Manic EMU vs RetroArch
Manic EMU
github.comRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | Manic EMU | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.42/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 1 |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 8.9 (#2) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Spec score · SNES Emulators | 8.9 (#2) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Spec score · Multi-System Emulators | 8.8 (#6) | 8.3 (#14) |
| Spec score · Game Gear Emulators | 8.8 (#4) | 8.3 (#10) |
| Spec score · Sega CD Emulators | 8.8 (#4) | 8.3 (#8) |
| Controllers | Supported input includes Joy-Con, DualShock, Xbox, Bluetooth controllers, keyboards and multiple simultaneous controllers. | Common game controllers are automatically configured when plugged in, and users can also configure them manually. |
| License | The upstream Manic EMU source is licensed under GNU AGPL-3.0, with separate notices for bundled cores and dependencies. | RetroArch uses GPL version 3, while the libretro API uses an MIT license. |
| Purpose | Manic EMU is an all-in-one retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The official site links users to FAQ and guides, GitHub, and Discord for support resources. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
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
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.
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.