# Luna Controller vs RetroArch

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RetroArch at 69% against Luna Controller's 29%. RetroArch also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and device support (5 vs 3). Luna Controller's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (7.5K vs 1.8K). 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.

Luna Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.5K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of Luna Controller's written reviews are positive against 69% of RetroArch's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Luna Controller ships an update monthly, RetroArch weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luna Controller | RetroArch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luna-controller/id1528364633/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | 28.7% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 61 MB | 652 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [AMZN Mobile LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/297606954) | [Libretro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209876090) |

## What reviewers say

### Luna Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luna-controller/id1528364633)

This app allows you to set up and manage your game controllers for a cloud gaming service. It also enables you to use your phone as a virtual controller to play games, with options for guest play and managing connections.

**Highlights:** Register Luna Controllers, Set up Wi-Fi and Cloud Direct, Use phone as virtual controller, Add guests to gaming sessions, Manage Bluetooth connection, Update controller software, Check battery status

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and easy setup
- 👍 Smooth and responsive app
- 💡 Great option for gaming grandkids

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on opening
- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Controller not working as expected
- 🐛 Laggy and slow performance
- 🐛 Compatibility problems

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Virtual controller not working
- Controller disconnects frequently
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Add support for Backbone controller
- Allow using phone as controller for TV
- Improve controller compatibility


### 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 Luna Controller free?

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

### Is RetroArch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Luna Controller or RetroArch?

Luna Controller is rated higher. Luna Controller averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while RetroArch averages 4.3 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Luna Controller or RetroArch have ads?

Neither Luna Controller nor RetroArch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luna Controller or RetroArch?

Luna Controller ships an update monthly, and RetroArch weekly. Most recently, Luna Controller was updated on October 15, 2026 and RetroArch on October 14, 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.*