# Pocket8 vs Retroly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pocket8 at none against Retroly's 1. Pocket8 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). Retroly's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retroly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pocket8 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retroly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket8 has 40 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pocket8 ships an update daily, Retroly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket8 | Retroly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket8/id6758171942/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroly/id6768423479/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **40** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jevon Lipsey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864554839) | [Eray Kiyak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855182376) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket8/id6758171942)

This app brings the PICO-8 fantasy console experience to your mobile device, offering access to thousands of community-made games. Enjoy customizable touch controls or gamepad support, and never lose progress with an instant save system.

**Highlights:** Browse and play community-made PICO-8 games, Customizable touch controls and gamepad support, Instant save states for unlimited progress saving, Portrait and landscape orientation support, Locked 60FPS gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Retroly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroly/id6768423479)

Play your classic game backups on iPhone with this retro gaming hub. Import ROMs, organize your collection, and enjoy a fast, distraction-free interface with customizable on-screen controls. Save your progress and adjust settings for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Game Boy, GBC, GBA support, ROM import from local storage, Organized game library, Recent play history, Responsive on-screen controls, Gameplay customization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retroly Premium | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket8 free?

Pocket8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Retroly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocket8 or Retroly?

Retroly is rated higher. Pocket8 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Retroly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pocket8 or Retroly have ads?

Retroly shows ads; Pocket8 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket8 or Retroly?

Pocket8 ships an update daily, and Retroly fortnightly. Most recently, Pocket8 was updated on October 25, 2026 and Retroly on October 21, 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.*