# Retrogram vs Word Train

The clearest difference is rating: Word Train at 5.0 against Retrogram's 4.4. Word Train also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). Retrogram's advantage is ratings volume (320 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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 Word Train sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Word Train holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrogram has 320 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Retrogram's written reviews are positive against 100% of Word Train's.

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, Word Train every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrogram | Word Train |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-train/id6447062025/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **320** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) | [Mergeable Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789266801) |

## 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


### Word Train

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-train/id6447062025)

A daily word puzzle game where you connect two letters by forming words on a grid. Challenge yourself with higher scores by incorporating specific letters and compete on global leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Daily word-grid puzzles, Connect two letters, Form words to create paths, Score bonuses for specific letters, Global leaderboards, Board game style gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Ticket Reel | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Is Word Train free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrogram or Word Train?

Word Train is rated higher. Retrogram averages 4.4 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Word Train averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Retrogram or Word Train have ads?

Neither Retrogram nor Word Train shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrogram or Word Train?

Retrogram ships an update every 3 weeks, and Word Train every 11 days. Most recently, Retrogram was updated on October 2, 2026 and Word Train on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*