# Retro vs Starshard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Retro at none against Starshard's 2. Retro also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Starshard sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Retro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retro ships an update daily, Starshard every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro | Starshard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-space-attack/id6738591809/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 163 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Batuhan Yildirim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780110016) | [Burak Emre Nevruzoglu](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789874279) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-space-attack/id6738591809)

Engage in an arcade-style space shooter with waves of enemies and challenging bosses. Unlock upgrades and master multiple unique ships with stunning pixel art and fast-paced gameplay. It's easy to learn but difficult to master.

**Highlights:** Arcade-style space shooter, Battle waves of enemies, Face epic bosses, Unlock powerful upgrades, Stunning pixel art, Multiple unique ships

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Starshard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starshard/id6790557552)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shard Doubler | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro free?

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

### Is Starshard free?

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

### Do Retro or Starshard have ads?

Both Retro and Starshard show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro or Starshard?

Retro ships an update daily, and Starshard every 3 weeks. Most recently, Retro was updated on September 26, 2026 and Starshard on September 28, 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.*