Comparison

Sakura! vs REmu

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sakura!

This app allows you to play your favorite PlayStation One games on your iPhone or iPad. It offers extensive customization for controls, graphics, and performance, providing a console-like experience.

Highlights
  • PlayStation One emulation on iOS
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Physical gamepad support
  • Extensive graphics and performance tuning
  • Support for various game disc formats
  • Recursive folder scanning for games
Features
Read full description

Sakura is a PlayStation One & PSP emulator frontend built on top of the Beetle PSX and PPSSPP cores for iPhone and iPad. Add your own system BIOS and disc backups & customize your library then play with on-screen controls or a physical gamepad/controller for a console-like experience! • Add your own PS1 BIOS (.bin) file(s) and choose a default in Settings; PSP games boot without one. • Add games under the app’s Documents folder in Files, or use in-app import. Sakura scans folders recursively, including multi-disc setups and M3U playlists. • Supported formats CUE/BIN, CHD, PBP, M3U, ISO/IMG, MDS/MDF, NRG, CDI, ECM, CSO/ZSO • One library for both systems, with a system switch in the library bar that picks which settings you get and which system Boot System starts. CONTROLS • Full touch overlay with layout editor: move, scale, and theme controls to fit your hands. • Digital and DualShock-style modes, with optional per-game auto-switching. • MFi and Bluetooth gamepads with remappable buttons; haptics and rumble where supported. • Analog deadzone, axis scale, and gate compensation on both systems. GRAPHICS & PERFORMANCE • Internal resolution scaling, fit vs fill framing, and multiple texture filtering paths from crisp pixel modes through sharpened upscalers. • FXAA, CAS, optional PGXP-style geometry options, widescreen-related tweaks, color and dither controls, and frame blending where you want a softer or more authentic look. • Libretro Shaders: load your own slang presets, pick a built-in CRT or TV preset, or pull the shared pack from inside the app. • Fast Boot and host-side run speed for slow-mo or fast-forward-style pacing alongside core tuning for CPU, GPU, and disc access. QUALITY OF LIFE • In-game menu for graphics, performance HUD, save slots (when enabled in Settings), controller remapping, and stopping a session. • Optional performance overlay, notification cards, and extensive UI customization: accents, backgrounds, typography, accessibility options, and optional background music including your own tracks. LEGAL Sakura does not include games, a PlayStation or PSP BIOS, firmware, or other copyrighted material you don’t have rights to use. You are responsible for complying with the laws that apply to you. “PlayStation”, “PSP” and related names are trademarks of Sony; this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

About

REmu

This app allows you to import and play your own classic game ROMs on your device. It features a clean library, automatic system detection, and customizable controls, including gamepad support. Enjoy your retro gaming collection with smooth rendering and save states.

Highlights
  • Import your own ROMs
  • Organized game library
  • Metal-accelerated rendering
  • On-screen touch controls
  • MFi gamepad support
  • Save states
  • Built-in mini-game
Features
Read full description

REmu is a clean, focused retro library for files you already own. Import your own ROMs from the Files app, organize them in a tidy library, and play them with smooth Metal-accelerated rendering, on-screen touch controls, or any MFi-compatible gamepad. Built for landscape, designed to feel modern. WHAT'S INSIDE • A polished library that auto-detects the system from each file you import • Cover art pulled from the file when available, or matched against an open-source thumbnail database • Save states from the in-game menu — pause, save, resume any time • One built-in original mini-game (Glowchase) so the app is fun out of the box • Full MFi controller support including DualSense and Xbox Wireless WHAT'S NOT INSIDE • No game files. REmu does not ship, distribute, or download commercial games. • No BIOS files. Provide your own where required. • No ads, no in-app purchases, no tracking, no accounts. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY By using REmu, you confirm that any file you import is one you legally own (typically dumped from your own cartridge or disc) or one that is freely licensed (homebrew, public domain, etc.). Piracy is not supported in any form. PRIVACY REmu stores everything on your device. Nothing is uploaded. See the in-app Terms and Privacy Policy for full details. REmu is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any console manufacturer. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Screenshots

Sakura!3 screens
REmu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: REmu at Free against Sakura!'s $0.99. REmu also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Sakura!'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

REmu is free to download; Sakura! costs $0.99 up front. Sakura! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. REmu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sakura! holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 5 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sakura! ships an update every 2 months, REmu every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sakura! versus REmu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSakura!REmu
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (10 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB41 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperDylan MathurinFATIH KOCA

Customer experience

Sakura!

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

REmu

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sakura!

One-time1
  • Tip 1$$0.99
None

REmu

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sakura! free?
Sakura! costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is REmu free?
REmu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sakura! or REmu?
Sakura! is rated higher. Sakura! averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while REmu averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Sakura! or REmu have ads?
REmu shows ads; Sakura! does not.
Which is updated more often, Sakura! or REmu?
Sakura! ships an update every 2 months, and REmu every 5 days. Most recently, Sakura! was updated on October 31, 2026 and REmu on October 31, 2026.

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