Retro Flash vs Ascent
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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!
Ascent
This AI-powered sports coach analyzes your technique frame-by-frame from video uploads. Get specific, actionable feedback and track your progress across over 13 sports to elevate your game.
- AI video analysis
- Multi-sport support (13+)
- Context-aware feedback
- Actionable form corrections
- Progress tracking
- Custom coach questions (premium)
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Level up your performance with Ascent, the AI-powered coach in your pocket. Whether you are projecting a V5 boulder problem or fixing your jump shot, Ascent uses advanced AI to analyze your technique frame-by-frame. KEY FEATURES: • Instant Analysis: Just upload a video of your attempt. • Multi-Sport Engine: Specialized support for 13+ sports including Basketball, Tennis, and Football. • Context Aware: The AI understands the difference between a "Free Throw" and a "3-Pointer" and adjusts its feedback accordingly. • AI Coach: Get specific, actionable corrections on your form (e.g., "Knees caving in" or "Late release"), along with a score to see how close you are to your favorite athletes. • Track Progress: Save your sessions and watch your skills improve over time. PREMIUM FEATURES: • Custom Coach Questions: Ask the AI specific questions about your technique. • Biometric Analysis: Input your height and weight for feedback tailored to your body type. • Exclusive Themes: Customize the app with premium themes to match your favorite sports and teams. No expensive sensors or smart courts needed. Just you, your phone, and the game. Download Ascent today and start training smarter. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Retro Flash at none against Ascent's shown. Retro Flash also leads on ratings volume (226 vs 1). Ascent's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Retro Flash sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Ascent sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Ascent holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro Flash has 226 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Retro Flash ships an update every 3 weeks, Ascent weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retro Flash | Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (226 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 226 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 162 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arcade Bouldering UG (haftungsbeschrnkt) | Sanfeng Wang |
Customer experience
Retro Flash
Ascent
Bugs and 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
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- 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
Ascent
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Retro Flash
- Unlock Rules for Circles$4.99
- Home Wall Year Pass$4.99
- 1 Month Upgrade Pass$8.99
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- 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
Ascent
- Ascent Pro$4.991 Month
