# Retrospecs vs Pixelizr

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrospecs at 94% against Pixelizr's 29%. Retrospecs also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). Pixelizr's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrospecs sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Pixelizr sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retrospecs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrospecs has 364 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Retrospecs's written reviews are positive against 29% of Pixelizr's.

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, Pixelizr every 27 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospecs | Pixelizr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (364 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospecs/id887031094/reviews)** | [3.3 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelizr/id1131451749/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **364** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | **94.3% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 27 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Parker](https://appshunter.io/developer/887031097) | [Quantis,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/373039420) |

## What reviewers say

### Retrospecs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospecs/id887031094)

Transform your photos and videos into retro pixel art. Emulate the look of classic computers and consoles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Customize your output with various graphics engines, color palettes, and fonts.

**Highlights:** Pixelate images and video clips, Emulate 40+ classic computer/console systems, Create custom graphics modes, Variety of color palettes and fonts, Supports Commodore 64, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, and more

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock everything | $1.99 | one-time |
| Big tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| The king of tips | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Versatile and customizable
- 👍 Authentic retro filters
- 👍 Extensive system emulations
- 👍 Powerful editing capabilities
- 👍 Nostalgia-inducing effects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited image resolution
- 📏 Aspect ratio issues with some filters
- 🙈 Aggressive upgrade prompts in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Animation option not working properly
- Video import and saving issues
- Occasional image loading failures

**Requested features**

- Add more retro systems (e.g. NES, TI-99/4A)
- Improve video encoding capabilities
- Allow adjusting dithering levels
- Add support for transparent PNGs
- Implement batch processing and export options


### Pixelizr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelizr/id1131451749)

Transform any photo or video into pixel art with this easy-to-use camera app. Turn people, objects, or scenery into unique pixelated creations to share on social media. Adjust the pixel size with a simple slider for custom effects.

**Highlights:** Pixelize photos and videos, Adjustable pixel size, Easy to use interface, Share to social media, Create pixel art from anything

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrospecs free?

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

### Is Pixelizr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrospecs or Pixelizr?

Retrospecs is rated higher. Retrospecs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 364 ratings, while Pixelizr averages 3.3 from 31 ratings.

### Do Retrospecs or Pixelizr have ads?

Pixelizr shows ads; Retrospecs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Retrospecs or Pixelizr?

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, and Pixelizr every 27 months. Most recently, Retrospecs was updated on October 5, 2026 and Pixelizr on September 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*