Lemuroid vs RetroArch
Lemuroid
lemuroidemulator.comRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | Lemuroid | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · SNES Emulators | 7.6 (#15) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 7.7 (#17) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Spec score · Sega Genesis Emulators | 7.5 (#18) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Spec score · Game Gear Emulators | 7.5 (#20) | 8.3 (#10) |
| Spec score · Multi-System Emulators | 7.5 (#37) | 8.3 (#14) |
| Spec score · Sega CD Emulators | 7.6 (#14) | 8.3 (#8) |
| Spec score · Game Boy Advance Emulators | 7.5 (#22) | 8.3 (#4) |
| Privacy | The informational website says it does not require accounts, accept game uploads, or collect information through contact forms at launch. | The privacy policy says third-party vendors including Google use advertising cookies on some of the project’s websites. |
| Purpose | Lemuroid is a free, open-source Android emulator based on Libretro that organizes supported games into one library. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The maker’s site provides a getting-started guide, supported-systems directory, and FAQ for setup and troubleshooting. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
In their own words
Lemuroid
Lemuroid is a free, open-source Android emulator that gathers supported game files into one library. It scans a selected folder and displays discovered titles with artwork and metadata. The current release lists 23 system categories, including Atari, Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, NEC, SNK, WonderSwan, and arcade systems. Players can configure touch controls, use gamepads, play local multiplayer, and use quick-save or quick-load shortcuts. Save options include normal in-game saves, quick states, and automatic state restoration. Display simulation and HD mode provide picture adjustments, although performance varies by device, game, system, and settings. The app is designed for Android phones, tablets, and Android TV, with Google Play installation or an APK linked from the project’s GitHub release. Lemuroid includes no games, firmware, or copyrighted system files, so users supply legally obtained files. Supported-system availability does not ensure equal performance, and newer systems generally need more capable hardware. The app has no ads and does not require accounts.
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.