# RetroPet vs ArcadeOS

The clearest difference is rating: RetroPet at 4.3 against ArcadeOS's 3.0. RetroPet also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.5). ArcadeOS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RetroPet sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. ArcadeOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroPet holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

RetroPet ships an update every 3 days, ArcadeOS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RetroPet | ArcadeOS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retropet-virtual-pet/id6779075120/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcadeos/id6802357931/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 250 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jorge Andreu Royo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853979319) | [RetroApps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845420719) |

## What reviewers say

### RetroPet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retropet-virtual-pet/id6779075120)

Care for a pixelated creature that lives in real time, evolving based on your attention. Collect over 75 species, breed with others to discover rare types, and manage your pet's needs. Play minigames and track progress with widgets and Apple Watch support.

**Highlights:** Collect 75+ unique pet species, Breed pets to discover rare types, Real-time pet care and evolution, Multiplayer breeding and trading, Dynamic Island and Lock Screen integration, Apple Watch app support, Minigames and daily missions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Poison Potion | $1.99 | one-time |
| Evolution Crystal | $2.99 | one-time |
| Auto-Care 1 Day | $3.99 | one-time |
| Revival Token | $4.99 | one-time |
| Value Pack 30 Days | $4.99 | one-time |
| Seasonal Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Void Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Guardian Pack | $11.99 | one-time |
| Auto-Care 7 Days | $24.99 | one-time |
| Auto-Care 30 Days | $89.99 | one-time |


### ArcadeOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcadeos/id6802357931)

Experience a full arcade with 65 original retro-style games on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Enjoy diverse genres from racing to RPGs, all playable offline with instant resume and authentic chip audio. New games are added seasonally.

**Highlights:** 65 original retro-style games, Playable on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, Offline play with no internet required, Instant resume for all games, Authentic chip audio, New games added seasonally, No accounts, ads, or tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RetroPet free?

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

### Is ArcadeOS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RetroPet or ArcadeOS?

RetroPet is rated higher. RetroPet averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ArcadeOS averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do RetroPet or ArcadeOS have ads?

Neither RetroPet nor ArcadeOS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RetroPet or ArcadeOS?

RetroPet ships an update every 3 days, and ArcadeOS every 3 weeks. Most recently, RetroPet was updated on October 24, 2026 and ArcadeOS on October 19, 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.*