# RetroArch vs Consonance

The clearest difference is ads: RetroArch at none against Consonance's shown. RetroArch also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 5) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Consonance's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Consonance holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RetroArch has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of RetroArch's written reviews are positive against 100% of Consonance's.

RetroArch ships an update weekly, Consonance every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RetroArch | Consonance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433/reviews) | **[4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consonance/id6569233995/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 652 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Libretro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209876090) | [Philip Cowles](https://appshunter.io/developer/1758899710) |

## What reviewers say

### RetroArch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433)

This application serves as a versatile frontend for emulators and game engines, supporting a vast array of systems through downloadable cores. It offers advanced features like netplay, save states, and customizable controls for an enhanced gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Supports numerous gaming systems via libretro cores, Netplay for multiplayer gaming, Save states and fast forward/rewind, Controller support and key remapping, Customizable shaders and overlays, RetroAchievements integration, AI translations for games

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth emulation performance
- 🎮 Wide range of supported systems
- 🕹️ Controller support
- 💯 Comprehensive emulation features
- 🔓 No ads or tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🤖 Unintuitive user interface
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
- 🔌 Slow loading times
- 🤷‍♂️ Inconsistent core support

**Reported bugs**

- N64 games not loading textures properly
- Crashes when changing settings or cores
- Bios files not being recognized
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Saved settings not persisting

**Requested features**

- Add support for PS2, GameCube, and 3DS emulation
- Improve iCloud/cloud storage integration
- Implement customizable button layouts
- Add a more user-friendly setup wizard
- Provide better documentation and tutorials


### Consonance

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consonance/id6569233995)

Unscramble jumbled letters to find hidden words while avoiding decoy letters. Engage in daily challenges to maintain your win streak or practice endlessly to hone your skills and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** Unscramble letters to find words, Avoid decoy letters, Daily challenges, Practice mode, Unlock achievements, Hints and help

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RetroArch free?

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

### Is Consonance free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RetroArch or Consonance?

Consonance is rated higher. RetroArch averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Consonance averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do RetroArch or Consonance have ads?

Consonance shows ads; RetroArch does not.

### Which is updated more often, RetroArch or Consonance?

RetroArch ships an update weekly, and Consonance every 3 days. Most recently, RetroArch was updated on October 2, 2026 and Consonance on September 20, 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.*