# Ducks Unlimited vs The Retrieve

The clearest difference is rating: The Retrieve at 5.0 against Ducks Unlimited's 3.4. The Retrieve also leads on ads (none vs shown). Ducks Unlimited's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (141 vs 2). On price, update cadence, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Retrieve sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ducks Unlimited asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Retrieve holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ducks Unlimited has 141 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ducks Unlimited | The Retrieve |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (141 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ducks-unlimited/id563665674/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-retrieve/id6761021399/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **141** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 28.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ducks Unlimited, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/430962978) | [Samantha Bohlman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887346384) |

## What reviewers say

### Ducks Unlimited

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ducks-unlimited/id563665674)

This app is your essential companion for waterfowl hunting season. It provides tools for tracking migrations, logging hunts, identifying species, and staying informed about conservation efforts. Plan your hunts and connect with the community.

**Highlights:** Migration Map with real-time reports, Hunting tools (sunrise/sunset, weather), Waterfowler's Journal for logging hunts, Waterfowl species identification, DU Events finder, Stream DU media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Clean and efficient design
- 👍 Great conservation app
- 🌟 Awesome update
- 👍 Exactly what users need
- 👍 Great layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 New update is terrible
- 👎 App went back in time
- 👎 Honestly junk
- 👎 Lackluster sunrise feature
- 👎 New update is trash

**Reported bugs**

- Bird ID doesn't work for many species
- Sunrise feature is lackluster
- Log book moved to the internet is not user friendly
- Cannot write a report (button won't click)
- Journal is 'under construction' and unusable

**Requested features**

- Add YouTube to DuckDuckGo
- Add swan to species list
- Make membership card available in Apple Wallet
- Add more Canadian content (seasons, bag limits)
- Sync reports


### The Retrieve

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-retrieve/id6761021399)

Log and track all your dog's training sessions and hunts. Monitor retrieve rates, performance trends, and health metrics like weight and diet. Organize your memories with custom hashtags and share moments with beautiful session summaries.

**Highlights:** Log training sessions with notes, Record hunts with results, Search sessions by keyword/hashtag, Organize with custom hashtags, Session summaries with photos/stats, Track retrieve rates and trends, Manage multiple dogs and health logs

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Retrieve: Premium Upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ducks Unlimited free?

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

### Is The Retrieve free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ducks Unlimited or The Retrieve?

The Retrieve is rated higher. Ducks Unlimited averages 3.4 out of 5 from 141 ratings, while The Retrieve averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Ducks Unlimited or The Retrieve have ads?

Ducks Unlimited shows ads; The Retrieve does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ducks Unlimited or The Retrieve?

Ducks Unlimited ships an update every 5 weeks, and The Retrieve every 5 weeks. Most recently, Ducks Unlimited was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Retrieve on October 31, 2026.

---

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