# BlindBuddy vs The Retrieve

The clearest difference is rating: The Retrieve at 5.0 against BlindBuddy's 4.2. BlindBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BlindBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $89.99 per year and The Retrieve sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Retrieve holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

BlindBuddy ships an update every 3 days, The Retrieve every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BlindBuddy | The Retrieve |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blindbuddy/id6756201141/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-retrieve/id6761021399/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 199 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROBERT ANTHONY HANSEN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859114573) | [Samantha Bohlman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887346384) |

## What reviewers say

### BlindBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blindbuddy/id6756201141)

This app uses federal band recovery data and AI-driven weather analysis to predict optimal duck hunting conditions. It maps public lands, boat ramps, and provides legal shooting hours. Capture and share your successful hunts with detailed condition logs.

**Highlights:** 1M+ band recovery records on interactive map, AI-powered weather analysis for hunting conditions, Public lands and boat ramp mapping, GPS-precise legal shooting hours, Hunt camera with condition logging, Supports all four flyways

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BlindBuddy Pro | $89.99 | per year |
| BlindBuddy Pro Lifetime | $299.99 | one-time |
| BlindBuddy Pro Lifetime | $399.99 | one-time |


### 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 BlindBuddy free?

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

### Is The Retrieve free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BlindBuddy or The Retrieve?

The Retrieve is rated higher. BlindBuddy averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while The Retrieve averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do BlindBuddy or The Retrieve have ads?

Neither BlindBuddy nor The Retrieve shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BlindBuddy or The Retrieve?

BlindBuddy ships an update every 3 days, and The Retrieve every 5 weeks. Most recently, BlindBuddy was updated on August 22, 2026 and The Retrieve on September 9, 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.*