# Dobutsu vs RetroKit

The clearest difference is rating: RetroKit at 5.0 against Dobutsu's 3.3. Dobutsu's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RetroKit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Dobutsu asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroKit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dobutsu has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Dobutsu ships an update every 3 weeks, RetroKit fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dobutsu | RetroKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dobutsu/id455613025/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrokit-game-emulator/id6816734244/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 25 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toshihide Shimada](https://appshunter.io/developer/302886886) | [Thales Pereira](https://appshunter.io/developer/937060125) |

## What reviewers say

### Dobutsu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dobutsu/id455613025)

A Japanese clock application that displays time with Japanese notation and audio. It is free to download and use.

**Highlights:** Japanese time notation, Japanese audio, Free to download, iPhone, iPad, iPod support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### RetroKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrokit-game-emulator/id6816734244)

Play classic games from NES, SNES, GBA, and Genesis on your Apple devices. Seamlessly sync your progress and saves across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Enjoy customizable controls and a private, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Plays NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis games, iCloud sync for games and saves, Customizable touch controls, Controller and keyboard support, Import game files via Files app, Ad-free and private experience

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dobutsu free?

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

### Is RetroKit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dobutsu or RetroKit?

RetroKit is rated higher. Dobutsu averages 3.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while RetroKit averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Dobutsu or RetroKit have ads?

Neither Dobutsu nor RetroKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dobutsu or RetroKit?

Dobutsu ships an update every 3 weeks, and RetroKit fortnightly. Most recently, Dobutsu was updated on November 1, 2026 and RetroKit on October 31, 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.*