ClassicBoy Pro vs Manic EMU
ClassicBoy Pro
sites.google.comManic EMU
github.comSide by side
| Figure | ClassicBoy Pro | Manic EMU |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 9 |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 8.7 (#3) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Game library | The Google Play listing says the app scans selected files or directories to identify games and lets users browse, locate, or favorite them. | The app provides a library with cover artwork, metadata, categories, collapsible sections and manufacturer sorting. |
| Purpose | ClassicBoy Pro is an Android video game emulator with a ROM scanner and game database. | Manic EMU is an all-in-one retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad. |
| Save states | The Google Play listing describes saving and restoring game progress at any time as an advanced-user feature. | Premium supports unlimited manual saves plus 50 automatic slots, while the free tier provides three save states. |
| Support | The Google Play listing provides [email protected] as the support email. | The official site links users to FAQ and guides, GitHub, and Discord for support resources. |
| What it does | ClassicBoy Pro is an Android emulator for playing retro games, with a ROM scanner and game database. | Manic EMU is an all-in-one iOS emulator for console, handheld, arcade, computer and mobile Java systems. |
Plans
Manic EMU
- FreeFree
- SideloadFree
- Sideload / GitHubFree
- Premium Monthly$0.99 a month
- Premium Monthly Plan$0.99 a month
- Premium Annual Plan$4.99 a year
- Premium Annual$5.99 a year
- Premium Forever Access$9.99, paid once
- Forever Access$11.99, paid once
In their own words
ClassicBoy Pro
ClassicBoy Pro is an Android emulator for retro games, with a ROM scanner and game database. Its maker describes about twenty built-in emulation cores for systems including PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, NES, Super NES, Sega systems, arcade games, and Atari 2600. External plugins extend support to systems such as Nintendo DS, MAME, Sega Saturn, and PC Engine/CD. The app can scan selected files or directories to identify games for a browsable library, where users can locate or favorite them. Controls include touchscreen buttons, external gamepads, customizable layouts, gestures, and accelerometer input; the maker lists gesture and sensor controls as premium features. Other listed tools include adjustable game speed, cheat codes, save and load states, and game-data import and export. Wireless controllers can connect over Bluetooth. The free version includes on-screen buttons and gamepad mapping. The app is listed for Android and Windows through Google Play Games, but the listing does not show in-app purchase prices. It does not include ROMs, and users must have the right to play each ROM.
Manic EMU
Manic EMU is a free retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad, supporting more than 30 classic platforms across consoles, arcade, DOS, Symbian, and J2ME. It includes save states, auto-saves, fast-forward, cheats, shortcuts, filters, screenshots, and custom skins. Cloud import works with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Baidu, Aliyun, WebDAV, and SMB. The project says iCloud sync keeps games, saves, and settings encrypted in the cloud across devices. Manic EMU integrates RetroAchievements and supports local multiplayer and Netplay on eligible Libretro cores. The free App Store build limits fast-forward to 2×, save states and cheat codes to three each, and controllers to one player. Premium plans cost $0.99 a month, $4.99 a year, or 9.99 USD once for lifetime access, and include higher fast-forward speeds, more save states and cheat slots, and extra controller players. A free sideload build includes premium play features but does not provide iCloud save sync. The app does not include ROMs, BIOS files, or game data.