# XP Maker vs Retra

XP Maker and Retra both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 98% of XP Maker's written reviews are positive against 14% of Retra's. XP Maker also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Retra's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (3K vs 104). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XP Maker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retra sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for XP Maker against 4.8 for Retra. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retra has 3K ratings behind it against 104, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of XP Maker's written reviews are positive against 14% of Retra's.

XP Maker ships an update every 3 months, Retra every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XP Maker | Retra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-maker/id6475613532/reviews) | [4.8 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retra-app-console-emulator/id6746222411/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 104 | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | **98.0% of reviews** | 14.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 108 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [David Alvarez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1444697550) | [MODERN DEV LP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604740281) |

## What reviewers say

### XP Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-maker/id6475613532)

Design unique pixel-art avatars with a vast selection of items and color variations. Easily create thousands of distinct character combinations and share your creations.

**Highlights:** Create pixel-art avatars, 14 item categories, Color variations, Thousands of combinations, Easy to use interface, Share creations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Xp Maker Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great for creating avatars
- ✨ Fun and entertaining
- 🤩 High quality app
- 💖 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

-  anúncios when downloading
- 🔒 Many features locked
- 💰 Some content behind paywall
- 💸 Microtransactions for customization
- 🚫 No skirts for free

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot delete a duo concept
- A tiny bug emerged

**Requested features**

- Add movement options (walking, running)
- Basketball app for NBA characters
- More poses for free
- Wallpaper options
- More hair options (anime/series)


### Retra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retra-app-console-emulator/id6746222411)

Experience classic gaming with this retro console emulator. Relive childhood memories with support for multiple consoles, customizable skins, and controller integration. Unlock the full experience through a subscription or a lifetime purchase.

**Highlights:** Support for 5+ retro consoles, 10+ visual skins, Customizable settings, Controller support, Cloud game saving, Fast ROM import

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly access to emulator | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access to emulator | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Lifetime access to emulator | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nostalgic feel
- 👍 Controller support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to play on mobile
- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 🔒 Suspicious free trial
- 🐛 Freezing issues
- 🐛 Unresponsive controls

**Reported bugs**

- Games freeze
- Inability to play without paying

**Requested features**

- Option to exit free trial
- Improve mobile optimization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XP Maker free?

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

### Is Retra free?

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

### Which has better reviews, XP Maker or Retra?

XP Maker and Retra are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 104 and 3K ratings respectively.

### Do XP Maker or Retra have ads?

Retra shows ads; XP Maker does not.

### Which is updated more often, XP Maker or Retra?

XP Maker ships an update every 3 months, and Retra every 4 days. Most recently, XP Maker was updated on October 10, 2026 and Retra 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.*