# Core Arcade vs Pixel Arcade

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixel Arcade at none against Core Arcade's 4. Pixel Arcade also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Core Arcade's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Arcade sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Pixel Arcade asks for nothing beyond the download.

Core Arcade ships an update every 3 weeks, Pixel Arcade every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Arcade | Pixel Arcade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Size | 19 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jose Blanco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643690946) | [Mahendrasinh Gohil](https://appshunter.io/developer/1122149629) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Arcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-arcade/id6760246123)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade Plus Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Arcade Plus Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| 14 Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Remove Ads Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### Pixel Arcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-arcade-retro-games/id6793153883)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Arcade free?

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

### Is Pixel Arcade free?

Pixel Arcade is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Core Arcade or Pixel Arcade have ads?

Core Arcade shows ads; Pixel Arcade does not.

### Which is updated more often, Core Arcade or Pixel Arcade?

Core Arcade ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pixel Arcade every 2 months. Most recently, Core Arcade was updated on October 23, 2026 and Pixel Arcade on October 21, 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.*