Arcadious vs PixelDock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Arcadious
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Arcadious is a retro gaming emulator that works with game owners and publishers so you can play their games legally: over 28,000 games from 37 classic consoles, handhelds and home computers. Browse information on thousands of video games, manage your game collection, and chat with the Arcadious community.
PixelDock
This app consolidates numerous classic game consoles and computers into a single application. It features automatic cover art, quick save states, and organized game libraries. Premium features include cloud sync and social functionalities.
- Multi-console support
- Automatic cover art
- Quick save/load states
- Bluetooth/MFi controller support
- Wi-Fi file transfer
- Cloud save synchronization (premium)
- Social chat and voice calls (premium)
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PixelDock brings together dozens of classic consoles and computers in one app, with a visual library, automatic cover art, quick save states and effortless organization. SUPPORTED SYSTEMS • Nintendo: NES, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Virtual Boy • Sega: Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, Mega-CD, 32X, Saturn, Dreamcast, NAOMI, Atomiswave • Sony: PlayStation, PSP • Atari: 2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar, 8-bit line, ST • SNK Neo Geo and Neo Geo Pocket Color • NEC: PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine CD, PC-FX, PC-98 • Commodore 64, 128, VIC-20 and Amiga • Classic computers: ZX Spectrum, ZX81, MSX/MSX2, Amstrad CPC, Sharp X68000, Apple II, Macintosh, Thomson TO7/TO8 • Arcade and more: Vectrex, WonderSwan, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Panasonic 3DO, Pokémon Mini, Odyssey² • MS-DOS and classic adventure engines via ScummVM (SCUMM, SCI, AGI), plus Doom and Quake LIBRARY & GAMEPLAY • Automatic cover art for your whole collection, sorted by system • Fast save/load states with visual thumbnails for every save • Bluetooth/MFi controller support and external display via AirPlay or cable • Wi-Fi upload portal: transfer your own files from a computer, no cables or iTunes needed CLOUD & FRIENDS (premium) • Sync your save states across all your devices • Add friends with a unique nickname, chat, make voice calls, and send games or save states directly SUBSCRIPTION PixelDock Premium unlocks cloud save sync, the full social features and cover art for your entire library (the free tier shows cover art for your first 5 games). Available monthly and yearly with a 7-day free trial, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. • Monthly: $3.99/month • Yearly: $24.99/year • Lifetime: $44.99 one-time payment (not a subscription) Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account upon confirming purchase. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your device Settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when a paid subscription is purchased. LEGAL LINKS EULA (Terms of Use): https://emulator.it-systems.es/terms.php Privacy Policy: https://emulator.it-systems.es/privacy.php IMPORTANT NOTICE PixelDock does not include or distribute any games, BIOS files or copyrighted content. You must only use software copies you legally own. The app includes open-source emulation components; you can review all licenses from Settings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arcadious at none against PixelDock's 3. Arcadious also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). PixelDock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. PixelDock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Arcadious asks for nothing beyond the download.
Arcadious ships an update monthly, PixelDock every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Arcadious | PixelDock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.3 (3 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 429 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arcadious | Jose Antonio Salinas Garcia |
In-app purchases
Arcadious
No in-app purchases
PixelDock
- Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Premium Annual7 Days trial$22.991 Year
- Premium Lifetime$39.99
Questions
Is Arcadious free?
Is PixelDock free?
Do Arcadious or PixelDock have ads?
Which is updated more often, Arcadious or PixelDock?
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