Comparison

Plume! vs Psimulator

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

Head to head
About

Plume!

This app allows you to play classic Dreamcast games on your iPhone. It offers a polished library, customizable graphics, and flexible control options for both handheld and TV play. Easily import your game titles and enhance their visuals for a modern gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Dreamcast emulation on iPhone
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Bluetooth gamepad support
  • Console mode for TV play
  • Advanced graphics tuning
  • Save states and VMU support
  • RetroAchievements integration
Features
Read full description

Plume is a Dreamcast emulator for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A polished library, deep graphics options, and controls for handheld play and couch co-op. Add games through the Files app, AirDrop, or the Share sheet. Supported formats include GDI, CDI, CHD, CUE, ISO, M3U, ELF, ZIP, and 7Z. Retail BIOS files are optional. Turn on Fast Boot to skip the splash, or add dc_boot.bin and dc_flash.bin from hardware you own for the full boot sequence. LIBRARY Your collection lives in one place with cover art, metadata, favorites, and play time. Every menu can show as Tiles or a List. After you run a game, Plume grades how it performs on your device (Excellent, Good, Playable, and more) so you know what to expect before you boot. Add any game to your Home Screen. CONTROLS Use fully customizable on-screen controls, or pair a Bluetooth gamepad in iOS Settings and remap every button in Plume. Dreamcast has four controller ports, and each port can hold a standard controller, arcade stick, twin stick, racing controller, fishing controller, light gun, maracas, train, rhythm or dance controller, keyboard, or mouse, each with its own touch layout. Touch controls fill port 1 when nothing else is connected. Rumble and haptics are built in. CONSOLE MODE Mirror your screen to a TV over AirPlay or HDMI. In Console mode the game renders on the big screen while your iPhone stays the controller. GRAPHICS AND PERFORMANCE Tune internal resolution, aspect ratio, CRT shaders, texture filtering, HDR, and upscaling. MetalFX upscaling and FSR 3 frame generation are available on supported devices. HD texture packs, neural upscale models, and Upscale Studio help older games look sharper. A live HUD shows FPS, frame time, CPU, RAM, and more. SAVE STATES AND VMU Save and load states from the in-game menu. Slots appear on library covers for quick resume. Per-game VMU files keep memory cards where they belong. CHEATS Add cheat codes by hand or import them for each game. RETROACHIEVEMENTS Sign in to RetroAchievements and earn badges while you play. Hardcore mode disables save states for a classic challenge. EXTRACT Hold a game in the library to extract its music, videos, and pictures from your own disc. CAPTURE AND SHARE Take screenshots and record gameplay in-game. Save them to Documents or Photos, or attach a capture to a save-state slot as a visual bookmark. SOUND AND STYLE Menu music from downloadable tracks, your own imports, or songs from your Apple Music library. Themes give you control over colors, fonts, corners, and accessibility, including Bold Text and Button Shapes when iOS has them on. REQUIREMENTS Plume runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later, and on Mac computers with Apple silicon running macOS 14 or later. Your device may warm up during play, and heavy 3D games may not reach full speed on older devices. LEGAL Plume does not include commercial games or a retail BIOS. You are responsible for content you import. Only use game files and firmware you legally own. Dreamcast is a trademark of SEGA. Plume is not affiliated with or endorsed by SEGA.

About

Psimulator

Relive classic Dreamcast games with this powerful emulator. Enjoy your game library with custom controls, save states, achievements, and cloud synchronization. Supports a wide range of file formats and physical controllers for a personalized gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Dreamcast software compatibility
  • Custom touch-controller layouts
  • Save states and cloud sync
  • Physical controller support
  • Achievement system
  • Memory card management
Features
Read full description

Relive your favorite Dreamcast games with Psimulator, a powerful emulator designed to make enjoying your game library simple. Psimulator lets you play your collection from a gorgeous display of box art and animated previews. Personalize the experience with custom touch-controller layouts, video filters, per-game settings, save states, achievements, cloud sync, multiplayer controls, and support for physical controllers and external displays. You can also design controller skins inside the app, organize memory cards, browse helpful guides, and receive live support. FEATURES EMULATION AND GAMEPLAY - Broad compatibility with Dreamcast software - Automatic settings and individual configuration for each game - Compatibility information submitted by the community - Fast-forward gameplay - Multiple-disc games with in-game disc changing - Local multiplayer control mapping VIDEO AND DISPLAY - Metal and OpenGL ES graphics backends - Landscape fullscreen scaling - CRT television and scanline filters - In-game screenshots - Wireless and external-display output ACHIEVEMENTS - Unlock achievements for supported titles - Review achievement status and progress during gameplay SUPPORTED FILES - CHD, GDI, CDI, CUE/BIN, and M3U - ZIP, 7z, and RAR archives - Multiple-disc playlists PHYSICAL CONTROLS - Works with compatible console, PC, Bluetooth, wired, and MFi controllers - Supports Bluetooth and wired keyboards - Custom mapping for analog sticks, triggers, buttons, and multiplayer inputs - On-screen controls reflect input received from a controller or keyboard CLOUD SYNCHRONIZATION - Connect with Google Drive or Dropbox - Synchronize all your data between devices - View and manage synchronized files without leaving Psimulator SAVE STATES AND MEMORY CARD MANAGEMENT - Resume games from any moment - Automatic safety saves - Create save states at timed intervals - Import, export, and organize memory cards CUSTOM TOUCH CONTROLS - Included layouts designed for both portrait and landscape play - Built-in editor for creating personalized controllers LIBRARY AND CONTENT IMPORT - Automatically matched cover artwork - Animated previews directly in the game library - Easy to import HELP AND SUPPORT - Quick Start instructions and detailed in-app guides - Contact Psimulator Support from inside the app IMPORTANT INFORMATION Psimulator does not include commercial games or proprietary Dreamcast files. You are responsible for using only games, firmware, and other content that you own and are legally authorized to use. Thank you for choosing Psimulator. Psimulator is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sega Corporation. Dreamcast and associated names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Additional software-license information can be found inside the app. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy and Psimulator Service Terms: https://zodttd.com/psimulator/policy/

Screenshots

Plume!4 screens
Psimulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Psimulator at none against Plume!'s 1. Psimulator also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Plume!'s advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On ads, monetization model, chart position 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

Plume! costs $0.99 and Psimulator $4.99 up front. Plume! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Psimulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Psimulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plume! ships an update every 2 months, Psimulator daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Plume! versus Psimulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlume!Psimulator
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.7 (6 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#27 — better#58
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size135 MB91 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDylan MathurinZODTTD LLC

Customer experience

Plume!

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

Psimulator

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Plume!

One-time1
  • Tip $1$0.99
None

Psimulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Plume! free?
Plume! costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Psimulator free?
Psimulator costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Plume! or Psimulator?
Psimulator is rated higher. Plume! averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Psimulator averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Plume! or Psimulator have ads?
Neither Plume! nor Psimulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plume! or Psimulator?
Plume! ships an update every 2 months, and Psimulator daily. Most recently, Plume! was updated on October 21, 2026 and Psimulator on October 7, 2026.
Which is more popular, Plume! or Psimulator?
Plume! currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and Psimulator at #58. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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