# TinyEmulator vs RetroPlay

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TinyEmulator at 55% against RetroPlay's 0%. TinyEmulator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). RetroPlay's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (103 vs 14). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RetroPlay sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. TinyEmulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroPlay holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RetroPlay has 103 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of TinyEmulator's written reviews are positive against 0% of RetroPlay's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TinyEmulator ships an update every 2 weeks, RetroPlay every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 17, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TinyEmulator | RetroPlay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinyemulator/id6667099562/reviews) | **[4.6 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroplay-console-emulator/id6755721950/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **103** |
| Positive reviews | **54.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 52 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [兴海 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764570631) | [Hamza El karmouni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642379528) |

## What reviewers say

### TinyEmulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinyemulator/id6667099562)

Play classic retro games on your device with this emulator. Enjoy solo or multiplayer experiences, with support for a wide range of classic gaming systems. Save your progress, use controllers, and even chat with friends during netplay sessions.

**Highlights:** Multi-platform support, Solo and multiplayer netplay, State save and load, Gamepad controller support, Voice and message chat during netplay, Controller skins and haptics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none


### RetroPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroplay-console-emulator/id6755721950)

Play classic games from GBA, SNES, N64, and more on your iPhone or iPad. This emulator offers smooth performance, customizable controls, and easy ROM import. Relive your favorite retro titles with enhanced audio and visual filters.

**Highlights:** Supports GBA, GBC, NES, SNES, N64, and more, Easy ROM import from Files and iCloud, Customizable on-screen controls, Unlimited save states and quick resume, Fast forward gameplay, Retro visual and audio filters, AirPlay support for big screen gaming

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RetroPlay Premium Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| RetroPlay Premium Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| RetroPlay Premium Access | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TinyEmulator free?

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

### Is RetroPlay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TinyEmulator or RetroPlay?

RetroPlay is rated higher. TinyEmulator averages 3.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while RetroPlay averages 4.6 from 103 ratings.

### Do TinyEmulator or RetroPlay have ads?

RetroPlay shows ads; TinyEmulator does not.

### Which is updated more often, TinyEmulator or RetroPlay?

TinyEmulator ships an update every 2 weeks, and RetroPlay every 2 months. Most recently, TinyEmulator was updated on July 17, 2026 and RetroPlay on September 22, 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.*