# TATAU vs Retrogram

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TATAU at none against Retrogram's 10. TATAU also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Retrogram's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. TATAU asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retrogram holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. 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. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of TATAU's written reviews are positive against 66% of Retrogram's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TATAU ships an update every 6 months, Retrogram every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TATAU | Retrogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tatau/id1435870670/reviews) | **[4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **320** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 9 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacob Duncan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533237411) | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) |

## What reviewers say

### TATAU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tatau/id1435870670)

Learn to count to one million in Te Reo Māori with this engaging game. Compete on leaderboards, practice specific levels, and translate numbers into New Zealand's native language.

**Highlights:** Learn Te Reo Māori counting, Competitive timed games, High score leaderboards, Practice specific levels, Number translation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 TATAU free?

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

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TATAU or Retrogram?

Retrogram is rated higher. TATAU averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Retrogram averages 4.4 from 320 ratings.

### Do TATAU or Retrogram have ads?

Neither TATAU nor Retrogram shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TATAU or Retrogram?

TATAU ships an update every 6 months, and Retrogram every 3 weeks. Most recently, TATAU was updated on September 26, 2026 and Retrogram on October 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*