# ShanWan Controller vs gba emulator

The clearest difference is rating: gba emulator at 4.6 against ShanWan Controller's 2.8. gba emulator also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (401 vs 35). ShanWan Controller's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. gba emulator sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ShanWan Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

gba emulator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: gba emulator has 401 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of ShanWan Controller's written reviews are positive against 43% of gba emulator's.

ShanWan Controller ships an update every 2 months, gba emulator every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShanWan Controller | gba emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shanwan-controller/id1660844654/reviews) | **[4.6 (401 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-game/id6517354474/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 35 | **401** |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | **42.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 41 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen Qixiong Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484600595) | [滨 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740769819) |

## What reviewers say

### ShanWan Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shanwan-controller/id1660844654)

This app aggregates controller-compatible games from various cloud and streaming platforms, including MFi and Apple Arcade titles. It also introduces custom controller protocols for expanded functionality and new ways to play.

**Highlights:** Game controller aggregation, Cloud and streaming platform integration, MFi and Apple Arcade game support, Custom controller protocol, Expanded controller functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 ShanWan Controller free?

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

### Is gba emulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ShanWan Controller or gba emulator?

gba emulator is rated higher. ShanWan Controller averages 2.8 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while gba emulator averages 4.6 from 401 ratings.

### Do ShanWan Controller or gba emulator have ads?

gba emulator shows ads; ShanWan Controller does not.

### Which is updated more often, ShanWan Controller or gba emulator?

ShanWan Controller ships an update every 2 months, and gba emulator every 2 weeks. Most recently, ShanWan Controller was updated on October 20, 2026 and gba emulator on October 17, 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.*