# RetroHandheld vs Retro Emulator Game Library

The clearest difference is rating: Retro Emulator Game Library at 5.0 against RetroHandheld's 3.8. RetroHandheld's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RetroHandheld sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retro Emulator Game Library sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retro Emulator Game Library holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

RetroHandheld ships an update every 2 weeks, Retro Emulator Game Library every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RetroHandheld | Retro Emulator Game Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrohandheld/id6759585946/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-game-library/id6767789911/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Margot](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877555458) | [Phuc Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893081423) |

## What reviewers say

### RetroHandheld

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrohandheld/id6759585946)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a classic gaming console. Play popular retro systems like Game Boy, NES, and PlayStation with controller support and save states. Bring your own legally owned game files for an offline, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Plays 8 classic consoles, Controller support, Save states and auto-save, Offline play, Cheat code support, iCloud backup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


### Retro Emulator Game Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-game-library/id6767789911)

Transform your iPhone into a retro gaming console. Organize your classic game files into a curated library with instant save states and customizable controls. Enjoy features like cheat codes, screen filters, and fast-forward speeds for an enhanced retro gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Organized game library with cover grid or list view, Multi-slot save states with thumbnails, Cheat code manager, Customizable on-screen gamepad with haptic feedback, Screen filters and fast-forward speeds, iCloud backup and restore

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Custom Gamepad · Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Cheat Codes · Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Save States Pro · Pay Once | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RetroHandheld free?

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

### Is Retro Emulator Game Library free?

Retro Emulator Game Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RetroHandheld or Retro Emulator Game Library?

Retro Emulator Game Library is rated higher. RetroHandheld averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Retro Emulator Game Library averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do RetroHandheld or Retro Emulator Game Library have ads?

Neither RetroHandheld nor Retro Emulator Game Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RetroHandheld or Retro Emulator Game Library?

RetroHandheld ships an update every 2 weeks, and Retro Emulator Game Library every 5 weeks. Most recently, RetroHandheld was updated on October 31, 2026 and Retro Emulator Game Library on October 18, 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.*