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Best Elf Ideas Apps & Games

135+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated May 2026

Scout Elf® Ideas is the household name in elf ideas, but it's far from the only option. We track 135+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Top Picks for Elf Ideas

Scout Elf® Ideas#1

Scout Elf® Ideas by The Elf on the Shelf CCA & B LLC.

The Elf on the Shelf® App
Editor's Choice
🎬 Entertainment
4.6😊(3.6K ratings)
Free
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 1
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 2
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 3
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 4
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 5
Scout Elf® Ideas screenshot 6

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.

What We Love

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

Room to Improve

  • 🔒 Concerns about app access for children
  • 🤔 Some ideas too complex or require extra purchases
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches with app functionality
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker#2

Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker by Street Barn Ltd

Catch a naughty Elf on camera
Strong Contender
🎬 Entertainment
4.5😞(6.4K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 1
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 2
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 3
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 4
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 5
Elf Cam - Santa's elf tracker screenshot 6

Capture magical moments with a virtual elf in your home. Design your own unique elf, set it in motion, and record videos with fun filters. Share the festive fun with your children and create lasting holiday memories.

What We Love

  • 🎄 Brings Christmas magic to life
  • 🤩 Fun and engaging for kids
  • 👍 Easy to use app

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Subscription required to use app
  • 🙅‍♀️ Limited customization options
  • 🤖 Unrealistic elf animations
Move It#3

Move It by A.I. Space, LLC

Elf Ideas & Move it Reminders
Worth Considering
📊 Productivity
5.0(3 ratings)
Free
Move It screenshot 1
Move It screenshot 2

This app helps parents manage the Elf on the Shelf tradition with daily reminders and creative placement ideas. It offers a user-friendly interface to ensure the holiday magic continues without added stress.

More Elf Ideas apps to explore

4
Christmas Elf Tracker
Christmas Elf Tracker
Christmas Elf Tracker
Elf Christmas Tracker
Free

This app lets you pretend to track Santa's elves on Christmas Eve. It offers realistic animations and multiple tracking modes to surprise friends and family. Enjoy a fun, interactive holiday experience with this free tool.

Pretend Christmas elf trackingNorth Pole phone simulationRealistic animations
🎬 Entertainment
(473)
free with in-app purchases
5
Elf Alert: Elf & Santa Camera
Elf Alert: Elf & Santa Camera
Elf Alert: Elf & Santa Camera
AI Motion Video Maker & Ideas
Free

Create magical "security footage" of a holiday elf coming to life. Secretly film your elf, schedule surprise alerts for your kids, and record their reactions. Make your elf talk with custom messages for an unforgettable tradition.

Elf comes to life from a photoTimed surprise alertsBuilt-in reaction recorder
📷 Photo & Video
(684)
free with in-app purchases
6
Elf Studio
Elf Studio
Elf Studio
Find Santa and his elves in AR
Free

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.

Add Santa Claus and elvesUnlimited elves and recording timeCreate custom elves with Elf Workshop
🎬 Entertainment
(2.8K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Christmas Elf Call 2022
Christmas Elf Call 2022
Christmas Elf Call 2022
Elf Christmas Call
Free

Simulate calls from a Christmas elf to surprise friends and family. Schedule incoming calls or initiate outgoing ones with realistic elf calling screens. A fun way to add festive cheer during the holidays.

Schedule incoming elf callsInitiate outgoing elf callsRealistic elf calling screens
🎬 Entertainment
(996)
free
8
ElfYourself®
ElfYourself®
ElfYourself®
Create Your Elf Dance Video!
Free

Personalize holiday videos by adding your face to dancing elves. Create custom videos with up to five faces and choose from various dances. Share your festive creations as greetings or on social media.

Personalized elf dance videosAdd up to 5 facesDozens of dance options
🎬 Entertainment
(26K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Elf Pets® Feeding Frenzy
Elf Pets® Feeding Frenzy
Elf Pets® Feeding Frenzy
Help feed Santa’s Elf Pets®!
Free

Help feed Santa's Elf Pets by launching their favorite treats. Toss the correct food to each animal to earn points and beat your high score. It's a fun, fast-paced game for all ages.

Launch treats for different Elf PetsFeed Saint Bernard pups dog biscuitsFeed reindeer carrots
🎮 Games
(21)
free
10
Video Call Santa
Video Call Santa
Video Call Santa
Christmas Wish to Santa Claus
Free

Experience the magic of Christmas with a personalized video call from Santa Claus. Choose your Santa, schedule a call, and let him greet your child by name. Capture precious moments and discover wish lists through interactive conversations.

