# Localhost vs Manic EMU

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Localhost at none against Manic EMU's 3. Localhost also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 74%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Manic EMU's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (16K vs 9). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Manic EMU sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Localhost asks for nothing beyond the download.

Localhost holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Manic EMU has 16K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Localhost's written reviews are positive against 74% of Manic EMU's.

Localhost ships an update weekly, Manic EMU fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Localhost | Manic EMU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localhost/id1582612790/reviews)** | [4.7 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manic-emu-game-emulator/id6743335790/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **16K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 73.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#209** |
| Size | 31 MB | 551 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [N3rd Street Gamers, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502043269) | [Shenzhen Aoshuang Future Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1792380641) |

## What reviewers say

### Localhost

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localhost/id1582612790)

Discover and connect with gaming and esports centers. Purchase gameplay hours, join competitions, and find venues for casual play. The app allows account creation and finding nearby locations.

**Highlights:** Connect with gaming centers, Discover esports competitions, Purchase gameplay hours, Find nearby venues, Create a Localhost account

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Manic EMU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manic-emu-game-emulator/id6743335790)

**Currently charting:** #209 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

This app is a comprehensive emulator for a vast array of classic gaming consoles, allowing you to relive your favorite retro titles. It offers advanced features like save states, speed control, and visual filters, with cloud sync and controller support for a seamless experience.

**Highlights:** Supports 30+ classic gaming platforms, RetroAchievements integration, Unlimited manual and auto-save slots, 5x game speed boost, Cheat code library, Customizable visual filters and skins, iCloud and cloud storage sync

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $4.99 | per year |
| Forever Access | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Runs well on devices
- 👍 Great emulator overall
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 👍 Intuitive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Lag and performance issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems
- 🐛 Audio issues

**Reported bugs**

- Certain games crash or don't work
- Issues with importing and loading ROMs
- Screen scaling and optimization problems

**Requested features**

- Allow sharing save states from other emulators
- Add more 3DS settings and options
- Improve support for 3DS features like the keyboard
- Add ability to hide touch screen controls when using a controller


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Localhost free?

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

### Is Manic EMU free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Localhost or Manic EMU?

Localhost is rated higher. Localhost averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Manic EMU averages 4.7 from 16K ratings.

### Do Localhost or Manic EMU have ads?

Localhost shows ads; Manic EMU does not.

### Which is updated more often, Localhost or Manic EMU?

Localhost ships an update weekly, and Manic EMU fortnightly. Most recently, Localhost was updated on October 8, 2026 and Manic EMU on October 16, 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.*