Hemulator vs Manic EMU
Hemulator
github.comManic EMU
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Hemulator | Manic EMU |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 9 |
| Spec score · SNES Emulators | 7.9 (#11) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · Game Gear Emulators | 7.8 (#16) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Spec score · Multi-System Emulators | 7.8 (#31) | 8.8 (#6) |
| Integrations | The documentation describes CI/CD use for headless automated testing and reproducible regression checks. | Cloud import supports Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Baidu, Aliyun, WebDAV, and SMB. |
| Save states | Hemulator provides five save-state slots per game. | Premium supports unlimited manual saves plus 50 automatic slots, while the free tier provides three save states. |
| Support | The project directs users to GitHub bug reports, feature requests, and Discussions for help and community support. | The official site links users to FAQ and guides, GitHub, and Discord for support resources. |
| What it does | Hemulator is a cross-platform, multi-system emulator for classic gaming systems. | 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
Hemulator
Hemulator is a free, open-source emulator for classic gaming systems on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The project lists 17 systems, with support at different stages of development. It detects ROM formats and system types automatically, and gives users five save-state slots for each game. Display settings include software and OpenGL-accelerated CRT effects such as scanlines and phosphor filters; audio playback is integrated through rodio. Users can adjust controls, window dimensions, video backend, and display filters. Headless command-line tools provide debug dumps, instruction tracing, logging, and benchmarking. The documentation also describes using these tools in CI/CD for automated testing and repeatable regression checks. Windows and Linux packages are listed, including 32-bit and 64-bit builds and Debian packages. Users must supply their own legally obtained ROM files; Hemulator does not include or distribute copyrighted game data. NES emulation supports 14 mappers, so games that rely on unsupported mappers will not work. The project directs users to GitHub bug reports, feature requests, and Discussions for help.
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.