Comparison

Bitty vs Tinbox

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

Head to head
About

Bitty

This app allows you to play classic handheld games on your iPhone by importing your own legally owned game files. It offers features like save states, turbo mode, and customizable controls and visual filters for an authentic retro gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Import own game files (.gba, .zip)
  • Automatic battery saves
  • Save states for instant recall
  • Turbo mode for fast-forwarding
  • Customizable touch controls
  • Authentic screen filters
  • No accounts, sign-ups, or ads
Features
Read full description

Meet Bitty, your retro buddy! Bitty plays classic handheld games on your iPhone. Import your own game files and bring your childhood library back to life, wrapped in a friendly little app built for people who grew up with a cartridge in their pocket. YOUR GAMES, YOUR LIBRARY • Import your own legally-owned game backups (.gba or .zip) straight from the Files app • Bitty ships with no games and never downloads any — you bring the games you already own • Battery saves work exactly like real hardware and persist automatically PLAY YOUR WAY • Save states: snapshot any moment and jump right back to it • Turbo mode: fast-forward at 2×, 4× or 8× through grinding and long dialogue • Accurate, responsive touch controls with haptic feedback • Full sound emulation with adjustable volume MAKE IT YOURS • 4 controller skins: Classic, Midnight, Bubblegum and Ghost • Authentic screen filters: pixel-sharp, LCD grid, or cozy CRT scanlines • 4 gameplay themes to set the backdrop mood • A cast of hand-drawn art starring Bitty, your cartridge companion SMOOTH AND STEADY • Full speed with room to spare, even on older iPhones • Games run entirely on your device — nothing is streamed • Designed to stay cool and easy on the battery during long sessions RESPECTFUL BY DESIGN • No accounts, no sign-ups, no ads • Your games and saves stay on your device and are never uploaded • We collect anonymous usage stats only — how long sessions run and which features get used — to know what to improve. No personal data, no tracking, and never the names of your games. LEGAL NOTE Bitty contains no copyrighted content and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any console manufacturer. Only import games you legally own, such as backups of cartridges you purchased. Bitty does not provide, link to, or assist in downloading game files. Questions or a game that won't run? Contact us at support@solidstudiogame.com — we read everything.

About

Tinbox

Play your legally obtained GBA, GB, and GBC game files with this fast emulator. Enjoy features like rewind, save states, cheat codes, and customizable controls. It offers a private experience with no ads or accounts.

Highlights
  • GBA, GB, GBC emulation
  • Rewind up to 120 seconds
  • 10 save-state slots per game
  • Cheat codes support
  • Customizable controls
  • Bluetooth and MFi controller support
  • Private design with no ads or accounts
Features
Read full description

Tinbox is a tin to hold and play your games: a fast, lovingly built emulator for GBA, GB and GBC game files, powered by the open-source mGBA core. Two free homebrew games come preinstalled, so there is something to play the moment the lid opens. Add your own legally obtained game files (.gba, .gb, .gbc, zipped or not). Everything, games, saves, states and covers, lives in plain folders you can easily navigate. PLAY IT YOUR WAY - Pixel-perfect, fit or fill scaling with various screen filters - Rewind up to 120 seconds when a jump goes wrong - Fast-forward from 0.5x all the way to Max - 10 save-state slots per game, plus an auto slot that saves every time you leave a game or the app closes unexpectedly - Cheat codes and per-game setting overrides - A built-in BIOS that works with almost every game, or bring your own TIME CAPSULE Tinbox quietly snapshots your playthrough while you play. Scrub back through the whole session and hop into any moment. Battery died mid-dungeon? There is a snapshot for that too. (Or turn it off, up to you.) CONTROLS THAT FIT YOUR HANDS - Drag, pinch and save button layouts - Bluetooth and MFi controller support with remapping - Turbo A and B, button haptics, press glow in your chosen accent color - Tilt, solar and rumble cartridges use your phone's real sensors MADE WITH LOVE BY REDFERN - Themes, including the signature Tin and a frosted Glass with six accent colors - Controller skins, a lid-open boot animation, a power LED that turns red when your battery runs low - Cover art from Photos or Files, or automatic box-art lookup - Duplicate import detection, custom library folder, full Files app integration PRIVATE BY DESIGN No ads, no accounts, no analytics. The only network use is the optional box-art download. Your games never leave your phone. Tinbox plays legally obtained game files and ships only freely licensed homebrew, with full credits in the app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any console manufacturer.

Screenshots

Bitty4 screens
Tinbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Tinbox at 16.0 against Bitty's 18. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bitty against 5.0 for Tinbox. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bitty ships an update every 3 weeks, Tinbox every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Bitty versus Tinbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBittyTinbox
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS1816.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAnh Tuan Nguyen LeKEATON MATTHEW MAGGARD

Customer experience

Bitty

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tinbox

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

In-app purchases

None

Bitty

No in-app purchases

None

Tinbox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bitty free?
Bitty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tinbox free?
Tinbox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bitty or Tinbox?
Bitty and Tinbox are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Bitty or Tinbox have ads?
Neither Bitty nor Tinbox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bitty or Tinbox?
Bitty ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tinbox every 5 weeks. Most recently, Bitty was updated on November 8, 2026 and Tinbox on November 6, 2026.

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