# Photic vs retro message

The clearest difference is review sentiment: retro message at 100% against Photic's 26%. retro message also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). Photic's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (7.1K vs 11). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photic sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and retro message sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

retro message holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photic has 7.1K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Photic's written reviews are positive against 100% of retro message's.

Photic ships an update fortnightly, retro message every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photic | retro message |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photic-ai-headshot-generator/id1484108330/reviews) | **[4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-message/id1551950942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.1K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 165 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [42 Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484108329) | [Scott Hawthorne R&D LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551950945) |

## What reviewers say

### Photic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photic-ai-headshot-generator/id1484108330)

This app uses AI to generate unique, professional-grade portraits and profile pictures. Explore various styles and eras, from modern headshots to retro looks, to enhance your visual identity and express yourself creatively.

**Highlights:** Unlimited AI photo generation, Professional headshots, Retro style transformations (30s, 90s), Profile pictures for social media, Creative self-expression tools, Intuitive interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Gold | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Gold | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Unlimited | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Gold | $34.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $64.99 | per year |
| Output Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Output Package | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Subscription | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Interesting and artistic photo effects
- 👍 Decent free features
- 🚀 Quick and responsive app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall for most features
- 🐛 Inconsistent and low-quality results
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 📢 Intrusive rating prompts

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Incorrect or distorted photo rendering

**Requested features**

- More free filter options
- Customizable editing tools
- Ability to preview paid features


### retro message

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-message/id1551950942)

Create unique messages by overlaying custom text or vintage movie quotes onto black-and-white retro video clips. Add a soundtrack to personalize your creations before sending them.

**Highlights:** Select vintage retro clips, Superimpose custom messages, Choose from movie quotes, Add custom soundtracks, Send via iMessage, Create personalized messages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| retro msg 1 month membership. | $1.99 | per month |
| 3 months retro msg membership | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| retro msg 1 year membership. | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photic free?

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

### Is retro message free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Photic or retro message?

retro message is rated higher. Photic averages 4.2 out of 5 from 7.1K ratings, while retro message averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.

### Do Photic or retro message have ads?

Photic shows ads; retro message does not.

### Which is updated more often, Photic or retro message?

Photic ships an update fortnightly, and retro message every 9 months. Most recently, Photic was updated on October 24, 2026 and retro message on October 25, 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.*