# Scout Elf® Ideas vs Mardles

The clearest difference is rating: Scout Elf® Ideas at 4.6 against Mardles's 4.0. Scout Elf® Ideas also leads on ratings volume (3.6K vs 43) and review sentiment (65% vs 52%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scout Elf® Ideas holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scout Elf® Ideas has 3.6K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Scout Elf® Ideas's written reviews are positive against 52% of Mardles's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scout Elf® Ideas | Mardles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-elf-ideas/id909087462/reviews)** | [4.0 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mardles/id988479231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | **65.0% of reviews** | 52.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 145 MB | 488 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Elf on the Shelf CCA & B LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/559893611) | [Harmony Studios Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/504522955) |

## 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


### Mardles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mardles/id988479231)

This app uses augmented reality to make physical products come alive in 3D with sound effects. Watch stickers, masks, and storybooks transform into interactive experiences.

**Highlights:** 3D product animation, Sound effects, Augmented reality experience, Parent-friendly design, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Kids love it
- 💡 Interactive and engaging
- 👍 Easy to use (for some)
- ✨ Stickers come to life
- 🎁 Great gift idea

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Doesn't work for many
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- ⏳ Long loading times
- 🚫 App won't load
- 💸 Waste of money

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly
- App won't load
- Screen is black
- App goes back to home screen
- Camera won't focus on stickers

**Requested features**

- Fix app crashes
- Improve loading times
- Add selfie camera functionality
- Allow saving photos to camera roll
- Provide clear instructions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scout Elf® Ideas free?

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

### Is Mardles free?

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

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

Scout Elf® Ideas is rated higher. Scout Elf® Ideas averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Mardles averages 4.0 from 43 ratings.

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

Neither Scout Elf® Ideas nor Mardles shows ads.

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

Scout Elf® Ideas ships an update monthly, and Mardles monthly. Most recently, Scout Elf® Ideas was updated on November 6, 2026 and Mardles on November 1, 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.*