Dot Style vs Retrospecs
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dot Style
Transform your photos into a retro pixel art style with this easy-to-use application. Adjust the pixel level for unique visual effects and save your creations. Access your camera or photo album to get started.
- Convert photos to pixel art
- Adjustable pixel level
- Camera and photo album access
- Easy to use interface
- Save pixel art creations
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This app will convert your favorite photos to pixel arts style! It is very fun, and if you want retro photos, you should get this one! *** Features **** - Quickly convert to pixel arts! - Smooth/visual adjustments for the pixel level! - Access to camera/photo album! - Super Easy to Use! *** How to use it *** 1. You can choose photo album or using camera. 2. When you choose/take a photo, it will be read, and the converting button will be enabled. 3. If you tap the convert button, pixel arts will be made in a few seconds, then you can check the pixel level using a slider. 4. Of course, you can save the photo on the screen if you want.
Retrospecs
Transform your photos and videos into retro pixel art. Emulate the look of classic computers and consoles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Customize your output with various graphics engines, color palettes, and fonts.
- Pixelate images and video clips
- Emulate 40+ classic computer/console systems
- Create custom graphics modes
- Variety of color palettes and fonts
- Supports Commodore 64, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, and more
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A retro computing / pixel art camera app. Retrospecs lets you convert images and video clips so they appear as they would on a wide variety of home computers and consoles from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Simply take a picture (or select one from your photo library) and you can display it as it would appear on over forty systems including the Commodore 64, IBM PC (DOS, CGA, EGA and VGA), Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Sega Mega Drive, Nintendo Game Boy and even the original 1984 model Apple Macintosh. If that's not enough you can also create your own custom modes based around four different graphics engines and a wide variety of color palettes and character fonts. (The free version only contains a limited number of systems/dither modes and the custom editors, video clip processing and animation options aren't available.) All trademarks are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrospecs at 94% against Dot Style's 32%. Retrospecs also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Dot Style sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retrospecs sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Retrospecs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrospecs has 367 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Dot Style's written reviews are positive against 94% of Retrospecs's.
Dot Style ships an update every 4 months, Retrospecs every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dot Style | Retrospecs |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (16 ratings) | 4.8 (367 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 32.4% of reviews | 94.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 367 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | F-NET Apps | John Parker |
Customer experience
Dot Style
Retrospecs
Bugs and requests
Dot Style
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Retrospecs
Reported bugs
3 issues- Animation option not working properly
- Video import and saving issues
- Occasional image loading failures
Requested features
5 requests- Add more retro systems (e.g. NES, TI-99/4A)
- Improve video encoding capabilities
- Allow adjusting dithering levels
- Add support for transparent PNGs
- Implement batch processing and export options
In-app purchases
Dot Style
- [ Add Pixel of circles! ] new pixel type will be added.$0.99
Retrospecs
- Small tip$0.99
- Medium tip$1.99
- Unlock everything$1.99
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- Big tip$4.99
- The king of tips$9.99
