# PPSSPP vs Thirsty Nellan

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thirsty Nellan at none against PPSSPP's 1. PPSSPP's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PPSSPP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Thirsty Nellan asks for nothing beyond the download.

PPSSPP ships an update every 4 weeks, Thirsty Nellan every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PPSSPP | Thirsty Nellan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppsspp-psp-emulator/id6496972903/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 44 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Henrik Rydgård](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741218068) | [Thirsty Nellan Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/499087849) |

## What reviewers say

### PPSSPP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppsspp-psp-emulator/id6496972903)

Experience your favorite PSP titles on your iOS device with high-definition graphics and enhanced features. This emulator allows you to play a vast library of PSP games with excellent performance. Access your own game files or explore free homebrew titles.

**Highlights:** Play PSP games on iOS, High-definition graphics, Extra features, High performance, Supports ISO/CSO files, Built-in Homebrew Store

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PPSSPP Gold | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Supports controllers
- 🎮 Able to play classic PSP games
- 🔥 Amazing emulation experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Compatibility problems with certain games
- 🔇 Sound issues with some games

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to load save files
- Controller mapping not working properly
- Certain games not launching or freezing

**Requested features**

- Add support for PS2 and PS3 emulation
- Improve save state functionality
- Implement haptic feedback for on-screen controls
- Allow customization of button mapping
- Add portrait mode support


### Thirsty Nellan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thirsty-nellan/id6801449698)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PPSSPP free?

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

### Is Thirsty Nellan free?

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

### Do PPSSPP or Thirsty Nellan have ads?

Neither PPSSPP nor Thirsty Nellan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PPSSPP or Thirsty Nellan?

PPSSPP ships an update every 4 weeks, and Thirsty Nellan every 3 weeks. Most recently, PPSSPP was updated on October 22, 2026 and Thirsty Nellan on October 14, 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.*