# Retro Flash vs CU Play

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CU Play at none against Retro Flash's 8. Retro Flash's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 26 months). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retro Flash sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. CU Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

CU Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro Flash has 226 ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Retro Flash ships an update every 3 weeks, CU Play every 26 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Flash | CU Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (226 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-flash-climbing/id1519582483/reviews) | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cu-play/id1573817430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **226** | 33 |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 26 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 162 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Arcade Bouldering UG (haftungsbeschrnkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519582485) | [Clemson University](https://appshunter.io/developer/379282794) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Flash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-flash-climbing/id1519582483)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Rules for Circles | $4.99 | one-time |
| Home Wall Year Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Month Upgrade Pass | $8.99 | one-time |
| Additional Wall | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gym Year Pass Tier 1 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Add Gym | $14.99 | one-time |
| Gym Year Pass Tier 2 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 6 Months Upgrade Pass | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 💰 Free to use, affordable one-time fees
- 🏠 Perfect for home walls
- 👥 Great community feature
- 🚀 Fast and functional

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Horrid UI
- 🐛 Massive bugs and data loss
- 🛠️ App is useless when buggy
- ❓ Unclear target audience
- 🧭 Navigation can be challenging

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### CU Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cu-play/id1573817430)

This official app provides access to Clemson University's Campus Recreation Sport Programs. Users can register for intramural sports, join club sports, and receive updates on program offerings, deadlines, and cancellations.

**Highlights:** Intramural sports registration, Club sports roster management, Program updates and deadlines, Cancellation notifications, Information on sport offerings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Flash free?

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

### Is CU Play free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retro Flash or CU Play?

CU Play is rated higher. Retro Flash averages 4.7 out of 5 from 226 ratings, while CU Play averages 4.8 from 33 ratings.

### Do Retro Flash or CU Play have ads?

CU Play shows ads; Retro Flash does not.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Flash or CU Play?

Retro Flash ships an update every 3 weeks, and CU Play every 26 months. Most recently, Retro Flash was updated on November 3, 2026 and CU Play on November 3, 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.*