# 8BitDo Ultimate Software vs TDC Mate

The clearest difference is rating: TDC Mate at 4.0 against 8BitDo Ultimate Software's 2.4. TDC Mate also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). 8BitDo Ultimate Software's advantage is ratings volume (197 vs 6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

TDC Mate holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 8BitDo Ultimate Software has 197 ratings behind it against 6, 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 TDC Mate's.

8BitDo Ultimate Software ships an update every 2 months, TDC Mate every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8BitDo Ultimate Software | TDC Mate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitdo-ultimate-software/id1532713768/reviews) | **[4.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tdc-mate/id6479186337/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **197** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 26.4% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 167 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [8BitDo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532713770) | [hui zhu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735112427) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### TDC Mate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tdc-mate/id6479186337)

Connect your pro taiko drum controller to gaming consoles via Bluetooth. Customize sensitivity, send commands, and enable dual-player mode for PC games. Stay updated with firmware support for an optimized gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth connectivity for pro taiko drum controllers, Automatic console control interface adjustment, Intuitive command sending buttons, Customizable drum controller sensitivity, Dual-player mode setup for PC games, Firmware update support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8BitDo Ultimate Software free?

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

### Is TDC Mate free?

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

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

TDC Mate is rated higher. 8BitDo Ultimate Software averages 2.4 out of 5 from 197 ratings, while TDC Mate averages 4.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do 8BitDo Ultimate Software or TDC Mate have ads?

Neither 8BitDo Ultimate Software nor TDC Mate shows ads.

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

8BitDo Ultimate Software ships an update every 2 months, and TDC Mate every 3 weeks. Most recently, 8BitDo Ultimate Software was updated on October 16, 2026 and TDC Mate on October 16, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*