Comparison

iRetro vs Surfile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iRetro

Explore how websites looked in the past using the Wayback Machine API. This browser offers a retro design for an immersive experience and can also be used for modern web browsing with a minimalistic interface. It's completely free with no ads or in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • View past website versions
  • Powered by Wayback Machine API
  • Retro design for atmosphere
  • Modern web browsing
  • Minimalistic interface
  • No ads or in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

Have you ever wonder how the Facebook, Yahoo or [[put your favorite website here]] looked like 10 years ago? Or 15? Now you can do this with our browser powered by Wayback Machine API*! Just set the date and that’s it - you’re in the past! The app has retro design for the deep diving into the atmosphere of oldschool web. The app can also browse the modern web, you can use it as regular browser. It has a simple minimalistic interface and, therefore, unlike other browsers, it won’t be able to spy on you :-) The app is absolutely free and not contains any ads or in-app purchases. Have a nice trip to the past, fun present and bright future! * For more information visit http://archive.org/

About

Surfile

Features
Read full description

Surfile helps you find photos and files by searching the words inside them. Scan your gallery on your device, add PDF or Excel files, then type a word like "date", "address", "invoice", or "code" to quickly find what you need. Your photos and files stay on your device. Surfile processes everything locally and stores the searchable index in local app storage. Nothing is uploaded to a Surfile server. What you can do: • Search text found inside gallery photos • Search inside PDF, Excel, and text files saved on your device • Read text in many languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Hindi — set up automatically for your device • Browse matching photos in a clean grid • Filter by date, text, and favorites • Open, share, favorite, or delete photos and files • Continue scanning later if you stop midway • Use Turkish and English interface options Surfile is useful for finding screenshots, notes, invoices, contracts, receipts, labels, forms, signs, and other photos or documents that contain readable text. The app includes a free trial. After the trial, search remains available, and Pro unlocks tools such as opening, sharing, and favoriting results. No ads. No tracking. No account required.

Screenshots

iRetro4 screens
Surfile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iRetro at none against Surfile's 1. iRetro also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.5). Surfile's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 24 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Surfile sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iRetro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iRetro ships an update every 24 months, Surfile every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
iRetro versus Surfile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriRetroSurfile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (95 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings95 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB64 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperQURAI SOFTWARE - FZCOAhmet Yuksel

Bugs and requests

iRetro

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Space bar not retained in keyboard
  • Time Machine feature not working
  • Redirects to fake pages for Facebook login
  • Cannot download files
  • DNS errors when trying to access past websites
Show 4 more
  • AI overview still visible
  • No landscape mode support
  • No desktop mode
  • No device rotation support

Requested features

25 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Add bookmarks
  • Add tabs
  • Add Netscape Navigator style
  • Make time traveling easier
Show 20 more
  • Add search within retro webpage
  • Option to save offline
  • Add homepage welcome and customization
  • Add fullscreen feature for YouTube
  • Add save to Camera Roll feature for images
  • Add “add or change homepage” feature
  • Add favorites bar
  • Ability to set as default browser
  • Make a Windows version
  • Make a Windows 98 version
  • Add click sound from old IE
  • Add split view
  • Add retro gaming
  • Add retro cameras
  • Add retro Radio (Internet-based app)
  • Make other retro apps (video player, camera, music player)
  • Support for retro themes (Windows 98/95/NT 4.0, XP, iPod Classic, iOS 5)
  • Remove top panel during scroll
  • Full desktop mode
  • Device rotation support

Surfile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

iRetro

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Surfile

One-time1
  • Surfile Pro$4.99

Questions

Is iRetro free?
iRetro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Surfile free?
Surfile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iRetro or Surfile have ads?
Neither iRetro nor Surfile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iRetro or Surfile?
iRetro ships an update every 24 months, and Surfile every 2 days. Most recently, iRetro was updated on October 23, 2026 and Surfile on October 25, 2026.

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