Hoxs64 vs VICE
Hoxs64
hoxs64.netVICE
vice-emu.sourceforge.ioSide by side
| Figure | Hoxs64 | VICE |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Commodore 64 Emulators | 7.6 (#12) | 8.2 (#6) |
| Downloads | The home page offers 32-bit and 64-bit version 1.1.2.9 downloads dated 24 July 2026. | The download page lists Windows 64-bit GTK3 and SDL2 builds and macOS 12.0 or later builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. |
| Purpose | Hoxs64 is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows. | VICE runs programs intended for classic 8-bit Commodore computers. |
| Support | The technical support page lists [email protected] as its contact email. | The project directs bug reports, suggestions, and support requests to its SourceForge trackers or team mailing list, and notes development is done in spare time. |
Plans
In their own words
Hoxs64
Hoxs64 is a free Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows, written by David Horrocks. Its documentation describes cycle-exact emulation and pixel-exact VIC emulation of a C64C, without emulating the grey dot bug. A simulated 1541 floppy drive supports reading and writing, while the tape player is read-only. The emulator handles D64, G64, P64, FDI, TAP, PRG, P00, T64, and CRT files, and includes state saving, a debugger, full-screen mode, and configurable keyboard and joystick controls. Cartridge support covers Action Reply, Easy Flash, Ocean, Magic Desk, and Commodore REU 1750 options in 512K or 16MB configurations. Multiple cartridges are unsupported, and mounting one disables the REU option. Listed downloads are 32-bit and 64-bit version 1.1.2.9. Requirements include Windows 10 or 11, DirectX 11.1, the Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 runtime, 4 GB RAM, and a DirectX 11 graphics card with pixel shader 4.0. Installation requires the runtime and copying ZIP contents into one directory.
VICE
VICE runs programs made for classic Commodore 8-bit computers by emulating eight systems: C64, C64DTV, C128, VIC20, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II. It aims for cycle-accurate operation, with 6502/6510 emulation covering documented and undocumented opcodes and precise timing. For C64 software, its emulators reproduce VIC-II video and SID sound, including synchronization, ring modulation and filters. Disk support covers up to four external drives, using disk images, filesystem directories or compatible real devices; joystick input can come from a keyboard or a host-connected joystick. VICE is available on Android, Linux, macOS and Windows, and is free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later. The download page lists Windows builds and macOS builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs; the latter require macOS 12.0 or later. Android binaries are listed separately. The manual warns that six systems—the C64DTV, C128, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II—remain under construction and may be less capable than the C64 or VIC20 emulators.