# Retro Emulator vs SquareDash

The clearest difference is update cadence: SquareDash at monthly against Retro Emulator's every 3 months. Retro Emulator's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 ships an update every 3 months, SquareDash monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Emulator | SquareDash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vu Bach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869520433) | [Mobirizer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141913793) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### SquareDash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squaredash-arcade-game/id6763114376)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Emulator free?

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

### Is SquareDash free?

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

### Do Retro Emulator or SquareDash have ads?

Neither Retro Emulator nor SquareDash shows ads.

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

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