# Retro Pal vs CIPHER Zombies

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Retro Pal at 16.0 against CIPHER Zombies's 26.2. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retro Pal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and CIPHER Zombies sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Pal | CIPHER Zombies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-pal-ds-gba-emulator/id6769407672/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **20** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 111 MB | 973 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Antoine Ghiassi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896655463) | [Jeffrey Bemelmans](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836784862) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Pal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-pal-ds-gba-emulator/id6769407672)

Relive your favorite classic games on your mobile device. This app emulates a wide range of consoles, allowing you to play your ROMs with customizable controls and features. Enjoy your childhood favorites anywhere, anytime.

**Highlights:** Emulates 13+ classic consoles, Supports Bluetooth and USB-C controllers, Cloud save synchronization, Customizable touch controls, Rewind functionality, Console skins and themes, Gameplay clip recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retro Pal Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Retro Pal Pro, yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Retro Pal Pro Lifetime | $8.99 | one-time |


### CIPHER Zombies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-zombies/id6774579272)

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack: Call of Duty Black Ops 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Infinite Warfare | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty World War 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Black Ops CW | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Vanguard | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Black Ops 6 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Call of Duty Black Ops 7 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack: Unlock All | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Pal free?

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

### Is CIPHER Zombies free?

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

### Do Retro Pal or CIPHER Zombies have ads?

Neither Retro Pal nor CIPHER Zombies shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Pal or CIPHER Zombies?

Retro Pal ships an update every 10 days, and CIPHER Zombies every 10 days. Most recently, Retro Pal was updated on November 5, 2026 and CIPHER Zombies on October 28, 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.*