# SerafimPlay vs 8BitDo Ultimate Software

The clearest difference is rating: SerafimPlay at 2.7 against 8BitDo Ultimate Software's 2.4. SerafimPlay also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 26%). 8BitDo Ultimate Software's advantage is ratings volume (197 vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SerafimPlay holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 8BitDo Ultimate Software has 197 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of SerafimPlay's written reviews are positive against 26% of 8BitDo Ultimate Software's.

SerafimPlay ships an update monthly, 8BitDo Ultimate Software every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SerafimPlay | 8BitDo Ultimate Software |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/serafimplay/id1473110730/reviews)** | [2.4 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitdo-ultimate-software/id1532713768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **197** |
| Positive reviews | **37.5% of reviews** | 26.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 85 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serafim Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/847342450) | [8BitDo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532713770) |

## What reviewers say

### SerafimPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/serafimplay/id1473110730)

Connect your input devices to your mobile phone for gaming. This utility app facilitates Bluetooth connections between your devices and phone, enhancing your mobile gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth connection, Connects input devices, Mobile gaming utility, Device and phone pairing

**In-app purchases:** none


### 8BitDo Ultimate Software

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitdo-ultimate-software/id1532713768)

Gain complete control over your compatible gamepad. Customize button layouts, fine-tune analog stick and trigger responses, and manage vibration intensity. Create custom macro commands for advanced gameplay.

**Highlights:** Button mapping customization, Stick and trigger sensitivity adjustment, Vibration power control, Macro creation, Controller compatibility management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Functional app
- 💡 Helpful for left-hand device use
- 🚀 Seamless controller connection
- 🚀 Intuitive key mapping

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 🐛 Lack of support for certain controllers
- 🐛 Buggy firmware updates
- 🐛 Profiles not saving properly

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to detect connected controllers
- Key mapping not working as expected
- Profiles resetting after app restart
- Firmware update issues bricking controllers

**Requested features**

- Support for more controllers (e.g. 8bitdo Zero 2, SN30 Pro+)
- Add ability to remap command/option keys for macOS/iOS
- Improve macro functionality (e.g. adjustable delay, ability to hold keys)
- Add media control key mapping options
- Implement Bluetooth firmware update capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SerafimPlay free?

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

### Is 8BitDo Ultimate Software free?

8BitDo Ultimate Software is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SerafimPlay or 8BitDo Ultimate Software?

SerafimPlay is rated higher. SerafimPlay averages 2.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while 8BitDo Ultimate Software averages 2.4 from 197 ratings.

### Do SerafimPlay or 8BitDo Ultimate Software have ads?

Neither SerafimPlay nor 8BitDo Ultimate Software shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SerafimPlay or 8BitDo Ultimate Software?

SerafimPlay ships an update monthly, and 8BitDo Ultimate Software every 2 months. Most recently, SerafimPlay was updated on October 5, 2026 and 8BitDo Ultimate Software on October 7, 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.*