# ArcEmu vs JavaSquirrel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JavaSquirrel at none against ArcEmu's 10. JavaSquirrel also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). ArcEmu's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 3) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ArcEmu against 5.0 for JavaSquirrel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of ArcEmu's written reviews are positive against 100% of JavaSquirrel's.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcEmu | JavaSquirrel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/javasquirrel/id6749491216/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 94.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 234 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) | [Eric Garside](https://appshunter.io/developer/1111661961) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### JavaSquirrel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/javasquirrel/id6749491216)

Embark on a peaceful, procedurally generated adventure collecting acorns in a forest before winter. Sip espresso for a speed boost and earn free shots for your efforts. A simple, soothing, and caffeinated experience awaits.

**Highlights:** Procedurally generated forest paths, Acorn collection gameplay, Espresso speed boosts, No enemies or hazards, Winter survival theme, Home tree nut deposit

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Is JavaSquirrel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcEmu or JavaSquirrel?

JavaSquirrel is rated higher. ArcEmu averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while JavaSquirrel averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do ArcEmu or JavaSquirrel have ads?

Neither ArcEmu nor JavaSquirrel shows ads.

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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.*