Comparison

Climbro vs Retro Flash

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

Head to head
About

Climbro

This app offers a science-based training system to enhance climbing performance. It provides detailed assessments of finger strength and endurance, along with adaptive personal training plans that adjust to your schedule and goals. Track your progress with objective measurements and guided workouts.

Highlights
  • Science-based training system
  • Real-time force feedback
  • Finger strength and endurance assessment
  • Adaptive personal training plans
  • Detailed progress tracking
  • Performance test battery
  • Customizable exercises
Features
Read full description

Climbro is a science-based training system designed to improve climbing performance, built on over 15 years of research. The app provides real-time force feedback, advanced finger strength and endurance assessment, adaptive personal training plans, and detailed progress tracking to help you train smarter and climb harder. ## PERFORMANCE TEST BATTERY The battery consists of four tests: • Max Strength – measures maximal finger strength • Finger RFD – measures finger rate of force development • Continuous – evaluates forearm anaerobic capacity • Intermittent – evaluates forearm aerobic capacity These tests provide objective measurements of finger strength, endurance, and local muscle aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Results are converted into climbing-grade scores for easy interpretation. A radar chart highlights your strengths and weaknesses, while comparisons with previous test batteries help you track long-term progress. The app provides detailed instructions and guides you through every test. ## ADAPTIVE PERSONAL TRAINING PLANS After completing a Performance Test Battery, Climbro automatically generates a personalized training plan targeting your weakest physical qualities. Plans typically include 16–24 sessions over 2–3 months. Unlike fixed schedules, Climbro's adaptive training plans adjust to your preferred climbing and training days, helping you combine indoor and outdoor climbing while maximizing training effectiveness. During every workout, the app provides real-time guidance on force, contraction duration, repetitions, and rest periods. It also recommends optimal recovery both between exercises and between training sessions. The new Training Status feature continuously evaluates how closely you follow the recommended schedule and how consistently you complete your workouts, giving you a clear picture of your training quality and expected progress. ## SINGLE TESTS All tests from the Performance Test Battery can also be performed individually—ideal when you want to assess a specific physical quality. Additionally, Climbro includes: • Finger Hang Test – evaluates forearm strength and endurance • All-Out Test – measures Critical Force (CF) and anaerobic capacity (W′) ## SINGLE EXERCISES Climbro includes six predefined exercises targeting different physical qualities: • Strength – develops maximal finger strength • Power – develops explosive finger strength • Hypertrophy – stimulates muscle growth and improves strength endurance • High Intensity Endurance – improves high-intensity endurance and oxygen extraction • Medium Intensity Endurance – maximizes oxygen utilization and endurance • Low Intensity Endurance – promotes capillarization and aerobic adaptations • Recovery – stimulates blood flow and metabolite removal These exercises are intended for experienced climbers who prefer to build and manage their own training routines. ## FREE MEASUREMENT The Free Measurement feature lets you fully customize protocol parameters while recording and saving raw force data for detailed performance analysis. ## PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS The Performance Analytics screen visualizes your progress over time by displaying weekly best results for selected tests across different time periods. ## TRAINING ANALYTICS The Training Analytics screen provides comprehensive summaries of completed workouts through clear and informative charts. ## CLOUD SYNC All test and training results are securely stored in the cloud, so your data remains available even when you switch devices. Please note that this app works exclusively with the Climbro hangboard. You can use it with your own Climbro hangboard or with any compatible board available at a friend's place or your local climbing gym. Terms of Use: https://climbro.com/terms-and-conditions/

About

Retro Flash

This app helps climbers maximize their spray wall training with unique tools for setting various problems and supports multiple grading systems. It fosters a community for climbers to share and improve their training.

Highlights
  • Spray wall problem setting
  • Supports symmetrical, partly symmetrical, adjustable, and private walls
  • Circuit and competition boulder creation
  • Fontainebleau, Dankyu, and Hueco grading systems
  • Customizable grading systems
  • Wall upgrades for new possibilities
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Retro Flash and the Arcade Bouldering Community! Retro Flash is the Ultimate Spray Wall App, designed with every member of the climbing community in mind! We have created a lot of unique tools to ensure that everyone has everything they need to get the most out of their spray walls! For example, we support symmetrical, partly symmetrical, adjustable and private walls! Set all kinds of problems on your wall, like circuits or even competition boulders! With our wall upgrades, we upgrade your walls to the next level, opening up a lot of new possibilities! Now, you can even upgrade your walls by yourself!! Retro Flash supports the Fontainebleau, Dankyu and Hueco grading systems. You can also define your own grading systems or even deactivate grading! Download Retro Flash now and become a part of our growing community!

Screenshots

Climbro4 screens
Retro Flash4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Retro Flash at 4.7 against Climbro's 4.0. Retro Flash also leads on ratings volume (226 vs 3) and review sentiment (83% vs 71%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Climbro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Retro Flash sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Retro Flash holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro Flash has 226 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Climbro's written reviews are positive against 83% of Retro Flash's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Climbro ships an update monthly, Retro Flash every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Climbro versus Retro Flash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClimbroRetro Flash
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings)4.7 (226 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews82.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3226 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB162 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClimbro HangboardsArcade Bouldering UG (haftungsbeschrnkt)

Customer experience

Climbro

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

Retro Flash

All ratings226 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.5%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral8.6%
Negative8.6%

Bugs and requests

Climbro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Retro Flash

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Cannot see sends anymore
  • All boulders set to unclimbed for all users
  • Statistics are gone
  • Won't let me reset wall
  • Won't let me delete walls
Show 3 more
  • Won't let me add a new wall on a new account
  • Camera button to add a photo doesn't do anything
  • Can't change the angle of the wall

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add a tick list of all climbs done
  • Show number and distribution of grades
  • Copy route feature for minor adjustments
  • Ability to edit names or grades of existing boulders

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Climbro

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Month Climbro Subscription14 Days trial2 variants$4.991 Month
  • 3 Months Climbro Subscription14 Days trial2 variants$12.993 Months
  • 6 Months Climbro Subscription14 Days trial2 variants$24.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • 12 Months Climbro Subscription14 Days trial2 variants$44.991 Year
8 purchases

Retro Flash

One-time8
  • Unlock Rules for Circles$4.99
  • Home Wall Year Pass$4.99
  • 1 Month Upgrade Pass$8.99
Show 5 more
  • Additional Wall$9.99
  • Gym Year Pass Tier 1$14.99
  • Add Gym$14.99
  • Gym Year Pass Tier 2$29.99
  • 6 Months Upgrade Pass$44.99

Questions

Is Climbro free?
Climbro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Flash free?
Retro Flash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Climbro or Retro Flash?
Retro Flash is rated higher. Climbro averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Retro Flash averages 4.7 from 226 ratings.
Do Climbro or Retro Flash have ads?
Neither Climbro nor Retro Flash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Climbro or Retro Flash?
Climbro ships an update monthly, and Retro Flash every 3 weeks. Most recently, Climbro was updated on November 7, 2026 and Retro Flash on November 3, 2026.

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