18.6
Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for Sony PSP games and software.
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSAPI
Best Emulator Software in 2026
Emulator software recreates another system or device environment; the right choice depends on what you want to emulate and which host platforms it supports. Check whether a tool runs on Android or instead emulates Android on another host. Compare supported targets, host operating systems, hardware acceleration, snapshots, debugging, network simulation and automation access.
27.7
Android, Windows, macOS and Linux open-source emulator for PlayStation Vita software.
Free planOpen sourceAndroidLinuxmacOS
37.6
Open-source emulator for running guest operating systems on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Free planOpen sourceAPILinuxmacOS
- 4
Snes9x
Snes9x is a free, portable emulator for playing most games made for the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom.
Free planAndroidWebLinuxmacOS7.6Free plan - 5
DOSBox-X
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows7.4Free plan - 6
Genymotion Desktop
Windows, macOS and Linux Android emulator with Google Play support.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows7.4From $49 a year - 7
Azahar
Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for Nintendo 3DS games and homebrew.
Free planAndroidiOSLinuxmacOS7.3Free plan - 8
BlueStacks App Player
Windows and macOS Android emulator with Google Play support.
Free planmacOSWindows7.3From $7.99 a month - 9
DuckStation
Android, Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for Sony PlayStation games with graphics enhancements.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted7.3Free plan - 10
OpenEmu
OpenEmu organizes game backups from multiple consoles into a searchable library on Mac.
Free planOpen sourcemacOS7.3Free plan - 11
Android Emulator
Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS emulator for Android apps, with Google Play support.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows7.1Free plan - 12
MAME
Android, Windows, macOS and Linux framework for documenting and emulating legacy hardware.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows7.1Free plan - 13
VICE
Android, Windows, macOS and Linux software for programs from Commodore's classic 8-bit line.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows7.1Free plan - 14
Unicorn Engine
Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, macOS and Linux framework for multi-architecture CPU emulation.
Free planAndroidiOSLinuxmacOS6.9Free plan - 15
Dolphin
Android, Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for GameCube and Wii software.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows6.6Free plan - 16
melonDS
Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for Nintendo DS games with 3D upscaling and savestates.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.5Free plan - 17
Accessibility Inspector
Accessibility Inspector for macOS provides automated scans and manual mobile accessibility review tools.
Free planmacOS6.3Free plan - 18
FCEUX
FCEUX emulates several NES-era systems and includes tools for ROM editing, debugging and Lua scripting.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.3Free plan - 19
86Box
Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for IBM PC-compatible hardware through the Pentium era.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 20
Cemu
Windows, macOS and Linux emulator for Wii U games and applications with multiple controller options.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 21
FS-UAE
FS-UAE emulates Amiga systems, with support for floppy and CD images and gamepad controls.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 22
PCSX2
PCSX2 runs PlayStation 2 games on a PC, with upscaling, save states and recording tools.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 23
Redream
Redream emulates Dreamcast games on Android, Windows, Mac and Linux, with save states and cheats.
AndroidLinuxmacOSWindows6.2$6 one-time - 24
xemu
xemu emulates the original Xbox and can scale games from 480p to 1080p.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 25
Bochs
Bochs is a free, open-source emulator that simulates IA-32 x86 PC hardware.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.1Free plan
Choosing well
What do you need the emulator to run?
Start with the system or device you want to emulate, then confirm that it appears among the software's supported targets.
The list includes tools such as PPSSPP, QEMU and Android Emulator, but their names alone do not tell you whether they fit your target.
Which platforms does it need to run on?
Check the host operating system separately from the emulated target. The chart covers macOS, Linux, Windows, Android, self-hosted and iOS availability.
If you want an app on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone or tablet, confirm Android support for the specific tool; do not assume an emulator runs on Android just because it emulates Android.
Which emulator features should you compare?
Compare hardware acceleration, snapshots and restore, debugging tools, network simulation and automation access against what your setup requires.
These features can affect how you inspect, repeat or automate an emulated environment. Check the tool's documentation for details.
How should you compare free and paid options?
Check whether the tool has a free plan and what its paid starting price is before choosing. A free plan and a free trial are different things.
If you need to read or change the code, check the licence rather than treating a free plan as proof that software is open source.
Questions people ask
Can I run emulator software on my Xiaomi phone?
Check the specific tool's Android support. The chart distinguishes Android from host platforms such as Windows, macOS and Linux.
What is the difference between an Android app and an Android emulator?
An Android app runs on Android; an Android emulator can recreate Android on a supported host. Check the tool's listed platforms and supported targets.
How do I choose an emulator for my computer?
Confirm that it supports your target and host operating system, then compare acceleration, snapshots, debugging, network simulation and automation.
Is free emulator software open source?
Not necessarily. Check the individual tool's licence; a free plan does not by itself mean the software is open source.
What emulator features help with testing?
Compare snapshots and restore, debugging tools, network simulation, hardware acceleration and automation access for the specific workflow.