Comparison

Essential Sci vs Retro

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Essential Sci

Stream a vast library of science fiction movies and TV shows for free. Subscribe monthly to enjoy an ad-free viewing experience and access premium content.

Highlights
  • Hundreds of hours of sci-fi content
  • Free streaming
  • Monthly ad-free subscription
  • Watch on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod
Features
Read full description

The Essential Sci-Fi Channel contains hundreds of hours of your favorite science fiction movies and television shows available to watch for free. Sign up for a monthly subscription to watch without ads! Terms of Use: http://macmillanweb.com/html/terms.asp

About

Retro

Features
Read full description

Retro Arcade brings together simple, addictive arcade games in one clean neon experience. Play instantly. Improve your skills. Beat your high score. Included Games: • Snake-style survival • Block drop puzzle • Maze chase challenge • Space formation shooter • 2048-style merge game • Endless flyer • Paddle brick breaker Each game is easy to learn and hard to master, with smooth controls and fast gameplay. Weekly Leaderboards Compete globally and climb the ranks. Every week is a fresh start. Daily Challenges & Missions Complete daily challenges, earn rewards, and unlock cosmetic upgrades. Customize Your Experience Unlock neon themes, skins, avatars, and sound packs. Personalize your arcade without pay-to-win mechanics. Level Up Earn XP, increase your level, and track your progress across all games. Play Offline Enjoy your favorite games anytime, even without internet. Optional Ads Upgrade to remove ads with a one-time purchase. Rewarded ads are always optional. Retro Arcade is built for players who love classic gameplay with a modern, minimalist design. Download now and start climbing the leaderboard.

Screenshots

Essential Sci4 screens
Retro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Retro at weekly against Essential Sci's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Essential Sci sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Retro sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Essential Sci ships an update every 6 weeks, Retro weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Essential Sci versus Retro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEssential SciRetro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (33 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings33 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB14 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMacMillan Interactive Communications, LLCGIUSEPPE MATTEO FALCETTA

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Essential Sci

Subscriptions2
  • Essential Sci-Fi Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Essential Sci-Fi Yearly Sub$69.991 Year
4 purchases

Retro

One-time4
  • Coins Small$0.99
  • Coins Medium$2.99
  • No Ads$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Coins Large$4.99

Questions

Is Essential Sci free?
Essential Sci is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro free?
Retro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Essential Sci or Retro have ads?
Both Essential Sci and Retro show ads.
Which is updated more often, Essential Sci or Retro?
Essential Sci ships an update every 6 weeks, and Retro weekly. Most recently, Essential Sci was updated on October 21, 2026 and Retro on October 16, 2026.

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