# Retrogram vs Strands WordBox Word Search

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Strands WordBox Word Search at 88% against Retrogram's 66%. Strands WordBox Word Search also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Strands WordBox Word Search sells 34 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Strands WordBox Word Search holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 327 and 933 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Retrogram's written reviews are positive against 88% of Strands WordBox Word Search's.

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, Strands WordBox Word Search weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrogram | Strands WordBox Word Search |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (327 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews) | **[4.7 (933 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-wordbox-word-search/id1599797505/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 327 | **933** |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews | **88.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 162 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) | [James Ormond](https://appshunter.io/developer/1138609968) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Strands WordBox Word Search

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-wordbox-word-search/id1599797505)

Engage your mind with a challenging word search game featuring over 2,000 free puzzles. Enhance spelling and vocabulary, compete with friends, and track progress on a live leaderboard. Enjoy distraction-free gameplay with various modes and unlimited practice.

**Highlights:** Over 2,000 free puzzles, Enhance spelling and vocabulary, Play solo or challenge friends, Live leaderboard, Classic, Themed, and Frenzy modes, Unlimited gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (34)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Offer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Technology 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Food 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mathematics 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Animals 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Geography | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sports 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Letter A | $0.99 | one-time |
| Colors 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marvel | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ssssssss | $0.99 | one-time |
| Entertainment 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| -ing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rhyme Time | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| New Player Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Impossible 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hard 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Casual 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $7.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Coins | $11.99 | one-time |
| 8,000 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |
| 17,000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun and challenging
- 👍 Customizable theme settings
- 🔒 Option to opt out of ads
- 💡 Variety of difficulty levels
- 🧠 Brain-stimulating gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Inappropriate ads
- 🐛 Occasional performance issues
- 🤔 Lack of explanations/help
- 🤷‍♀️ Repetitive word choices

**Reported bugs**

- Daily puzzle streak broken when completed before midnight
- Landscape mode not working on some devices
- App freezing or slowing down after extended use

**Requested features**

- More free play puzzles
- Ability to sync progress across devices
- Option to disable hints/clues
- Larger font size for higher levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Is Strands WordBox Word Search free?

Strands WordBox Word Search is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Retrogram or Strands WordBox Word Search?

Strands WordBox Word Search is rated higher. Retrogram averages 4.5 out of 5 from 327 ratings, while Strands WordBox Word Search averages 4.7 from 933 ratings.

### Do Retrogram or Strands WordBox Word Search have ads?

Neither Retrogram nor Strands WordBox Word Search shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrogram or Strands WordBox Word Search?

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, and Strands WordBox Word Search weekly. Most recently, Retrogram was updated on October 25, 2026 and Strands WordBox Word Search on October 24, 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.*