# Emu64 XL vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArcEmu at 95% against Emu64 XL's 23%. ArcEmu also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.2) and ads (none vs shown). Emu64 XL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ArcEmu sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Emu64 XL asks for nothing beyond the download.

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Emu64 XL's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

Emu64 XL ships an update every 2 days, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Emu64 XL | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu64-xl/id6483251916/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | **94.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raffaele Amuso](https://appshunter.io/developer/912157295) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### Emu64 XL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu64-xl/id6483251916)

Experience classic computing with this fast and user-friendly emulator for the Commodore 64. It perfectly replicates graphics, sound, and peripherals, offering a virtual keyboard and joystick support. Load your favorite CBM64 files and relive the golden age of 8-bit gaming and software development.

**Highlights:** Commodore 64 emulation, Perfect graphics and sound, Virtual keyboard and joystick, Load .T64 and .D64 files, Hardware peripheral support, Includes CBM64 basic programs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ArcEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733)

Experience retro gaming on your Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. This emulator supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Enjoy features like multiplayer, cheats, and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Game Boy, GBC, GBA emulation, Multiplayer support, Cheat codes, Customizable on-screen controls, Save State sharing, iCloud support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 4) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Boy Advance | $0.99 | one-time |
| SNES | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pokémon Mini | $0.99 | one-time |
| Atari 2600 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mega Drive / Genesis | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Gear | $0.99 | one-time |
| Master System | $0.99 | one-time |
| SG-1000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 3) | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fully functional
- 🚀 Impressive emulation on Apple Watch
- 👍 Great emulator for both phone and watch
- 👍 Seamless save state transfer between devices
- 👍 Customizable controls and layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some games
- 🐛 Audio quality problems on certain games
- 👎 Limited functionality on Apple Watch
- 👎 Difficult controls for action-heavy games on watch

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes
- Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
- Save data not transferring properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add cheat/GameShark support
- Improve volume controls
- Implement fast forward/slow motion options
- Allow multiple save slots per game
- Improve Game Boy Color support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Emu64 XL free?

Emu64 XL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Emu64 XL or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. Emu64 XL averages 2.2 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Emu64 XL or ArcEmu have ads?

Emu64 XL shows ads; ArcEmu does not.

### Which is updated more often, Emu64 XL or ArcEmu?

Emu64 XL ships an update every 2 days, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, Emu64 XL was updated on October 30, 2026 and ArcEmu on November 8, 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.*