# retro message vs Luminar

retro message and Luminar both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of retro message's written reviews are positive against 42% of Luminar's. Luminar's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (4.8K vs 11). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. retro message sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Luminar sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for retro message against 4.8 for Luminar. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Luminar has 4.8K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of retro message's written reviews are positive against 42% of Luminar's.

retro message ships an update every 9 months, Luminar every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | retro message | Luminar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-message/id1551950942/reviews) | **[4.8 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-photo-editor-and-enhancer/id6476109261/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **4.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 41.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#168** |
| Size | 53 MB | 670 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scott Hawthorne R&D LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551950945) | [Skylum](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457042223) |

## What reviewers say

### retro message

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-message/id1551950942)

Create unique messages by overlaying custom text or vintage movie quotes onto black-and-white retro video clips. Add a soundtrack to personalize your creations before sending them.

**Highlights:** Select vintage retro clips, Superimpose custom messages, Choose from movie quotes, Add custom soundtracks, Send via iMessage, Create personalized messages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| retro msg 1 month membership. | $1.99 | per month |
| 3 months retro msg membership | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| retro msg 1 year membership. | $19.99 | per year |


### Luminar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-photo-editor-and-enhancer/id6476109261)

**Currently charting:** #168 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app offers powerful AI-driven photo editing tools for mobile devices. It features intuitive controls, smart enhancements for skies, lighting, and skin, and a range of editing options for composition and style. Supports RAW files and integrates with Apple devices.

**Highlights:** AI Sky Replacement, AI Photo Enhancement, AI Skin Retouching, AI Body Shaping, RAW File Editing, Intuitive Gesture Controls, Photo Filters

**Features:** Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| 12 Months | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Prime subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| 12 Months + Prime | $79.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Web + Desktop | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful editing tools
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Great AI-powered features
- 💡 Convenient mobile editing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription-only model
- 🐛 Buggy and slow performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔙 No option to save mid-edit

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Issues with saving and exporting
- Inaccurate AI-powered tools

**Requested features**

- Batch editing and presets
- Raw file support
- Masking and local adjustments
- Export options (PNG, TIFF)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is retro message free?

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

### Is Luminar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, retro message or Luminar?

Luminar is rated higher. retro message averages 4.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Luminar averages 4.8 from 4.8K ratings.

### Do retro message or Luminar have ads?

Neither retro message nor Luminar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, retro message or Luminar?

retro message ships an update every 9 months, and Luminar every 9 days. Most recently, retro message was updated on November 3, 2026 and Luminar on November 12, 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.*