# RETRO FORTH vs MySQL Client by SQLPro

The clearest difference is rating: RETRO FORTH at 4.4 against MySQL Client by SQLPro's 3.9. RETRO FORTH also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). MySQL Client by SQLPro's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (96 vs 5). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MySQL Client by SQLPro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. RETRO FORTH asks for nothing beyond the download.

RETRO FORTH holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MySQL Client by SQLPro has 96 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of RETRO FORTH's written reviews are positive against 29% of MySQL Client by SQLPro's.

RETRO FORTH ships an update monthly, MySQL Client by SQLPro every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RETRO FORTH | MySQL Client by SQLPro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-forth/id1170943580/reviews)** | [3.9 (96 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mysql-client-by-sqlpro/id1270754173/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **96** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 28.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charles Childers](https://appshunter.io/developer/900749636) | [Hankinsoft Development Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/305178629) |

## What reviewers say

### RETRO FORTH

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-forth/id1170943580)

A compact and adaptable concatenative programming language designed for ease of learning and customization. It features a code editor, interactive listener, and support for Gopher servers, allowing for flexible development.

**Highlights:** Concatenative programming language, Code editor with Markdown subset, Literate programming style, Interactive listener interface, Gopher server data fetching, File manager, Documentation browser

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MySQL Client by SQLPro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mysql-client-by-sqlpro/id1270754173)

This app provides a powerful yet lightweight interface for accessing and managing MySQL and MariaDB databases. It offers features like SQL autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and support for cloud services. Users can execute multiple queries, export data, and utilize SSH tunneling for secure connections.

**Highlights:** SQL autocompletion, Syntax highlighting, Tabbed interface, Execute multiple queries, Cloud service support, SSH tunneling, Data export (CSV, XML, JSON)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SQLPro Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| SQLPro Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| SQLPro Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| SQLPro Premium - Lifetime | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great UI design
- 🚀 Works well on iPad
- 👍 Developer responsiveness
- 👍 SSH tunneling support
- 👍 Good for mobile database access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 💸 Unethical pricing model
- 🚫 Useless without payment
- ❌ Deceptive free listing
- 😩 Forced subscriptions

**Reported bugs**

- Garbled Chinese characters in export
- App crashes on SSH connection
- Plugin sha256_password could not be loaded
- Cannot connect without password
- Cannot view query results on free version

**Requested features**

- XLSX export with Chinese characters
- Chinese language version
- Support for private SSH keys
- Refresh icon for queries
- Set timezone for connections


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RETRO FORTH free?

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

### Is MySQL Client by SQLPro free?

MySQL Client by SQLPro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RETRO FORTH or MySQL Client by SQLPro?

RETRO FORTH is rated higher. RETRO FORTH averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while MySQL Client by SQLPro averages 3.9 from 96 ratings.

### Do RETRO FORTH or MySQL Client by SQLPro have ads?

Neither RETRO FORTH nor MySQL Client by SQLPro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RETRO FORTH or MySQL Client by SQLPro?

RETRO FORTH ships an update monthly, and MySQL Client by SQLPro every 10 days. Most recently, RETRO FORTH was updated on September 6, 2026 and MySQL Client by SQLPro on September 26, 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.*