Steam Link vs PPSSPP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Steam Link
Play your PC Steam games on your iPhone or iPad. Connect a controller and stream your library wirelessly from your computer to your mobile device. Enjoy your favorite titles on the go with this app.
- Stream Steam library to mobile
- Use MFI or Steam controllers
- Play on iPhone or iPad
- Requires iOS 11.0+
- Connect to PC on same network
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The Steam Link app brings desktop gaming to your iPhone or iPad. Just pair an MFI or Steam controller to your device, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and start playing your existing Steam games. Requirements: * iPhone or iPad using iOS 11.0 or higher * Computer running Steam - Windows, Mac, or Linux * iOS device must be on the same local network as the computer running Steam For best performance: * Connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5Ghz WiFi router * Connect your iOS device to the 5GHz band of your WiFi network * Keep your iOS device within a reasonable range of your router
PPSSPP
Experience your favorite PSP titles on your iOS device with high-definition graphics and enhanced features. This emulator allows you to play a vast library of PSP games with excellent performance. Access your own game files or explore free homebrew titles.
- Play PSP games on iOS
- High-definition graphics
- Extra features
- High performance
- Supports ISO/CSO files
- Built-in Homebrew Store
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Play PSP games on your iOS device, in high definition with extra features! PPSSPP is the original and only PSP emulator for mobile devices. It can run nearly all PSP games with great performance on iOS. No games are included with this download. Use your own real PSP games and turn them into .ISO or .CSO files (see the homepage for instructions), or simply play free homemade games, which are available in the built-in "Homebrew Store". PSP is a trademark of Sony. The PPSSPP project is in no way affiliated with Sony.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PPSSPP at 4.5 against Steam Link's 3.3. PPSSPP also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 43%). Steam Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (6 vs 3). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PPSSPP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Steam Link asks for nothing beyond the download.
PPSSPP holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3K and 2.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Steam Link's written reviews are positive against 72% of PPSSPP's.
Steam Link ships an update monthly, PPSSPP every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Steam Link | PPSSPP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (3K ratings) | 4.5 (2.7K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 42.8% of reviews | 72.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3K — better | 2.7K |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Valve | Henrik Rydgård |
Customer experience
Steam Link
PPSSPP
User reviews
Steam Link
From 3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent streaming quality
- 👍 Works well with controllers
- 🔥 Allows playing PC games on the go
- 💡 Versatile and convenient
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 Requires PC to be on and connected
- 🔍 Limited touch controls
- 🔧 Compatibility issues with some devices
PPSSPP
From 2.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Supports controllers
- 🎮 Able to play classic PSP games
- 🔥 Amazing emulation experience
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Compatibility problems with certain games
- 🔇 Sound issues with some games
Bugs and requests
Steam Link
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on startup
- Audio issues and sound problems
- Controller mapping and input problems
- Streaming quality and performance inconsistencies
Requested features
4 requests- Allow playing games with PC off
- Add remote access and PC control features
- Improve touch screen controls and customization
- Expand device compatibility
PPSSPP
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes when trying to load save files
- Controller mapping not working properly
- Certain games not launching or freezing
Requested features
5 requests- Add support for PS2 and PS3 emulation
- Improve save state functionality
- Implement haptic feedback for on-screen controls
- Allow customization of button mapping
- Add portrait mode support
In-app purchases
Steam Link
No in-app purchases
PPSSPP
- PPSSPP Gold$3.99
