# Ghost Panic vs Retro Emulator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Retro Emulator at none against Ghost Panic's 2. Retro Emulator also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ghost Panic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Retro Emulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ghost Panic ships an update every 27 months, Retro Emulator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and July 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ghost Panic | Retro Emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raymund Vorwerk](https://appshunter.io/developer/935678756) | [Vu Bach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869520433) |

## What reviewers say

### Ghost Panic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-panic/id1048664832)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rescue Ladder 10 Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Double Speed for 300 seconds | $0.99 | one-time |


### Retro Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769)

Play classic 8-bit console games on your device with this fast and lightweight emulator. Import your own game files or access public domain titles, and save your progress anytime. Enjoy smooth emulation with on-screen controls and sharp display filters.

**Highlights:** Import your own games, Save progress anytime, On-screen controls with turbo, Sharp display filters, No ads or tracking, Public domain game library

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ghost Panic free?

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

### Is Retro Emulator free?

Retro Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Ghost Panic or Retro Emulator have ads?

Neither Ghost Panic nor Retro Emulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ghost Panic or Retro Emulator?

Ghost Panic ships an update every 27 months, and Retro Emulator every 3 months. Most recently, Ghost Panic was updated on September 7, 2026 and Retro Emulator on July 2, 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.*