# emu vs RetroOne

The clearest difference is ads: emu at none against RetroOne's shown. emu also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). RetroOne's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. emu 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.

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

emu ships an update every 2 days, RetroOne fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | emu | RetroOne |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu-retro-game-emulator/id6799981908/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroone-gba-emulator/id6807632417/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Code and DESIGN inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1172903960) | [Nguyen Dinh Gioi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673627955) |

## What reviewers say

### emu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emu-retro-game-emulator/id6799981908)

This app allows you to play classic games from seventeen different systems on your iPhone without complex setup. It supports various file formats and offers features like a unified library, customizable controls, and rollback saves. Enjoy local or online multiplayer with friends.

**Highlights:** Supports seventeen retro game systems, No downloads or configuration needed, Unified game library with search and favorites, Customizable on-screen and gamepad controls, Automatic saves and rewind functionality, Two-player online multiplayer, Supports various archive and disc image formats

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hide Ads | $4.99 | 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 emu free?

emu 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, emu or RetroOne?

emu and RetroOne are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do emu or RetroOne have ads?

RetroOne shows ads; emu does not.

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

emu ships an update every 2 days, and RetroOne fortnightly. Most recently, emu was updated on October 31, 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.*