Comparison

EmuTribe vs Sakura!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

EmuTribe

Organize and play your legally obtained retro game collection on your iPhone or iPad. Customize controls, use save states, apply visual filters, and enjoy 2-player NetPlay. Cloud sync keeps your progress safe.

Highlights
  • Visual game library organization
  • Customizable touch controls
  • Physical controller support
  • Save states and fast-forward
  • Visual filters (HD, CRT, LCD)
  • 2-player LAN NetPlay
  • Optional cloud sync
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a modern home for your legally obtained retro game collection. EmuTribe brings your own game files together in a clean visual library with customizable controls, save states, visual filters, cloud sync, and 2-player LAN NetPlay. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY • Organize your own game files in one beautiful library. • Find recent titles, revisit favorites, and continue where you left off. • Games, ROMs, and BIOS files are not included. PLAY THE WAY YOU LIKE • Customize touch controls, button positions, and transparency. • Use compatible physical controllers. • Save and resume at any time with save states. • Use fast-forward and cheats when supported. • Choose HD, CRT, or LCD visual filters. PLAY TOGETHER Create a LAN NetPlay room for two players on the same Wi-Fi network when the game and system are compatible. Network quality, device performance, and host stability can affect the session. KEEP YOUR PROGRESS Optional cloud sync keeps compatible saves, save states, and settings available through your EmuTribe account. SUPPORTED SYSTEMS EmuTribe supports a range of classic systems, from 8-bit and 16-bit consoles to later handheld and 3D platforms. Compatibility depends on the selected core, game, settings, and device. More demanding systems may require newer hardware. FREE TO START Core features are available for free. Optional Standard and Plus subscriptions remove ads and unlock additional features such as extra save-state slots, premium filters, cheats, and cloud sync. IMPORTANT EmuTribe does not provide, sell, download, or distribute games, ROMs, BIOS files, or copyrighted content. Import only files you have the legal right to use. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. EmuTribe is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by console manufacturers or game publishers. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://emutribe.com/privacy

About

Sakura!

This app allows you to play your favorite PlayStation One games on your iPhone or iPad. It offers extensive customization for controls, graphics, and performance, providing a console-like experience.

Highlights
  • PlayStation One emulation on iOS
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Physical gamepad support
  • Extensive graphics and performance tuning
  • Support for various game disc formats
  • Recursive folder scanning for games
Features
Read full description

Sakura is a PlayStation One & PSP emulator frontend built on top of the Beetle PSX and PPSSPP cores for iPhone and iPad. Add your own system BIOS and disc backups & customize your library then play with on-screen controls or a physical gamepad/controller for a console-like experience! • Add your own PS1 BIOS (.bin) file(s) and choose a default in Settings; PSP games boot without one. • Add games under the app’s Documents folder in Files, or use in-app import. Sakura scans folders recursively, including multi-disc setups and M3U playlists. • Supported formats CUE/BIN, CHD, PBP, M3U, ISO/IMG, MDS/MDF, NRG, CDI, ECM, CSO/ZSO • One library for both systems, with a system switch in the library bar that picks which settings you get and which system Boot System starts. CONTROLS • Full touch overlay with layout editor: move, scale, and theme controls to fit your hands. • Digital and DualShock-style modes, with optional per-game auto-switching. • MFi and Bluetooth gamepads with remappable buttons; haptics and rumble where supported. • Analog deadzone, axis scale, and gate compensation on both systems. GRAPHICS & PERFORMANCE • Internal resolution scaling, fit vs fill framing, and multiple texture filtering paths from crisp pixel modes through sharpened upscalers. • FXAA, CAS, optional PGXP-style geometry options, widescreen-related tweaks, color and dither controls, and frame blending where you want a softer or more authentic look. • Libretro Shaders: load your own slang presets, pick a built-in CRT or TV preset, or pull the shared pack from inside the app. • Fast Boot and host-side run speed for slow-mo or fast-forward-style pacing alongside core tuning for CPU, GPU, and disc access. QUALITY OF LIFE • In-game menu for graphics, performance HUD, save slots (when enabled in Settings), controller remapping, and stopping a session. • Optional performance overlay, notification cards, and extensive UI customization: accents, backgrounds, typography, accessibility options, and optional background music including your own tracks. LEGAL Sakura does not include games, a PlayStation or PSP BIOS, firmware, or other copyrighted material you don’t have rights to use. You are responsible for complying with the laws that apply to you. “PlayStation”, “PSP” and related names are trademarks of Sony; this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Screenshots

EmuTribe4 screens
Sakura!3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EmuTribe at Free against Sakura!'s $0.99. EmuTribe also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Sakura!'s advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

EmuTribe is free to download; Sakura! costs $0.99 up front. EmuTribe sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and Sakura! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sakura! holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 10 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, Sakura! every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
EmuTribe versus Sakura!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmuTribeSakura!
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.5 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—90.0% of reviews
Number of ratings410 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size280 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDevStart LabsDylan Mathurin

Customer experience

EmuTribe

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Sakura!

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

EmuTribe

Subscriptions1
  • EmuTribe Pro$4.991 Month
1 purchases

Sakura!

One-time1
  • Tip 1$$0.99

Questions

Is EmuTribe free?
EmuTribe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sakura! free?
Sakura! costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EmuTribe or Sakura!?
Sakura! is rated higher. EmuTribe averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Sakura! averages 4.5 from 10 ratings.
Do EmuTribe or Sakura! have ads?
EmuTribe shows ads; Sakura! does not.
Which is updated more often, EmuTribe or Sakura!?
EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Sakura! every 2 months. Most recently, EmuTribe was updated on October 31, 2026 and Sakura! on October 31, 2026.

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