EZ ROM Patcher vs MultiPatch

EZ ROM Patcher is a free browser tool for applying patch files to game ROMs, producing modified games such as fan translations, ROM hacks, bug fixes, and restoration patches. The maker says patching runs on the user’s device and that ROMs and patches are not transmitted to a server. It supports IPS, BPS, UPS, APS, RUP, PPF, BSDiff, xdelta/VCDIFF, EBP, and Star Rod .mod patches. A patch creator compares an original ROM with an edited copy and can create IPS, BPS, UPS, APS, RUP, PPF, and EBP patches. A separate checksum tool calculates CRC32, MD5, and SHA-1 hashes and compares them with entered values or .sfv, .md5, and .sha1 files. ZIP archives can be unpacked, with a choice of patch when an archive contains several; RAR and 7z archives must be extracted first. The site says it works in mobile Safari and Chrome, although large disc images may exceed a phone browser’s available memory. Some patch formats include checksums the tool checks, while IPS, PPF, xdelta, and BSDiff do not record one. No account is required, and users supply their own ROM files.

MultiPatch is a free macOS application for applying and creating file patches. It applies BPS, IPS, UPS, PPF, XDelta, BSDiff, and RUP (Ninja2) patches, and creates BPS, IPS, PPF, XDelta, and BSDiff patches. To apply one, users can select a patch file or drag it onto the application window, then choose the target file and where to save the result. The application identifies the format from the patch file extension, so that extension must be correct. BPS creation offers Linear and Delta modes: Delta patches are usually smaller, but take longer and require more memory. Creating UPS and Ninja2 patches is not supported. The maker says patching is built into the application rather than handled by external tools. Version 2.0 requires macOS 10.9 or later; older releases are available for Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.8. A separate basic command-line version can apply or create patches for scripts or terminal use. The application is GPL-licensed, while the bundled patching libraries have their own licenses.