Comparison

WordWheel vs Retrogram

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

Head to head
About

WordWheel

Engage in a fast-paced word game where you strategically form words to advance through levels and maximize scores. Manage limited vowels and earn in-game coins to continue your word adventure. Compete locally and collect achievements in short, engaging gameplay sessions.

Highlights
  • Quick-paced word creation
  • Strategic scoring with multipliers
  • Limited vowel management
  • Achievement collection
  • Local leaderboard competition
  • Short, 3-4 minute gameplay sessions
Features
Read full description

Embark on a thrilling word adventure with our quick-paced and addictive mobile game! Challenge yourself to create sets of words that propel you through exhilarating levels. Strategize to maximize your scores by forming longer words, which serve as multipliers for your next moves. In this game, each letter carries a distinct value, rewarding swift and strategic word formation. Manage your resources wisely as you have a limited supply of vowels—use them judiciously or earn more through in-game coins, obtainable by conquering levels and discovering bonus methods. Keep an eye out for achievements that test your word prowess and aim to dominate the local leaderboard. Enjoy the convenience of short, 3-4 minute gameplay sessions, perfect for quick breaks anytime, anywhere! Key Features: • Quick-Paced Gameplay: Engage in fast and exciting word creation. • Easy to Play: Simply create sets of words to progress through levels. • Multiplier Bonuses: Form bigger words to multiply your score for the next word. • Strategic Scoring: Each letter has a value – the faster you form words, the higher your score. • Limited Vowels Challenge: Manage your vowels wisely. Use them up, and you'll need to buy more with in-game coins earned by completing levels. • Achievement Hunt: Collect all achievements and show off your word prowess. • Local Leaderboard: Track your scores and compete with friends locally. • Casual Fun: Perfect for quick sessions, each game lasts around 3-4 minutes. • No In-App Purchases: Enjoy the full game without spending a dime. • Device Compatibility: Scales to fit any screen size, compatible with all phones and tablets. Why You’ll Love It: Our word game is designed to be the perfect casual game for quick breaks. Whether you have a few minutes or a long commute, our game offers engaging gameplay that fits your schedule. Need Help? If you encounter any issues, please ensure your app is updated to the latest version or contact the developer for assistance. Download now and start your word adventure today!

About

Retrogram

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
Read full description

Think you’re a word nerd? Put your vocabulary to the test with new word puzzles every day Retrogram is a love letter to the 1970s — a cozy collection of handcrafted word games, curious words and satisfying puzzles to make part of your daily routine PLAY EVERY DAY SPELLOTRON Make as many words as you can using seven letters. Find the pangram, climb the ranks and discover interesting stories behind some of your favorite words WORDWAY Build a bridge of words from one word to another. Use the letters you’re given and find a path across the board THERE’S MORE Subscribe to Retrogram to catch up on the past week of daily puzzles, explore the Puzzle Vault, play limited-edition bonus packs, switch things up with vintage app icons, and play after dark with Neon Nites FEATURES * Two handcrafted word puzzles every day * Play today’s Spellotron and Wordway puzzles for free * Catch up on the past seven days * A growing Vault of bonus puzzles * Limited-edition puzzle packs * Neon Nites dark theme * Vintage alternate app icons * SharePlay — solve together over FaceTime * Play Spellotron on your Apple Watch * No ads, ever Additional details Privacy policy: https://retrogram.app/#privacy Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

WordWheel4 screens
Retrogram4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrogram at 66% against WordWheel's 0%. Retrogram also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.0) and ads (none vs shown). WordWheel's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence 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. Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. WordWheel asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Retrogram holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.0. 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 point the same way: 0% of WordWheel's written reviews are positive against 66% of Retrogram's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WordWheel ships an update every 5 weeks, Retrogram every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 10, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
WordWheel versus Retrogram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWordWheelRetrogram
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings)4.4 (320 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews66.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1320 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB145 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWayne Perryin Color

Customer experience

WordWheel

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Retrogram

All ratings320 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral9.7%
Negative24.2%

Bugs and requests

WordWheel

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Retrogram

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • Hint feature disappeared in recent updates
  • Contact support only available through Apple Mail

Requested features

10 requests
  • 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
Show 5 more
  • Immediate answer reveal after puzzle completion
  • Cheaper one-time purchase option instead of subscription
  • In-game dispute method for word validation
  • Apple Watch functionality restoration
  • Automatic daily prefix posting on social media

In-app purchases

None

WordWheel

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Retrogram

Subscriptions2
  • Daily Puzzle (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Daily Puzzle (Yearly)$29.991 Year
One-time8
  • Where in the World$3.99
  • 80s Dinner Party$4.99
  • Gaming Icons$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Stone Cold$4.99
  • Flower Power$4.99
  • Dear Reader$4.99
  • Outer Rim$4.99
  • Daily Puzzle (For Life)$49.99

Questions

Is WordWheel free?
WordWheel 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, WordWheel or Retrogram?
Retrogram is rated higher. WordWheel averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Retrogram averages 4.4 from 320 ratings.
Do WordWheel or Retrogram have ads?
WordWheel shows ads; Retrogram does not.
Which is updated more often, WordWheel or Retrogram?
WordWheel ships an update every 5 weeks, and Retrogram every 3 weeks. Most recently, WordWheel was updated on October 10, 2026 and Retrogram on October 10, 2026.

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