Choose American or British SantaSchedule calls or connect instantlyIncoming or outgoing calls
🎬 Entertainment
(153K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Catch Santa AR
Catch Santa AR
Catch Santa AR
Catch Santa Claus on video
Free

Capture magical Christmas memories with this augmented reality app. Bring a virtual Santa Claus into your home to film him leaving gifts, interacting with your child, and more. Create realistic videos and photos as proof of Santa's visit.

Summon virtual Santa Claus to your homeFilm Santa leaving gifts on videoRecord Santa interacting with your child
📷 Photo & Video
(5.6K)
free with in-app purchases
12
Catch Santa Claus in My House
Catch Santa Claus in My House
Catch Santa Claus in My House
Show Kids Photo Proof of Santa
Free

Create magical Christmas memories for your children by adding realistic photos of Santa Claus, elves, and reindeer to your own pictures. Capture the wonder of Santa's visit right in your home or front yard with a variety of festive stickers.

Add Santa to existing photosTake new photos with SantaDozens of photo stickers
📷 Photo & Video
(19K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Christmas Photo Frames ゜
Christmas Photo Frames ゜
Christmas Photo Frames ゜
Holiday Cards, Santa Claus Hat
Free

Easily create personalized Christmas cards and holiday photos with over 500 frames, filters, and effects. Add text, festive decorations, and even Santa hats to your pictures. Share your creations instantly or save them as unique gifts.

500+ photo frames, filters, and effectsPersonalized Christmas card creationSanta hat and festive headwear
📷 Photo & Video
(5.5K)
free with in-app purchases
14
Elf Video Dance Christmas 2025
Elf Video Dance Christmas 2025
Elf Video Dance Christmas 2025
Santa claus dancing carols app
Free

Personalize festive videos by placing your face onto a 3D dancing character, like Santa or an elf. Choose from various dance themes and backgrounds to create fun Christmas and New Year's Eve videos to share.

Face on 3D modelPersonalized Christmas videosDance with Santa and elves
📷 Photo & Video
(65)
free with in-app purchases
15
e.l.f. Cosmetics and Skincare
e.l.f. Cosmetics and Skincare
e.l.f. Cosmetics and Skincare
Shop makeup & get rewards
Free

Shop a wide range of makeup and skincare products, discover new arrivals, and virtually try on shades. Earn rewards and exclusive perks through a loyalty program, and connect with a beauty community.

Virtual try-on for makeup shadesBeauty Squad rewards programShoppable stories and new arrivals
🛍️ Shopping
(39K)
free with in-app purchases
16
Dancing Elf on the shelf app
Dancing Elf on the shelf app
Dancing Elf on the shelf app
Merry christmas celebrations
Free

Personalize Christmas videos by placing your face or those of friends and family onto dancing elves. Choose from various dance themes and costumes to create hilarious and joyful holiday greetings.

Face replacement on elf bodiesCreate personalized Christmas videosAdd up to 3 dancers
📷 Photo & Video
(33)
free with in-app purchases
17
Santa Christmas Infinite Track
Santa Christmas Infinite Track
Santa Christmas Infinite Track
Gifts Delivery with 4 Reindeer
Free

Guide Santa's cart pulled by four reindeer on a challenging, infinite track to deliver gifts door-to-door. Navigate the perilous path, avoid falling into holes, and spread Christmas cheer.

Challenging and infinite trackGift delivery door to doorSmooth and adaptive controls
🎮 Games
(1.6K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Naughty or Nice Test Meter
Naughty or Nice Test Meter
Naughty or Nice Test Meter
Get Certified as Nice
Free

This app lets you test if you or your kids are naughty or nice with a fun "fingerprint scan" and animated elves. Generate official Nice/Naughty Certificates for your children, which can be customized and shared.

"Fingerprint Scan" for testingAnimated elves analysisGet certified Nice or Naughty
🎬 Entertainment
(4.4K)
free with in-app purchases
19
Christmas Countdown!
Christmas Countdown!
Christmas Countdown!
2022 Count Down with Music
Free

Track the exact time remaining until Christmas 2025, down to the second or even heartbeats. Choose from fun characters to accompany your countdown and share your excitement with friends and family. Enjoy festive music while you wait for the holiday.

Precise countdown (days, hours, minutes, seconds, heartbeats)Multiple time modes (weeks, nights, seconds, heartbeats)Six festive companion characters
🎬 Entertainment
(68K)
ad-supported
20
Elfie Spot Finder
Elfie Spot Finder
Elfie Spot Finder
Stress Free Elf Hiding Ideas
Free

Instantly discover clever hiding spots for your holiday elf in any room. Simply take a photo, and the app reveals ingenious locations your children won't expect, saving you late-night stress and ensuring a magical December.

Instant hiding spot suggestionsAI-powered room analysisDaily fresh ideas
🌟 Lifestyle
(2)
free with in-app purchases