# Retrotick vs Polaris

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Polaris at none against Retrotick's 12. Polaris also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Retrotick's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrotick sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Polaris asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retrotick ships an update every 3 weeks, Polaris every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrotick | Polaris |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrotick-split-flap-clock/id6779227825/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ekam Singh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878486670) | [Ryohei Horiuchi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892078310) |

## What reviewers say

### Retrotick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrotick-split-flap-clock/id6779227825)

This app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a visually appealing split-flap clock, mimicking the mechanical flip of classic station displays. Enjoy authentic animations, customizable themes, and widgets for your Home and Lock Screens, all designed with a modern aesthetic.

**Highlights:** Authentic split-flap animation, Liquid Glass design, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Live Activities and Dynamic Island support, 12/24 hour format with optional seconds, Multiple digit fonts, Gallery of premium themes

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Midnight | $1.99 | one-time |
| Retro Flip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Forest Pine | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sunset Ember | $1.99 | one-time |
| Neon Dusk | $1.99 | one-time |
| Aurora | $1.99 | one-time |
| Liquid Glass | $1.99 | one-time |
| Retro LCD | $1.99 | one-time |
| Synthwave | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gold Luxe | $2.99 | one-time |


### Polaris

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polaris-astronomical-clock/id6789919228)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrotick free?

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

### Is Polaris free?

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

### Do Retrotick or Polaris have ads?

Neither Retrotick nor Polaris shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrotick or Polaris?

Retrotick ships an update every 3 weeks, and Polaris every 3 months. Most recently, Retrotick was updated on October 19, 2026 and Polaris on October 25, 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.*