# emu98 vs RetroOne

The clearest difference is ads: emu98 at none against RetroOne's shown. emu98 also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). RetroOne's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. emu98 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and RetroOne sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RetroOne holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively.

emu98 ships an update every 3 days, RetroOne fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | emu98 | RetroOne |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu98/id6799152290/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroone-gba-emulator/id6807632417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Caner (Chongqing) Computer System Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6795224137) | [Nguyen Dinh Gioi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673627955) |

## What reviewers say

### emu98

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu98/id6799152290)

This app is a compatibility environment for running PC-98 programs on iOS devices. It allows users to import and manage disk images, configure settings for different software, and customize controls. It includes interactive demos and supports game controllers.

**Highlights:** Run PC-98 programs on iPhone/iPad, Import floppy, hard disk, and CD-ROM images, Organize and run local software library, Configure font ROMs, graphics, and controls, Real-time saving and loading, Customize virtual keyboard and layout, Supports game controllers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock More Software Slots | $0.99 | one-time |


### RetroOne

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroone-gba-emulator/id6807632417)

This app allows you to play your legally owned retro game collection on your iPhone and iPad. It supports multiple classic gaming systems and offers features like a beautiful library, customizable themes, and multiplayer options.

**Highlights:** Supports 8 classic gaming systems, Import and organize game collection, Customizable themes, Portrait and landscape orientation, Play on big screen, Multiplayer with 'Use as Controller', Save and continue progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RetroOne Plus Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| RetroOne Plus Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| RetroOne Plus Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is emu98 free?

emu98 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RetroOne free?

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

### Which has better reviews, emu98 or RetroOne?

RetroOne is rated higher. emu98 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while RetroOne averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do emu98 or RetroOne have ads?

RetroOne shows ads; emu98 does not.

### Which is updated more often, emu98 or RetroOne?

emu98 ships an update every 3 days, and RetroOne fortnightly. Most recently, emu98 was updated on October 25, 2026 and RetroOne on October 24, 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.*