ES-DE Frontend vs RetroArch
ES-DE Frontend
es-de.orgRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | ES-DE Frontend | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 9.2 (#1) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 9.2 (#1) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 9.3 (#3) | 9.1 (#6) |
| Platforms | Officially supported platforms are Android, Linux, macOS, Windows and Haiku; FreeBSD has an unofficial ports package. | The official downloads page lists Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web browsers and various game consoles. |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says the project does not collect personal information; the app accesses shared files locally and does not transfer them to ES-DE or partners. | The privacy policy says third-party vendors including Google use advertising cookies on some of the project’s websites. |
| Purpose | ES-DE browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The official installation page directs users to the user guide, FAQs and Discord for support. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
ES-DE Frontend
- Windows, macOS and LinuxFree
- Windows, macOS and Linux desktopFree
- Android (Samsung Galaxy Store)$6.50, paid once
- AndroidPrice not published
In their own words
ES-DE Frontend
ES-DE Frontend browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. It supports more than 150 game systems and comes configured for a large selection of emulators, game engines, game managers, and gaming services. Its built-in scraper downloads game details and media, including images, videos, and manuals. Users can adjust configuration options and themes, and download additional themes through the built-in theme downloader. The interface supports full controller navigation. Windows, macOS, and Linux editions are free to download and use, fully open source, and may be distributed freely. The Android release is a paid, partially closed-source app, and no price is listed. It is available through Patreon, Samsung Galaxy Store, and Huawei AppGallery. The Android FAQ gives 64-bit Android 10 or later as the basic requirement and says one purchase can be used on all of the buyer’s devices without a subscription or additional costs. Support links include a user guide, FAQs, and Discord.
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.