# Word Drop Game vs Retrogram

The clearest difference is price: Retrogram at Free against Word Drop Game's $0.99. Retrogram also leads on rating (4.4 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 39 months). Word Drop Game's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On ads there is nothing between them.

Retrogram is free to download; Word Drop Game costs $0.99 up front. Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Word Drop Game asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retrogram holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrogram has 320 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Word Drop Game ships an update every 39 months, Retrogram every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Drop Game | Retrogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-drop-game/id1161065448/reviews) | **[4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **320** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 7 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JOhn Lyons](https://appshunter.io/developer/571586394) | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Drop Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-drop-game/id1161065448)

A straightforward word game where players strategically drop letters to form words before the stack becomes too high. It offers a pure, uninterrupted gameplay experience with no ads or in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Letter dropping mechanics, Word formation challenges, Progressive difficulty, Ad-free experience, No in-app purchases, Pure gameplay focus

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Retrogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328)

Challenge your vocabulary with a daily word puzzle. Create as many words as possible from seven letters. Enjoy a stylish, retro-themed experience designed to sharpen your mind and introduce you to new words.

**Highlights:** Daily hand-made puzzles, Solve puzzles together via SharePlay, Apple Watch compatibility, No ads, Discover new words

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daily Puzzle (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Daily Puzzle (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Where in the World | $3.99 | one-time |
| 80s Dinner Party | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gaming Icons | $4.99 | one-time |
| Stone Cold | $4.99 | one-time |
| Flower Power | $4.99 | one-time |
| Dear Reader | $4.99 | one-time |
| Outer Rim | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily Puzzle (For Life) | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Retro aesthetic and clean interface design
- 👍 Simple and intuitive gameplay mechanics
- 🧠 Challenging and brain-stimulating puzzles
- 📚 Interesting word definitions and fun comments
- 🎮 Daily puzzle provides consistent engagement

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($30-$80)
- 🚫 Misleading free-to-play model with paywall
- 📖 Inconsistent and limited word dictionary
- 🔄 Words accepted one day but rejected another
- ⏰ Only one puzzle per day (limited content)

**Reported bugs**

- Words marked as missed that were actually found
- Puzzle letters changing when spinning the wheel
- Apple Watch app no longer functioning
- Game progress deletion without explanation
- Inconsistent word acceptance across different puzzles

**Requested features**

- Access to previous/archived puzzles
- Multiple puzzles per day or puzzle difficulty levels
- Statistics tracking (completion rate, pangram frequency)
- Hint system that doesn't impact streak
- Word find rate percentages for context


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Word Drop Game free?

Word Drop Game costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Word Drop Game or Retrogram?

Retrogram is rated higher. Word Drop Game averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Retrogram averages 4.4 from 320 ratings.

### Do Word Drop Game or Retrogram have ads?

Neither Word Drop Game nor Retrogram shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Word Drop Game or Retrogram?

Word Drop Game ships an update every 39 months, and Retrogram every 3 weeks. Most recently, Word Drop Game was updated on September 4, 2026 and Retrogram on September 27, 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.*