Arcade Manager vs Retrom
Arcade Manager
cosmo0.github.ioRetrom
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Arcade Manager | Retrom |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · ROM Management Software | 7.9 (#7) | 7.5 (#18) |
| License | The repository lists the project under the GPL-3.0 license. | The repository identifies Retrom as licensed under GPL-3.0. |
| Purpose | ArcadeManager manages MAME/FBNeo arcade ROM collections by filtering out unwanted, bad, and unplayable games. | Retrom is a centralized game library management service focused on emulation, for hosting games on one device and connecting clients on other devices. |
In their own words
Arcade Manager
Arcade Manager has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Retrom
Retrom is a self-hosted game library service centered on emulation. It scans a server filesystem for games and platforms, then adds them to a library that desktop clients can use to install, uninstall, and play games. Clients are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a browser client for library access from other devices. Retrom can run with a dedicated server or in standalone mode, where a client runs the server locally; other clients can connect to that standalone server only while the client remains open. It supports cloud saves for built-in and standalone emulators, syncing save data and save states to the server. Emulator profiles can be kept on the server for sharing or restoration, though clients need matching emulator and other client-specific paths to share configurations. Retrom can retrieve metadata and artwork through IGDB, its only listed metadata provider. Steam is its only supported third-party library integration and needs a Steam API key and user ID. Retrom is free under GPL-3.0. The project says it lacks specific security measures and recommends local-network use or a properly secured reverse proxy.