# OpenSol vs RetroOne

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenSol at none against RetroOne's 3. OpenSol also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). RetroOne's advantage is iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RetroOne sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. OpenSol asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for OpenSol against 5.0 for RetroOne. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

OpenSol ships an update every 8 days, RetroOne every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenSol | RetroOne |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensol/id6802088485/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroone-gba-emulator/id6807632417/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jordan Ruderman](https://appshunter.io/developer/6802088577) | [Nguyen Dinh Gioi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673627955) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenSol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensol/id6802088485)

Experience a classic 8080 computer emulator inspired by the Sol-20 Terminal Computer. Interact with original firmware, customize display effects, and enjoy an immersive terminal experience. This independently developed app offers a unique retro computing simulation.

**Highlights:** Intel 8080 interpreter, Original OpenSol firmware, Sol Command Monitor, Customizable display effects (CRT, phosphor), Full-screen immersive mode, External keyboard and controller support, Virtual cassette tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 OpenSol free?

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

### Is RetroOne free?

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

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

OpenSol and RetroOne are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do OpenSol or RetroOne have ads?

RetroOne shows ads; OpenSol does not.

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

OpenSol ships an update every 8 days, and RetroOne every 10 days. Most recently, OpenSol was updated on October 8, 2026 and RetroOne on October 9, 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.*