# Phosphor Emulator vs Retro Emulator

The clearest difference is update cadence: Phosphor Emulator at every 3 days against Retro Emulator's every 3 months. Phosphor Emulator also leads on ratings volume (35 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). Retro Emulator's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Retro Emulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phosphor Emulator has 35 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Phosphor Emulator ships an update every 3 days, Retro Emulator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phosphor Emulator | Retro Emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phosphor-emulator/id6759676286/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 73 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SquatchCraft LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1440325922) | [Vu Bach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869520433) |

## What reviewers say

### Phosphor Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phosphor-emulator/id6759676286)

This app provides a premium emulation experience for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on modern iOS devices. It features advanced controls, instant save states, and unique functionalities like rewinding gameplay and AI play.

**Highlights:** Rewind and fast-forward gameplay, Instant save and load states, Customizable touch controls, MFi controller support, Game Boy Camera and Printer integration, AI Play feature

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Retro Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769)

Play classic 8-bit console games on your device with this fast and lightweight emulator. Import your own game files or access public domain titles, and save your progress anytime. Enjoy smooth emulation with on-screen controls and sharp display filters.

**Highlights:** Import your own games, Save progress anytime, On-screen controls with turbo, Sharp display filters, No ads or tracking, Public domain game library

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phosphor Emulator free?

Phosphor Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Retro Emulator free?

Retro Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Phosphor Emulator or Retro Emulator?

Retro Emulator is rated higher. Phosphor Emulator averages 4.6 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Retro Emulator averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Phosphor Emulator or Retro Emulator have ads?

Neither Phosphor Emulator nor Retro Emulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phosphor Emulator or Retro Emulator?

Phosphor Emulator ships an update every 3 days, and Retro Emulator every 3 months. Most recently, Phosphor Emulator was updated on October 28, 2026 and Retro Emulator on October 20, 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.*