# iCollect Video Games vs Arcade Reference

The clearest difference is rating: iCollect Video Games at 4.6 against Arcade Reference's 3.1. iCollect Video Games also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 52) and review sentiment (55% vs 46%). Arcade Reference's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iCollect Video Games sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year and Arcade Reference sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iCollect Video Games holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iCollect Video Games has 1.8K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of iCollect Video Games's written reviews are positive against 46% of Arcade Reference's.

iCollect Video Games ships an update every 5 weeks, Arcade Reference every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iCollect Video Games | Arcade Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icollect-video-games-tracker/id476622786/reviews)** | [3.1 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **54.6% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iCollect Everything, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505869775) | [Nicola Canali](https://appshunter.io/developer/939541887) |

## What reviewers say

### iCollect Video Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icollect-video-games-tracker/id476622786)

Manage your video game collection with this comprehensive inventory app. Catalog games for various consoles, track personal details, and sync across devices. Features barcode scanning, cloud backup, and customizable layouts.

**Highlights:** Manage video game collections for all systems, Barcode scanning and database search, Cloud backup and sync across devices, Customizable layouts and fields, Track personal game details and estimated value, Import collections from other apps

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Video Games | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro User - Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| 50 AI Identification Scans | $9.99 | one-time |
| 250 AI Identification Scans | $44.99 | one-time |
| Add Unlimited Video Games | $49.99 | one-time |
| 500 AI Identification Scans | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for organizing collection
- 🚀 Barcode scanning feature
- 👍 Customizable
- 👍 Great for collectors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive for full version
- 🔒 Requires account creation
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 🐛 Database issues and missing games

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted user's entire game collection
- Inconsistent data and cover art
- Sync and login issues
- Frequent crashes and app instability

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize by console/platform
- Improved search and filtering options
- Integration with other services (e.g. Steam)
- Notifications for price changes or new releases
- Export/backup collection data


### Arcade Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507)

Access comprehensive information on classic arcade games from the 70s to the 2000s. This app provides a detailed guide with tips and data compiled from enthusiast communities, focusing on video games and excluding gambling machines.

**Highlights:** Extensive arcade game database, Information compiled from Mame data, Tips and reference material, Organized game data, Covers 70s-2000s titles, Excludes gambling machines

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iCollect Video Games free?

iCollect Video Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Arcade Reference free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iCollect Video Games or Arcade Reference?

iCollect Video Games is rated higher. iCollect Video Games averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Arcade Reference averages 3.1 from 52 ratings.

### Do iCollect Video Games or Arcade Reference have ads?

Neither iCollect Video Games nor Arcade Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iCollect Video Games or Arcade Reference?

iCollect Video Games ships an update every 5 weeks, and Arcade Reference every 5 days. Most recently, iCollect Video Games was updated on October 15, 2026 and Arcade Reference on October 7, 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.*