8BitDo Ultimate Software vs Ultimate Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
8BitDo Ultimate Software
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.
- Button mapping customization
- Stick and trigger sensitivity adjustment
- Vibration power control
- Macro creation
- Controller compatibility management
Read full descriptionHide full description
8BitDo Ultimate Software gives you elite control over every piece of your controller: customize button mapping, adjust stick & trigger sensitivity, vibration power control and create macros. Controller Compatibility: * 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller * 8BitDo Pro 2 Wired Controller for Xbox * 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox * 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller * 8BitDo Micro Gamepad * 8BitDo Ultimate 3-mode Controller for Xbox Please visit support.8bitdo.com for further information and additional support.
Ultimate Remote
Control your Ultimate-II or Ultimate 64 devices remotely from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Easily manage and run files, import media, create custom layouts, and even use keyboard macros for your Commodore 64.
- Scan and register devices
- Import and manage storage media
- Play SID files and run programs
- Upload and run external files
- Mount disk images and browse directories
- Create custom home layouts and shortcuts
- Create and send keyboard macros
Read full descriptionHide full description
Ultimate Remote is free and open source remote control application for Ultimate-II and Ultimate 64 devices that are on v3.11 firmware and higher for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With Ultimate remote; . Register Ultimate devices on local network by scanning them . Import contents of storage media that is used on Ultimate device with a simple text file . Easily access and search imported content and quickly take actions, such as Play SID File or Run a Program/Cartridge on your Commodore 64 . Upload and run external files from your mobile device. . Mount disk images, browse D64 directory contents, select and run arbitrary files on your Commodore 64 from the app. . Create and customize home layouts, arrange functions as you like . Create shortcuts of your favorite games, music or any supported file type on the homescreen and optionally customize them with your custom icons. . Import High Voltage SID Collection, create Jukebox Lists and play them on your Commodore 64. . Create keystorke lists (keyboard macros) and send them to your Commodore 64 remotely, as if typing on physical keyboard. . Perform any other operation that is supported by Ultimate HTTP API
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ultimate Remote at 3.7 against 8BitDo Ultimate Software's 2.4. Ultimate Remote also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). 8BitDo Ultimate Software's advantage is ratings volume (197 vs 3) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Ultimate Remote holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 8BitDo Ultimate Software has 197 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of 8BitDo Ultimate Software's written reviews are positive against 33% of Ultimate Remote's.
8BitDo Ultimate Software ships an update every 2 months, Ultimate Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 8BitDo Ultimate Software | Ultimate Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.4 (197 ratings) | 3.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 26.4% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 197 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 14.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 167 MB | 76 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 8BitDo | Onur Buyukcaglar |
Customer experience
8BitDo Ultimate Software
Ultimate Remote
Bugs and requests
8BitDo Ultimate Software
Reported bugs
4 issues- App unable to detect connected controllers
- Key mapping not working as expected
- Profiles resetting after app restart
- Firmware update issues bricking controllers
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Ultimate Remote
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
8BitDo Ultimate Software
No in-app purchases
Ultimate Remote
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 8BitDo Ultimate Software free?
Is Ultimate Remote free?
Which has better reviews, 8BitDo Ultimate Software or Ultimate Remote?
Do 8BitDo Ultimate Software or Ultimate Remote have ads?
Which is updated more often, 8BitDo Ultimate Software or Ultimate Remote?
Other comparisons
