Comparison

FinStream vs RetroScreens

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FinStream

Features
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FinStream is a native, modern client for your personal media server. Bring your movie and TV collection to your Apple devices with a clean interface. • Connect to one or more media servers • Browse libraries, movies, shows, seasons and episodes • Resume playback across devices, with progress synced through your server • Built-in player with subtitle and audio track selection • Discover what is trending in your libraries • Optional request-service integration to browse and request new content • Designed for the latest SwiftUI APIs and Liquid Glass appearance You need your own compatible media server to use FinStream.

About

RetroScreens

Features
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RetroScreens is a library of classic-inspired ambient motion visuals, rebuilt as modern native scenes for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac. Open the app, pick a visual, and let your device become a quiet piece of motion design: morphing geometry, 3D pipes, color fields, starfields, flip clocks, split-flap boards, plasma waves, sand-table paths, cellular patterns, and more. The launch catalog includes 24 visuals: - Test Pattern - Departures - Lorenz - Rosette - Lifelike - Flip Clock - Neon Grid - Plasma - Flocks - Flying Microwaves - Starfield - Mystique - Lake - Pipeworks - 3D Text - Tunnel - Shapeshifter - Ribbons - Green Rain - Bubbles - Cradle - Filament - Bounce - Sand Table RetroScreens is built for the Apple devices you already have: - Play immersive foreground visuals on iPhone and iPad - Use the Apple TV app as a living-room visual library - Use the Mac app directly - Unlock the full v1 catalog once and use it across supported Apple platforms with the same App Store account Some visuals are precise and minimal. Some are bright, strange, and nostalgic. All of them are rendered on-device and tuned for foreground playback, ambient presentation, and slow visual texture. RetroScreens includes free starter visuals. Full Unlock opens the full premium catalog and premium settings.

Screenshots

FinStream4 screens
RetroScreens4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FinStream at none against RetroScreens's 1. RetroScreens's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. RetroScreens sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FinStream asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
FinStream versus RetroScreens: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFinStreamRetroScreens
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZabir RaihanDave Davis

In-app purchases

None

FinStream

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

RetroScreens

One-time1
  • Unlock All$1.99

Questions

Is FinStream free?
FinStream is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RetroScreens free?
RetroScreens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FinStream or RetroScreens have ads?
Neither FinStream nor RetroScreens shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FinStream or RetroScreens?
FinStream ships an update every 6 days, and RetroScreens every 6 days. Most recently, FinStream was updated on October 31, 2026 and RetroScreens on October 31, 2026.

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