ClassicBoy Pro vs RetroArch
ClassicBoy Pro
sites.google.comRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | ClassicBoy Pro | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 8.7 (#3) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Platform availability | The Google Play listing says the app is available on Android and Windows through Google Play Games. | The official download page lists Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS and web browser versions, among other platforms. |
| Privacy | The maker says external storage access is used for game data and that private photos and media files are not accessed; Google Play reports no data collected or shared with third parties. | The privacy policy says third-party vendors including Google use advertising cookies on some of the project’s websites. |
| Purpose | ClassicBoy Pro is an Android video game emulator with a ROM scanner and game database. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The Google Play listing provides [email protected] as the support email. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
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.
RetroArch
RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, bringing them under a unified settings system. The RetroArch/Libretro project includes more than 200 cores across those categories. Its menu can group scanned games by system and display thumbnails and animated backgrounds. Common game controllers configure automatically when plugged in, and button actions can also be assigned manually.
Stackable shaders can change rendered graphics or imitate the look of CRT monitors. Built-in netplay supports hosting or joining network gaming sessions, including spectator mode. RetroArch can record gameplay to video files and stream games to Twitch or YouTube. Versions are listed for Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and web browsers. RetroArch is free and open source under GPL version 3; the libretro API uses an MIT license. Features differ by platform and store version: the browser edition has lower performance and fewer capabilities than the full version, while Steam lacks Core Updater and thumbnail scraping and offers a selected core set.