# RetroMon vs DNA Altering

The clearest difference is price: RetroMon at Free against DNA Altering's $3.99. RetroMon also leads on ratings volume (298 vs 35). DNA Altering's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

RetroMon is free to download; DNA Altering costs $3.99 up front. RetroMon sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. DNA Altering asks for nothing beyond the download.

DNA Altering holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RetroMon has 298 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of RetroMon's written reviews are positive against 100% of DNA Altering's.

RetroMon ships an update every 3 months, DNA Altering every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RetroMon | DNA Altering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (298 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retromon-virtual-pet-monster/id895314905/reviews) | **[4.7 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-altering/id6761730635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **298** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 65.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#96** |
| Size | 126 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jaime Alberto Lopez Buenrostro](https://appshunter.io/developer/681292060) | [Adi007](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891133771) |

## What reviewers say

### RetroMon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retromon-virtual-pet-monster/id895314905)

Nurture and train a digital monster from hatching to evolution. Engage in real-time battles with friends online and customize your monster's environment. Experience nostalgic 90s virtual pet gameplay on your phone.

**Highlights:** Hatch and care for your monster, Multiple monster evolutions, Virtual pet simulation, Online real-time battles, Monster house customization, Nostalgic 90s style gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evolution | $1.99 | one-time |
| Max Energy | $1.99 | one-time |
| Evolution | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Revive Monster | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Authentic and detailed experience
- 👍 Nostalgic and fun gameplay
- 🎮 Convenient virtual pet
- 💡 Creative and well-made

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Lack of information on evolutions
- 🔧 Issues with online battles and connectivity

**Reported bugs**

- In-app purchases not working properly
- Online battles not functioning consistently
- Ads reappearing after being removed
- Notifications not accurate or too frequent

**Requested features**

- Add more Digimon and evolution lines
- Improve online battle functionality
- Provide more customization options
- Add support for Apple Watch and widgets
- Improve notification system


### DNA Altering

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-altering/id6761730635)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Transform into various alien heroes using your Apple Watch. Control your transformations and activate special modes through intuitive watch wheel rotations and screen taps. Explore unique gameplay mechanics like Master Control and a self-destruction mode with customizable cancellation sequences.

**Highlights:** Transform into alien heroes, Control via watch wheel and screen taps, Master Control mode with evolved forms, Self-Destruction mode with levels, Recalibration function for advanced play, Hero selection via physical wheel or screen taps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RetroMon free?

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

### Is DNA Altering free?

DNA Altering costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RetroMon or DNA Altering?

DNA Altering is rated higher. RetroMon averages 4.3 out of 5 from 298 ratings, while DNA Altering averages 4.7 from 35 ratings.

### Do RetroMon or DNA Altering have ads?

RetroMon shows ads; DNA Altering does not.

### Which is updated more often, RetroMon or DNA Altering?

RetroMon ships an update every 3 months, and DNA Altering every 5 days. Most recently, RetroMon was updated on November 1, 2026 and DNA Altering on November 9, 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.*