FlashArch Player vs Itchy for Scratch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FlashArch Player
This application emulates Shockwave Flash (SWF) files, allowing you to play Flash games and animations. It supports offline playback, enables you to build a personal Flash library, and offers customization options for the player. Explore content and find information on the dedicated wiki.
- SWF file emulation
- Offline playback support
- Build custom Flash libraries
- Player customization
- Access FlashArch wiki
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FlashArch Player is a Flash emulator that can run Shockwave Flash (SWF) files. Play nostalgic Flash games and animations on your mobile device. You can also search the vast FlashArch archive for the Flash games you’re looking for. - Run local Flash files in the player. Offline mode is also supported. - Browse through an archive containing tens of thousands of items. Find Flash content that suits your tastes. - Customize the player to your liking. - Supports various control methods, including virtual gamepads, Bluetooth gamepads, and hardware keyboards. Easily customize these control methods to suit your preferences. - Build your own Flash library. Then launch it quickly anytime, anywhere. No internet connection is required, and there’s no need for a complicated setup process. ############### Please Read ############### 1. Flash files are run through an emulator. Although the emulator is constantly being improved, some content may not yet be fully compatible. Please do not report issues in reviews or ratings; instead, contact us via email or through the support section on our website. 2. Flash files are not included by default.
Itchy for Scratch
This app provides a streamlined way to access and interact with the Scratch platform. Users can read messages, engage with projects, leave comments, and search for content within a user-friendly interface. It offers a free, ad-free experience for Scratch enthusiasts.
- Read messages
- Interact with projects
- Leave comments
- Search content
- Beautiful interface
- Easy to use
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Itchy is a third-party client for Scratch. Read messages, interact with projects, leave comments, search content, and more, all in a beautiful and easy-to-use interface. And best of all, it's completely free and without ads! Open-sourced here: https://github.com/micahlt/itchy-native
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Itchy for Scratch at every 3 days against FlashArch Player's monthly. Itchy for Scratch also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 51%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Itchy for Scratch holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of FlashArch Player's written reviews are positive against 77% of Itchy for Scratch's.
FlashArch Player ships an update monthly, Itchy for Scratch every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.
| Parameter | FlashArch Player | Itchy for Scratch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (49 ratings) | 4.0 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.2% of reviews | 77.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 49 — better | 32 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Joo Yeon Lee | David Banziger |
Customer experience
FlashArch Player
Itchy for Scratch
Bugs and requests
FlashArch Player
Reported bugs
22 issues- v1.9.0 update broke local SWF playback
- 40s timeout bug on player initialization
- WebView graphics context failed to initialize
- Gamepad setting auto reverts to virtual keypad
- Emulated mouse left-clicks when finger touches screen
Show 17 moreShow fewer
- Keyboard buttons cannot be pressed simultaneously
- Controller softlocks in Super Mario 63
- Super Smash Flash 2 does not work
- Some point-and-click games are unresponsive or stuck
- Games with separate external files are not fully supported
- Numberpad controls are not working
- Some games do not display all elements (e.g., maze in Suite Life)
- Chinese characters are not displayed correctly
- Files are reported as 'not a valid file' after initial run or renaming
- Papa's Pizzaria SWFs fail or get stuck on 'Download the newest Flash Player' screen
- Plants vs. Zombies is broken due to inability to add files to one SWF
- Newgrounds versions of Infiltrating the Airship and Escaping the Complex work, but Stickpage versions do not
- Cannot run Scratch 2.0
- Learn to Fly 2 softlocks after the title screen
- SWF files are not playing with the updated engine
- Wiki page flooded with strange or inappropriate content
- App closes easily when playing sideways
Requested features
24 requests- Add gamepad support
- Disable mouse functionality option
- Fix emulated mouse click-and-drag issue
- Add controller support (PS5, Xbox, MFI)
- Add 5-10 more custom buttons
Show 19 moreShow fewer
- Organize files
- Save between sessions
- Add virtual keyboard
- Add full screen option
- Move options to main menu
- Expand controller options (import/export, sync iCloud)
- Rearrange and resize controls
- Map to external controllers
- Support for external data in games
- Add zoom function
- Remove button cap
- Button changes based on bundle
- Add FLA support
- Change names and icons
- Add a 2nd d-pad
- Clicking controllers doesn't interact with screen
- Run from URL
- Support for newer flash games (ActionScript3)
- Add more custom buttons
Itchy for Scratch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
FlashArch Player
No in-app purchases
Itchy for Scratch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FlashArch Player free?
Is Itchy for Scratch free?
Which has better reviews, FlashArch Player or Itchy for Scratch?
Do FlashArch Player or Itchy for Scratch have ads?
Which is updated more often, FlashArch Player or Itchy for Scratch?
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