RetropaRETROPA / Retropa vs Delta
Retropa vs Delta: Arcade, Filters & Skins Compared
Two iOS emulators with different priorities. Delta wins on community size and published skins; Retropa brings arcade families and filters that hold up at fractional scales.
Download for iOSFree to download. Optional in-app purchases. iOS 18 or later.
Emulated systems
Handheld coverage overlaps heavily — both apps play the machines most people reach for first. Retropa goes further with supported arcade families, which is the biggest functional split between them. Arcade cores sit behind Retropa Plus. Handheld systems do not.
- The handheld lineup is much the same on both.
- Arcade families are Retropa's own addition.
- Playing arcade titles requires Plus.
Skins and layouts
Retropa reads Delta .deltaskin packages, so a control layout you already like can come with you. Past that, Delta's published skin ecosystem is the larger one, which counts for a lot if browsing a big catalog is part of the appeal.
- .deltaskin packages import into Retropa.
- Delta's published catalog is bigger.
- Check that a package supports your system and orientation.
Display filters
On the picture side, Retropa ships advanced CRT and LCD filters that work from the actual output area rather than demanding a whole-number scale factor. It also accepts RetroArch shader chains, including .slang and .slangp presets. Advanced filters need Plus. Judge the result inside the app; the website preview only approximates it.
- Advanced filters skip the integer-scale rule.
- RetroArch shader chains are supported on Retropa.
- Plus is required for the advanced filter set.
Community, documentation and track record
Delta reached the App Store first, has many more users, and therefore a deeper pool of forum answers and third-party guides. Retropa is the newer, smaller product. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not describing either app as it stands today.
- Delta arrived on the App Store first.
- More users means more community answers.
- Retropa's user base is smaller today.
How to choose
If arcade games matter to you, or you want filters that do not assume a whole-number scale, Retropa earns a place on your home screen. If the largest skin catalog and the most community material matter more, Delta is the safer pick. Neither includes games or BIOS files, and both are free to download, so testing them with your own files is the honest way to decide.
- Both apps are free to install.
- No commitment is needed to evaluate either.
- Both need your own game files.
Questions
Does Delta support arcade games?
This page cannot verify that either way. What it can confirm is that Retropa plays supported CPS, Neo Geo, PGM and M92 arcade families, and that arcade cores need Retropa Plus.
Can I use the same skins in both?
Retropa imports Delta .deltaskin packages, so a package built for Delta usually loads in Retropa too. After it loads, check the target system and orientation.
Is Retropa free to use?
Retropa is free to download. Optional in-app purchases unlock Retropa Plus, which covers arcade cores, premium skins and advanced filters.
Delta is a third-party product. All product and company names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, and their use here is for identification and factual comparison only. Retropa is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them.
Retropa.
Free to download. Optional in-app purchases. iOS 18 or later.