# Retrospect vs dusk

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrospect at 100% against dusk's 0%. Retrospect also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). dusk's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 21 months) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Retrospect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Retrospect's written reviews are positive against 0% of dusk's.

Retrospect ships an update every 21 months, dusk every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospect | dusk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospect-smart-journal/id1635622908/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusk-micro-journal/id6759018068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lowell Pence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577559242) | [Matthew Kearney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1875316050) |

## What reviewers say

### Retrospect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospect-smart-journal/id1635622908)

This app offers a private and straightforward method for recording your thoughts, locations, and moods. It allows for daily reflection and helps you make informed future decisions by reviewing your life experiences from various perspectives. Your data is securely stored on your device and backed up to iCloud.

**Highlights:** Private journaling, Mood tracking, Location logging, On-device storage, iCloud backup, No account required

**In-app purchases:** none


### dusk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusk-micro-journal/id6759018068)

This app prompts you with a single question each evening for a moment of daily reflection. Your short answers are saved privately on your device, creating a personal record over time without pressure or streaks. It focuses on mindful observation rather than traditional journaling.

**Highlights:** Daily single question prompt, Short answer entries, Private on-device storage, No streaks or guilt, Markdown export, No account required

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrospect free?

Retrospect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is dusk free?

dusk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Retrospect or dusk?

Retrospect is rated higher. Retrospect averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while dusk averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Retrospect or dusk have ads?

Neither Retrospect nor dusk shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrospect or dusk?

Retrospect ships an update every 21 months, and dusk every 4 days. Most recently, Retrospect was updated on November 3, 2026 and dusk on November 5, 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.*