# Retrospecs vs Photo Pixelizer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrospecs at 94% against Photo Pixelizer's 44%. Retrospecs also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). Photo Pixelizer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retrospecs sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Photo Pixelizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 21, 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 44% of Photo Pixelizer's.

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, Photo Pixelizer every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and August 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospecs | Photo Pixelizer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (364 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospecs/id887031094/reviews)** | [3.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-pixelizer/id1473030358/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **364** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | **94.3% of reviews** | 43.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 27 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Parker](https://appshunter.io/developer/887031097) | [Nekomimimi](https://appshunter.io/developer/382809814) |

## 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


### Photo Pixelizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-pixelizer/id1473030358)

Easily transform your photos into pixel art with this simple tool. Select an image, choose your pixel size, and adjust resolution and colors for a unique look. Exports in high-quality PNG format.

**Highlights:** Select photo, Set pixel size, Adjust resolution, Adjust colors, Simple interface, PNG export

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrospecs free?

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

### Is Photo Pixelizer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrospecs or Photo Pixelizer?

Retrospecs is rated higher. Retrospecs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 364 ratings, while Photo Pixelizer averages 3.3 from 21 ratings.

### Do Retrospecs or Photo Pixelizer have ads?

Photo Pixelizer shows ads; Retrospecs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Retrospecs or Photo Pixelizer?

Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, and Photo Pixelizer every 30 months. Most recently, Retrospecs was updated on August 26, 2026 and Photo Pixelizer on August 15, 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.*