# 8Bit vs Core Arcade

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 8Bit at none against Core Arcade's 4. 8Bit also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Arcade sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 8Bit asks for nothing beyond the download.

8Bit ships an update every 5 weeks, Core Arcade every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8Bit | Core Arcade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Size | 40 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Arcade Labs Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845682991) | [Jose Blanco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643690946) |

## What reviewers say

### 8Bit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bit/id6753914281)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Core Arcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-arcade/id6760246123)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade Plus Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Arcade Plus Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| 14 Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Remove Ads Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8Bit free?

8Bit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Core Arcade free?

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

### Do 8Bit or Core Arcade have ads?

Both 8Bit and Core Arcade show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 8Bit or Core Arcade?

8Bit ships an update every 5 weeks, and Core Arcade every 3 weeks. Most recently, 8Bit was updated on October 7, 2026 and Core Arcade on October 6, 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.*