KRetro vs RetroArch
KRetro
apps.kde.orgRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | KRetro | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 6.8 (#23) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Founded | 1996 | 2012 |
| License | The page lists KRetro under the GPL-2.0-or-later license. | RetroArch uses GPL version 3, while the libretro API uses an MIT license. |
| Privacy | KDE's software privacy policy says its software generally does not transfer information from users' devices except as a result of explicit user action. | The privacy policy says third-party vendors including Google use advertising cookies on some of the project’s websites. |
| Purpose | KRetro is a Libretro frontend for playing retro console games with a ROM and Libretro core. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The page links to a KDE forum for help and KDE's bug tracker to report bugs. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
In their own words
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.