Retrotype vs Lexable
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retrotype
Experience the satisfying feel of a classic typewriter on your device. Choose from multiple vintage models, customize sounds and visuals, and enjoy distraction-free writing with authentic haptic and audio feedback.
- Authentic typewriter models
- Customizable sound packs
- Haptic feedback
- Multiple color palettes and paper themes
- External keyboard support
- Distraction-free writing environment
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Rediscover the joy of writing without distractions. Retrotype transforms your device into a beautiful, tactile typewriter — complete with the sounds, rhythm, and charm of the classics. CHOOSE YOUR MACHINE Four meticulously crafted typewriter models, each with a distinct personality: - Clean, timeless design. The one that started it all. - Vintage European style with warm, earthy tones. - Mid-century curves in playful pastel palettes. - Bold industrial form with exposed ribbon cartridges. MAKE IT YOURS 22+ hand-picked color palettes. 12 paper themes. 5 authentic sound packs — from the sharp snap of a classic to the soft press of a modern electric. Dial in your haptics, adjust your margins, and set your bell. FEEL EVERY KEYSTROKE Authentic sound and haptic feedback bring every key press to life. Carriage returns, margin bells, and the steady rhythm of typing pull you into a focused flow. WRITE ANYWHERE Designed for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with seamless external keyboard support. Your documents are always ready. ONE PRICE. EVERYTHING INCLUDED. Retrotype Premium is a single purchase — no subscriptions, no recurring fees. Every model, palette, sound pack, and future update is yours forever. Retrotype is a place to slow down, find your flow, and let words unfold one keystroke at a time.
Lexable
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Most reading apps were designed for readers who already read comfortably. Lexable is built differently — it reformats any text or PDF into a layout your eyes can actually follow, right on your device, with nothing sent anywhere. Paste a work email, import a PDF, or share any document from another app. Lexable strips the formatting clutter and renders it in a reader you control: OpenDyslexic font, adjustable spacing, tinted overlays, and a Focus Reading Mode that bolds the leading part of each word to anchor your eye and cut visual noise. Everything stays on your iPhone. No account. No internet. No data collected. Ever. What Lexable does: - Focus Reading Mode bolds the start of each word so your eye lands in the right place every time — adjust fixation strength to match how you read. - Text-to-speech with synchronized word highlighting reads aloud while the current word is highlighted, so eyes and ears work together. - OpenDyslexic font bundled and ready — no download, no subscription, just tap to switch. - Five typography controls — font size, line spacing, letter spacing, paragraph spacing, and reading width — adjusted live so you see the effect immediately. - Color themes and tinted overlays (cream, sepia, dark, high-contrast, and more) reduce visual stress without needing special glasses. - Saved Library keeps your reformatted documents ready to reopen — no re-importing. - PDF import extracts text from PDF files so you can reformat reports, articles, and study materials you already have. Perfect for: Adults with dyslexia who read for work, study, or daily life and want a faster, more comfortable way to get through text — without a monthly subscription and without handing their documents to a cloud service. Free to use: Paste text, reformat with OpenDyslexic and spacing controls, use Focus Reading Mode, listen with text-to-speech, and save a few documents — all free, no time limit. Lexable Pro (one-time purchase, $4.99): Unlock unlimited PDF imports, the full color theme library, finer voice and speed controls for text-to-speech, and an unlimited saved library. Pay once, use forever — no subscription, no renewal. Restore a previous purchase any time from the Lexable Pro screen or Settings. Your documents stay on your device. Lexable does not collect, transmit, or store any personal data or document content.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Retrotype at none against Lexable's shown. Retrotype also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Lexable's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). On price and in-app purchases 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. Retrotype sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lexable sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Retrotype ships an update every 3 months, Lexable every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retrotype | Lexable |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Good Loop Software LLC | Christian Pedersen |
In-app purchases
Retrotype
- Unlock Everything$4.99
Lexable
- Lexable Pro$3.99









