EmuTribe vs Sakura!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, Sakura! every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | EmuTribe | Sakura! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) | 4.5 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 90.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 10 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 280 MB | 84 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DevStart Labs | Dylan Mathurin |
Customer experience
EmuTribe
Sakura!
In-app purchases
EmuTribe
- EmuTribe Pro$4.991 Month
Sakura!
- Tip 1$$0.99







