# WordWheel vs Retrogram

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.

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

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.

WordWheel ships an update every 5 weeks, Retrogram every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordWheel | Retrogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordwheel/id1481025490/reviews) | **[4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **320** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **66.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 99 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wayne Perry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1341619685) | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) |

## What reviewers say

### WordWheel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordwheel/id1481025490)

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:** 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 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 14, 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.*