# Antstream vs Arcadious

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arcadious at none against Antstream's 2. Arcadious also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Antstream sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Arcadious asks for nothing beyond the download.

Antstream ships an update every 5 months, Arcadious monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Antstream | Arcadious |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 28.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 43 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +12 | 9+ |
| Developer | [Antstream Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1300253040) | [Arcadious](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773173535) |

## What reviewers say

### Antstream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/antstream-play-retro-games/id1311611749)

Access a vast library of over 1300 licensed retro games from arcades and classic consoles. Compete in weekly tournaments, tackle mini-game challenges, and enjoy couch co-op gameplay. All games are streamed directly to your device, no ROMs or emulators needed.

**Highlights:** Over 1300 licensed retro games, Weekly global tournaments, Mini-game challenges, Couch co-op gameplay, Cloud game saves, Controller support

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Antstream Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Antstream Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Excellent retro game selection
- 🕹️ Great for nostalgic gaming
- 👍 Seamless cross-platform experience
- 💡 Innovative features like challenges and leaderboards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription-only model with no trial
- 🎮 Poor controller support and unresponsive touch controls
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- 💰 Overpriced subscription for limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and account problems
- Inability to play games without paying
- Streaming lags and disconnects

**Requested features**

- Add more classic game titles
- Implement a free trial period
- Improve controller compatibility
- Optimize performance and stability


### Arcadious

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcadious/id6773173533)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Antstream free?

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

### Is Arcadious free?

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

### Do Antstream or Arcadious have ads?

Neither Antstream nor Arcadious shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Antstream or Arcadious?

Antstream ships an update every 5 months, and Arcadious monthly. Most recently, Antstream was updated on November 2, 2026 and Arcadious on October 31, 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.*