elf Studio?

Elf Studio is rated higher. Scout Elf® Ideas averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Elf Studio averages 4.7 from 3.7K ratings.

### Do Scout Elf® Ideas or Elf Studio have ads?

Neither Scout Elf® Ideas nor Elf Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scout Elf® Ideas or Elf Studio?

Scout Elf® Ideas ships an update monthly, and Elf Studio every 3 days. Most recently, Scout Elf® Ideas was updated on September 23, 2026 and Elf Studio on September 22, 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.*