Comparison

8BitDo Ultimate Software vs Retro Achievements

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Button mapping customization
  • Stick and trigger sensitivity adjustment
  • Vibration power control
  • Macro creation
  • Controller compatibility management
Features
Read 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.

About

Retro Achievements

Features
Read full description

Application for managing achievements from retroachievements.org, which includes features such as: Custom Achievement Management Special Achievement Tracking Missable Achievement Detection Achievement and Progress Visualization Customizable View Achievement of the Week Achievement of the Month Achievement Trading Event History Player Following Statistics Comparison - Versus Mode Recent Activity Comment Reading Console Search New Releases Leaderboards Favorites Management Hash Information Patch Downloads FAQ System Optimized Interface Sharing System Detailed View Available in 46 different languages LEGAL Privacy Policy: https://akissame.com.co/retroachievements#privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ SUBSCRIPTION TERMS - 3-day free trial for new users - Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal - Payment charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal in Account Settings - Any unused portion of free trial forfeited when purchasing subscription Cancel anytime through your device Settings > Subscriptions.

Screenshots

8BitDo Ultimate Software4 screens
Retro Achievements4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 8BitDo Ultimate Software at none against Retro Achievements's 3. 8BitDo Ultimate Software also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). Retro Achievements's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Retro Achievements sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. 8BitDo Ultimate Software asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

8BitDo Ultimate Software ships an update every 2 months, Retro Achievements every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
8BitDo Ultimate Software versus Retro Achievements: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter8BitDo Ultimate SoftwareRetro Achievements
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (254 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews26.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings254 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size167 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer8BitDoJohan Steven Oliveros Rodriguez

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

Retro Achievements

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

8BitDo Ultimate Software

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Retro Achievements

Subscriptions3
  • Ad-Free Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Ad-Free 6 Months$5.496 Months
  • Ad-Free Annual$9.991 Year

Questions

Is 8BitDo Ultimate Software free?
8BitDo Ultimate Software is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Retro Achievements free?
Retro Achievements is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 8BitDo Ultimate Software or Retro Achievements have ads?
Neither 8BitDo Ultimate Software nor Retro Achievements shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 8BitDo Ultimate Software or Retro Achievements?
8BitDo Ultimate Software ships an update every 2 months, and Retro Achievements every 2 weeks. Most recently, 8BitDo Ultimate Software was updated on November 3, 2026 and Retro Achievements on October 25, 2026.

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