# EmuTribe vs GBDev

The clearest difference is ads: GBDev at none against EmuTribe's shown. GBDev also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). EmuTribe's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 3.3). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EmuTribe sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and GBDev sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

EmuTribe holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GBDev has 18 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, GBDev every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EmuTribe | GBDev |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emutribe-retro-emulator/id6759283461/reviews)** | [3.3 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gbdev-full-control-emulator/id6787331675/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **18** |
| Positive reviews | — | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 280 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DevStart Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877853784) | [Winter Bagley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1513642337) |

## What reviewers say

### EmuTribe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emutribe-retro-emulator/id6759283461)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EmuTribe Pro | $4.99 | per month |


### GBDev

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gbdev-full-control-emulator/id6787331675)

Play your favorite Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on your iPhone with this emulator. It features a beautiful game library, responsive on-screen controls, and customizable palettes and themes for a comfortable gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Game Boy & Game Boy Color ROM support, Personalized game library with box art, Save states for instant progress capture, Customizable on-screen controls, Adjustable game palettes and app themes, Integrated cheat engine

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GBDev Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EmuTribe free?

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

### Is GBDev free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EmuTribe or GBDev?

EmuTribe is rated higher. EmuTribe averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while GBDev averages 3.3 from 18 ratings.

### Do EmuTribe or GBDev have ads?

EmuTribe shows ads; GBDev does not.

### Which is updated more often, EmuTribe or GBDev?

EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, and GBDev every 4 days. Most recently, EmuTribe was updated on October 15, 2026 and GBDev on October 9, 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.*