# EmuTribe vs Nova Retro

The clearest difference is rating: Nova Retro at 5.0 against EmuTribe's 4.0. Nova Retro also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). EmuTribe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EmuTribe sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and Nova Retro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nova Retro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively.

EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, Nova Retro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EmuTribe | Nova Retro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emutribe-retro-emulator/id6759283461/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-retro/id6799106990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 280 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [DevStart Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877853784) | [振东 史](https://appshunter.io/developer/6799051561) |

## 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 |


### Nova Retro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-retro/id6799106990)

Emulate classic gaming consoles on your iPhone and iPad. Bring your own legally owned games and customize touch controls. Enjoy local multiplayer with friends on the same network.

**Highlights:** Emulates NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, Import your own legally owned games, Customizable on-screen touch controls, Local network multiplayer, Save and load game states, Supports multiple languages

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy Me a Coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| Big Support | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EmuTribe free?

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

### Is Nova Retro free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EmuTribe or Nova Retro?

Nova Retro is rated higher. EmuTribe averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Nova Retro averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do EmuTribe or Nova Retro have ads?

EmuTribe shows ads; Nova Retro does not.

### Which is updated more often, EmuTribe or Nova Retro?

EmuTribe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Nova Retro every 3 weeks. Most recently, EmuTribe was updated on October 31, 2026 and Nova Retro on November 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.*