# Retrogram vs Sparrows

The clearest difference is ads: Retrogram at none against Sparrows's shown. Retrogram also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 58%). Sparrows's advantage is iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Sparrows sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sparrows holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 320 and 769 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Retrogram's written reviews are positive against 58% of Sparrows's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, Sparrows monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrogram | Sparrows |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews) | **[4.6 (769 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparrows-word-strategy/id1606645393/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 320 | **769** |
| Positive reviews | **66.1% of reviews** | 58.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 499 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) | [Fluffy Dog Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706585319) |

## 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


### Sparrows

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparrows-word-strategy/id1606645393)

Engage in a word-spelling puzzle game that combines elements of Mahjong and Scrabble. Earn points by forming words from letter tiles, strategically using score multipliers, and advancing through challenging levels. Multiple game modes offer varied gameplay experiences.

**Highlights:** Level progression with star ratings, Multiple game modes (Timed, Moves, Puzzle), Score multipliers on letter/word tiles, Power-ups for score boosts, Daily goals and objectives

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2,500 Feathers | $0.99 | one-time |
| 15,000 points | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 points | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Endless Mode | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 Feathers | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Full Game | $2.99 | one-time |
| No Ads (30 Days) | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Feathers | $3.49 | one-time |
| Getting Started | $3.99 | one-time |
| 50,000 points | $4.99 | one-time |
| 150,000 points | $6.99 | one-time |
| Now we're talking! | $7.99 | one-time |
| 25,000 Feathers | $7.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Feathers | $23.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Loads of fun
- 🧠 Challenging and engaging
- 🎨 Lovely design and aesthetics
- 🕰️ Great for short play sessions
- 🧠 Stimulates the mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🤔 Inconsistent word recognition
- 🤯 Frustrating when game ends unexpectedly
- 🤖 Questionable dictionary choices
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing UI elements

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch for some users
- Word search mode has incorrect timer display
- Inability to exit certain game modes
- Shuffling feature sometimes malfunctions
- Newly unlocked words not recognized

**Requested features**

- Add option to retry/reset word search puzzles
- Implement a way to contact developers for missing words
- Introduce a multiplayer mode to compete with friends
- Provide more customization options for the UI
- Improve the algorithm for letter distribution


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Is Sparrows free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrogram or Sparrows?

Sparrows is rated higher. Retrogram averages 4.4 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Sparrows averages 4.6 from 769 ratings.

### Do Retrogram or Sparrows have ads?

Sparrows shows ads; Retrogram does not.

### Which is updated more often, Retrogram or Sparrows?

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sparrows monthly. Most recently, Retrogram was updated on September 27, 2026 and Sparrows on September 20, 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.*