# Warframe vs RetroArch

The clearest difference is rating: Warframe at 4.9 against RetroArch's 4.3. Warframe also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 1.8K) and chart position (#87 vs unranked). RetroArch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 42) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Warframe sells 41 one-off in-app purchases. RetroArch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Warframe holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Warframe has 26K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Warframe's written reviews are positive against 69% of RetroArch's.

Warframe ships an update fortnightly, RetroArch weekly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Warframe | RetroArch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/warframe/id1520001008/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **73.4% of reviews** | 69.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#87** | — |
| Size | 3.7 GB | 652 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Digital Extremes](https://appshunter.io/developer/410656021) | [Libretro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209876090) |

## What reviewers say

### Warframe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/warframe/id1520001008)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Grossing · Action, #98 Top Free · Role Playing, #126 Top Grossing · Role Playing (US App Store)

Become a powerful warrior in this free-to-play online action game. Battle alongside friends across a sprawling interplanetary system, customizing your bio-metal suit and arsenal to annihilate enemies and explore vast open worlds. Experience an epic story and master destructive weaponry.

**Highlights:** Become a powerful warrior in a bio-metal suit, Battle alongside friends in co-op missions, Explore massive open worlds and engage in ship battles, Experience an epic cinematic story with multiple expansions, Master and customize a vast arsenal of weapons, Customize Warframes and gear endlessly

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (41)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gunblade Battlekit | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fulmin Battlekit | $1.99 | one-time |
| 75 Platinum | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter Weapon Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Dante Chronicles Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Sakura Storm Collection | $6.99 | one-time |
| 170 Platinum | $9.99 | one-time |
| 175 Platinum | $9.99 | one-time |
| 370 Platinum | $19.99 | one-time |
| The Old Peace Uriel Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| Sirius & Orion Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| 3 Regal Aya: Prime Resurgence | $19.99 | one-time |
| 380 Platinum | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1999 Cyte-09 Bullseye Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| Jade Chorus Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Warframe: Sanctum Collection | $19.99 | one-time |
| Warframe: Oraxia Bundle | $20.99 | one-time |
| TennoCon 2024 Digital Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Mesa Heirloom Collection | $24.99 | one-time |
| TennoCon 2026 Digital Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| TennoCon 2025 Digital Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Encore Temple Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Rhino Heirloom Steel Coll. | $24.99 | one-time |
| Ember Heirloom Sear Coll. | $24.99 | one-time |
| Koumei Visions Bundle | $29.99 | one-time |
| Constellations Complete Coll. | $34.99 | one-time |
| 7 Regal Aya: Prime Resurgence | $39.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Platinum | $49.99 | one-time |
| 1025 Platinum | $49.99 | one-time |
| Encore Complete Collection | $49.99 | one-time |
| 1999 Complete Collection | $54.99 | one-time |
| 15 Regal Aya: Prime Resurgence | $79.99 | one-time |
| Sevagoth Prime Access | $79.99 | one-time |
| 2200 Platinum | $99.99 | one-time |
| 2100 Platinum | $99.99 | one-time |
| Styanax Prime Access Complete | $139.99 | one-time |
| Yareli Prime Access Complete | $139.99 | one-time |
| Lavos Prime Access Complete | $139.99 | one-time |
| Xaku Prime Access Complete | $139.99 | one-time |
| Sevagoth Prime Access Complete | $139.99 | one-time |
| 3210 Platinum | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Entire game ported to mobile
- 🚀 Cross-play and cross-save support
- 🚀 Impressive graphics and performance
- 👍 Faithful to the original PC/console experience
- 👍 Customizable controls and UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches, especially with UI and controls
- 🔋 Overheating and battery drain issues
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate menus and access certain features
- 👎 Clunky touch controls, better with a controller
- 🔍 Lack of keyboard and mouse support

**Reported bugs**

- Initialization loop and download issues
- Inability to access certain features like decorating the Orbiter
- Bugs with the chat system and squad management
- Quests and objectives not functioning properly
- Performance issues in open-world areas and during intense combat

**Requested features**

- Gyroscope support for aiming
- Customizable button placement and size
- Improved optimization for older devices
- Ability to disable auto-fire and auto-melee
- Separate buttons for actions like jumping, rolling, and sliding


### RetroArch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433)

This application serves as a versatile frontend for emulators and game engines, supporting a vast array of systems through downloadable cores. It offers advanced features like netplay, save states, and customizable controls for an enhanced gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Supports numerous gaming systems via libretro cores, Netplay for multiplayer gaming, Save states and fast forward/rewind, Controller support and key remapping, Customizable shaders and overlays, RetroAchievements integration, AI translations for games

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth emulation performance
- 🎮 Wide range of supported systems
- 🕹️ Controller support
- 💯 Comprehensive emulation features
- 🔓 No ads or tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🤖 Unintuitive user interface
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
- 🔌 Slow loading times
- 🤷‍♂️ Inconsistent core support

**Reported bugs**

- N64 games not loading textures properly
- Crashes when changing settings or cores
- Bios files not being recognized
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Saved settings not persisting

**Requested features**

- Add support for PS2, GameCube, and 3DS emulation
- Improve iCloud/cloud storage integration
- Implement customizable button layouts
- Add a more user-friendly setup wizard
- Provide better documentation and tutorials


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Warframe free?

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

### Is RetroArch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Warframe or RetroArch?

Warframe is rated higher. Warframe averages 4.9 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while RetroArch averages 4.3 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Warframe or RetroArch have ads?

Neither Warframe nor RetroArch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Warframe or RetroArch?

Warframe ships an update fortnightly, and RetroArch weekly. Most recently, Warframe was updated on September 26, 2026 and RetroArch on September 26, 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.*