# Retrospecs vs Pixel Photo Effect

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixel Photo Effect at none against Retrospecs's 5. Pixel Photo Effect also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Retrospecs's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (367 vs 1). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Pixel Photo Effect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrospecs has 367 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Pixel Photo Effect's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospecs | Pixel Photo Effect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (367 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospecs/id887031094/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-photo-effect-pixelator/id1561735679/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **367** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 94.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 27 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Parker](https://appshunter.io/developer/887031097) | [SK Studios Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/434192864) |

## 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


### Pixel Photo Effect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-photo-effect-pixelator/id1561735679)

Easily apply a pixelation effect to your photos. Select an image, adjust the pixelation level, and save your creation. Share your pixel art with friends and family on social media.

**Highlights:** Apply pixelation effect, Adjust pixelation amount, Save to gallery, Share on social media, Free to download

**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 Pixel Photo Effect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrospecs or Pixel Photo Effect?

Pixel Photo Effect is rated higher. Retrospecs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 367 ratings, while Pixel Photo Effect averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Retrospecs or Pixel Photo Effect have ads?

Pixel Photo Effect shows ads; Retrospecs does not.

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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.*