GameSave vs RetroAchievements
GameSave
gamesave.appRetroAchievements
retroachievements.orgSide by side
| Figure | GameSave | RetroAchievements |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $7.50/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Achievement Trackers | 8.0 (#10) | 8.6 (#2) |
| Spec score · Achievement trackers | 7.7 (#16) | 9.1 (#1) |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says linked platform passwords are never requested or stored, and linked credentials or tokens are encrypted at rest. | The privacy policy says personal data is not passed to third parties without explicit consent or a legal basis and that API usage logs are retained for a period deemed appropriate. |
| Support | The contact page lists [email protected] and says typical replies take 1–2 business days; it says Discord is monitored most actively during beta. | Users can report broken achievements on the website and request manual unlocks with proof of completion. |
Plans
GameSave
- FreeFree
- GameSave Pro (monthly)$9.99 a month
- GameSave Pro (quarterly)$24.99 a month
- GameSave Pro (yearly)$89.99 a year
- Lifetime (Founder)$149.99, paid once
In their own words
GameSave
GameSave brings supported game libraries into a shared progression system with GameScore, Credits, XP, achievements, and global leaderboards. It connects Steam, GOG, Epic, Xbox, EA, Ubisoft, itch.io, Battle.net, and PlayStation; Riot Games is detected through the installed Riot Client, and retro ROM libraries are supported. The app includes a unified library, speedrun timer, friends and messaging, an in-game overlay, completion history, stats, and retro achievements. The core app, PC Games library, Career profile, and Pulse are free, while additional pages can be unlocked with earned Credits or Pro. Pro costs $9.99 a month, $24.99 a month billed quarterly, or $89.99 a year; Founder lifetime access costs 149.99 USD one-time. One account can be signed in on up to three PCs, and offline use is supported for up to 72 hours. The FAQ lists Windows 10 and 11, and a Linux alpha download is offered. GameSave says it does not require administrator rights, a kernel driver, or code injection into other processes.
RetroAchievements
RetroAchievements adds achievement goals and progress tracking to retro games. Players can build profiles, follow completion, and compete with friends. Its game listings span systems from Atari 2600 to PlayStation 2 and include Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and other platforms. Supported emulator options include PCSX2, Dolphin, PPSSPP, Flycast, and BizHawk, with choices for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and browser-based SkyEmu.
Hardcore mode disables save-state loading, cheats, and most speed-altering emulator features. It is required for game mastery and some leaderboards. Community events include RA Roulette and Achievement of the Week, and developers can use public API documentation. Players can report broken achievements and request manual unlocks by providing proof of completion. The service is free. Its web application source code is GPL-3, while achievement trigger logic is proprietary to the RetroAchievements community. The service does not host copyright-protected ROMs. A player must be connected to the internet when starting a session, so fully offline play is not supported. System support and new features depend on volunteers.