# GBA Emulator vs Retra

The clearest difference is rating: Retra at 4.8 against GBA Emulator's 3.7. Retra also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). GBA Emulator's advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 15%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GBA Emulator sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days 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.

Retra holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.3K and 3K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of GBA Emulator's written reviews are positive against 15% of Retra's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

GBA Emulator ships an update fortnightly, Retra every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GBA Emulator | Retra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-games/id6502157237/reviews) | **[4.8 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retra-app-console-emulator/id6746222411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | **39.7% of reviews** | 14.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 314 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SMART WIDGET LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561934122) | [MODERN DEV LP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604740281) |

## What reviewers say

### GBA Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-games/id6502157237)

Relive classic gaming with this comprehensive emulator supporting a vast array of retro consoles. Save progress, fast-forward, customize controls, and even play with friends. Explore game facts and quizzes to enhance your retro experience.

**Highlights:** Supports multiple classic game consoles, Save and load game states, Fast forward gameplay, Customizable controller skins, Multiplayer support, Community game sharing

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per year |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per month |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Game Emulator | $12.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plus | $15.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Game Emulator | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Great game
- 🎮 Enjoyable emulation experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with ROMs
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected
- 💸 Excessive ads and premium paywall
- 🔇 Missing audio/sound

**Reported bugs**

- White screen on startup
- Inability to download/play certain games

**Requested features**

- Option to adjust controller transparency
- Support for more game systems (N64, DS)


### 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 GBA Emulator free?

GBA Emulator 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, GBA Emulator or Retra?

Retra is rated higher. GBA Emulator averages 3.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Retra averages 4.8 from 3K ratings.

### Do GBA Emulator or Retra have ads?

Both GBA Emulator and Retra show ads.

### Which is updated more often, GBA Emulator or Retra?

GBA Emulator ships an update fortnightly, and Retra every 4 days. Most recently, GBA Emulator was updated on November 8, 2026 and Retra 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.*