# RetroKey vs Pixl8

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RetroKey at none against Pixl8's 1. RetroKey also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Pixl8's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixl8 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RetroKey asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroKey ships an update every 9 days, Pixl8 every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RetroKey | Pixl8 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixl8/id6805516278/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 128 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Oswaldo Moreira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895988351) | [Codedreams](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805516280) |

## What reviewers say

### RetroKey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrokey/id6765547109)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pixl8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixl8/id6805516278)

This app transforms your iPhone into a retro 8-bit console for PICO-8 games. It allows you to play a vast library of handcrafted pixel-art games, with features like customizable touch controls, controller support, and cross-platform multiplayer.

**Highlights:** PICO-8 game library, Tap-and-play cart system, Customizable touch controls, Bluetooth controller support, Cross-platform multiplayer, Save states management

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pixl8 Pro:Save States & Multiplayer | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RetroKey free?

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

### Is Pixl8 free?

Pixl8 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do RetroKey or Pixl8 have ads?

Neither RetroKey nor Pixl8 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RetroKey or Pixl8?

RetroKey ships an update every 9 days, and Pixl8 every 4 days. Most recently, RetroKey was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pixl8 on October 26, 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.*