# iRetrodex vs Nova Retro

The clearest difference is update cadence: iRetrodex at every 3 days against Nova Retro's every 4 weeks. iRetrodex also leads on ratings volume (14 vs 2). Nova Retro's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iRetrodex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iRetrodex has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iRetrodex ships an update every 3 days, Nova Retro every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRetrodex | Nova Retro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iretrodex/id6759455334/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-retro/id6799106990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 495 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Retrodex LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878698152) | [振东 史](https://appshunter.io/developer/6799051561) |

## What reviewers say

### iRetrodex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iretrodex/id6759455334)

This app serves as a digital museum and catalog for retro gaming enthusiasts. It allows users to browse, discover, and manage their collection of classic games across multiple platforms, with features for tracking ownership, ratings, and purchase details.

**Highlights:** Browse and discover thousands of retro games, Catalog games as Owned, Wanted, or Played, Scan cartridges for automatic identification, View deep game information including rarity, Backup and sync collection data via iCloud, Filter games by genre, release year, and more

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Collector | $6.99 | one-time |


### 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 iRetrodex free?

iRetrodex 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, iRetrodex or Nova Retro?

Nova Retro is rated higher. iRetrodex averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Nova Retro averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do iRetrodex or Nova Retro have ads?

Neither iRetrodex nor Nova Retro shows ads.

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

iRetrodex ships an update every 3 days, and Nova Retro every 4 weeks. Most recently, iRetrodex was updated on October 28, 2026 and Nova Retro on October 25, 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.*