# MasterDex vs gba emulator

MasterDex and gba emulator both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of MasterDex's written reviews are positive against 43% of gba emulator's. MasterDex also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 480). gba emulator's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MasterDex sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and gba emulator sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MasterDex holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 480 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of MasterDex's written reviews are positive against 43% of gba emulator's.

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, gba emulator every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MasterDex | gba emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261/reviews)** | [4.6 (480 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-game/id6517354474/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 480 |
| Positive reviews | **86.6% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 196 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lorenzo Greco](https://appshunter.io/developer/480768196) | [滨 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740769819) |

## What reviewers say

### MasterDex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261)

This app serves as a comprehensive guide for fans and trainers, offering detailed information on creatures, team building, and the trading card game. It features offline access, advanced search, and tracking for favorite creatures and shinies, updated for the latest generation.

**Highlights:** Updated creature information, Team builder tool, Trading Card Game details, Offline functionality, Shiny creature tracker, Advanced search filters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masteredex - Sale | $1.99 | one-time |
| Masterdex PRO | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic app
- 👍 Great Pokédex
- 🔒 No ads
- 💡 One-time purchase
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashing and slow loading
- 🐛 Bugs with team builder
- 🐛 Missing Pokémon forms and gender differences
- 🐛 Incorrect or outdated information
- 💡 Lack of Pokémon location filters

**Reported bugs**

- Shiny toggle not working in team builder
- Pokémon 3D models and artwork not displaying
- Johto region locations missing
- Crashes when adding Pokémon to teams
- Incorrect information for some Pokémon (e.g., Necrozma's ability, Pikachu's classification)

**Requested features**

- Add Pokémon location filters
- Implement ability to mark Pokémon as caught/seen
- Add damage calculator
- Allow reorganizing of teams
- Include Pokémon cries and Dynamax/Gigantamax forms


### gba emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-game/id6517354474)

Relive classic Game Boy Advance games on your iOS device. This emulator offers an authentic gaming experience with support for .gba and .zip files, virtual controllers, and customizable options.

**Highlights:** Play GBA games on iOS, Supports .gba and .zip formats, Virtual controllers, Customizable options, Quick access to games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tipping | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove video ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove advertisements | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Runs smooth, no lag
- 👍 Good compatibility
- 👍 Stable application
- 👍 Works on older iPhones

**What reviewers complain about**

-  anúncios Excessive ads
- 🐛 Crashing consistently
- 🐛 Game crashes and save deletion
- 🐛 Can't play without internet
- 🐛 Loading takes too much time

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes before first arena and save deletes
- App deleted after trying cheat code
- Games no longer run after new iOS update
- Lagging issues
- Save file loading issues

**Requested features**

- Add link cable simulation option for trading Pokémon
- Option to open 2 games simultaneously for trading
- More details on development for configuration options
- Ability to import and export saves
- Add Sonic Triple Trouble 16 bit on GBA


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MasterDex free?

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

### Is gba emulator free?

gba emulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MasterDex or gba emulator?

MasterDex is rated higher. MasterDex averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while gba emulator averages 4.6 from 480 ratings.

### Do MasterDex or gba emulator have ads?

Both MasterDex and gba emulator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, MasterDex or gba emulator?

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, and gba emulator every 2 weeks. Most recently, MasterDex was updated on October 24, 2026 and gba emulator on October 24, 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.*