# Retrospecs vs HalftonePix

The clearest difference is rating: Retrospecs at 4.8 against HalftonePix's 4.3. Retrospecs also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 67%) and ratings volume (367 vs 7). HalftonePix's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrospecs sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and HalftonePix 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 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrospecs has 367 ratings behind it against 7, 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 67% of HalftonePix's.

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, HalftonePix fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospecs | HalftonePix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (367 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospecs/id887031094/reviews)** | [4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halftonepix/id1448103390/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **367** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **94.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 17 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) | [Aevica Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448103389) |

## 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


### HalftonePix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halftonepix/id1448103390)

Apply unique artistic effects to your photos with a variety of dot, line, and wave patterns. Customize shapes and colors for a personalized look. Transform selfies or gallery images into memorable artwork.

**Highlights:** Halftone dot effects, Line and stripe effects, Wave patterns, Customizable shapes and colors, Apply to selfies or gallery photos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Styles | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrospecs free?

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

### Is HalftonePix free?

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

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

Retrospecs is rated higher. Retrospecs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 367 ratings, while HalftonePix averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do Retrospecs or HalftonePix have ads?

Neither Retrospecs nor HalftonePix shows ads.

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

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, and HalftonePix fortnightly. Most recently, Retrospecs was updated on October 21, 2026 and HalftonePix on October 21, 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.*