# PokéNext vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArcEmu at 95% against PokéNext's 0%. ArcEmu also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 4). PokéNext's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.5). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

PokéNext is free to download; ArcEmu costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of PokéNext's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

PokéNext ships an update every 3 weeks, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PokéNext | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [2.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokenext/id1135930137/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **94.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stefano Russello](https://appshunter.io/developer/543198306) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### PokéNext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokenext/id1135930137)

Connect with other Pokémon GO players nearby in real-time. Share your location, track player movements, and strategize gym conquests. Chat with friends and exchange vital in-game information.

**Highlights:** Real-time player location sharing, Track opponent movements, Gym conquest strategy tool, Integrated chat via Telegram/WhatsApp, Detailed Pokédex with Apple Watch support, Background operation with game running, Search players within 30 km

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ArcEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733)

Experience retro gaming on your Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. This emulator supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Enjoy features like multiplayer, cheats, and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Game Boy, GBC, GBA emulation, Multiplayer support, Cheat codes, Customizable on-screen controls, Save State sharing, iCloud support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fully functional
- 🚀 Impressive emulation on Apple Watch
- 👍 Great emulator for both phone and watch
- 👍 Seamless save state transfer between devices
- 👍 Customizable controls and layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some games
- 🐛 Audio quality problems on certain games
- 👎 Limited functionality on Apple Watch
- 👎 Difficult controls for action-heavy games on watch

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes
- Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
- Save data not transferring properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add cheat/GameShark support
- Improve volume controls
- Implement fast forward/slow motion options
- Allow multiple save slots per game
- Improve Game Boy Color support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PokéNext free?

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

### Is ArcEmu free?

ArcEmu costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PokéNext or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. PokéNext averages 2.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do PokéNext or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither PokéNext nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PokéNext or ArcEmu?

PokéNext ships an update every 3 weeks, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, PokéNext was updated on October 24, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 25, 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.*