17.8
Unreal Speccy Portable is a portable ZX-Spectrum emulator for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android.
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSLinux
Best ZX Spectrum Emulators in 2026
Running ZX Spectrum software today starts with checking which models an emulator supports and whether it runs on your host platform. Compare peripheral support and the snapshot and tape formats you need, then consider whether a built-in debugger would suit your work. Open-source status, a free plan, and paid-from pricing add practical points to weigh. JNEXT, Unreal Speccy Portable, and ZEsarUX are among the named…
27.3
Free planOpen sourceWebLinuxmacOS
37.2
Klive IDE combines an emulator and development environment for writing and debugging software for Sinclair Z80-based computers.
Free planOpen sourceAPIExtensionLinux
- 4
JNEXT
JNEXT is a free, open-source emulator for running ZX Spectrum software, including 48K, 128K, +2A/+3, and ZX Spectrum Next Issue 2 machines.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.6Free plan - 5
Spectaculator
Spectaculator is software for working with ZX Spectrum tape and snapshot files.
AndroidiOSWindows6.6$2.99 one-time - 6
SpeccyDate
SpeccyDate is a native ZX Spectrum emulator designed for Playdate hardware, with support for 48K and 128K modes.
Free planmacOSWindows6.3Free plan - 7
zx_go
zx_go is a free, open-source emulator for the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81, classic ZX Spectrum models, Pentagon, SAM Coupé and Spectrum Next.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.3Free plan - 8
Jam Pad
Jam Pad is an Android music studio for making beats and melodies, recording voice, importing sounds, and sharing tracks.
Android6.2 - 9
CSpect
CSpect is a ZX Spectrum Next emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux, intended mainly as a development tool.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.0Free plan - 106.0Free plan
- 116.0Free plan
- 12
Spectral
Spectral is an experimental Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.0Free plan - 13
ZEsarUX
ZEsarUX emulates Sinclair computers and a range of other systems, including ZX Spectrum, ZX80, ZX81, QL, Z88, Amstrad, MSX, ColecoVision, and Sega machines.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.0Free plan - 14
ZX-Poly Emulator
ZX-Poly Emulator is a proof-of-concept emulator for a multi-CPU ZX-Spectrum 128 platform.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.0Free plan - 15
ESPectrum
ESPectrum is free, open-source firmware that emulates Sinclair ZX Spectrum computers on Espressif ESP32 boards.
Free planSelf-hosted5.6Free plan - 16
EightyOne
EightyOne is a Windows emulator for Sinclair ZX home computers and their clones, including ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models.
Windows5.5 - 17
RustZX
RustZX is a free, open-source emulator for the ZX Spectrum, written in Rust and available for Linux and Windows.
LinuxWindows5.5 - 18
ZOT
ZOT is a free emulator for the Z80 CPU, ZX Spectrum 48K, and CP/M 2.2, using one shared Z80 core.
Linux5.4 - 195.3
- 20
SpeccyP
SpeccyP is free, open-source firmware that turns Raspberry Pi RP2040, RP2350A, and RP2350B microcontrollers into ZX Spectrum emulators.
5.3 - 21
Zedex
Zedex is a free ZX Spectrum emulator for Android, built with the Fuse emulator and a native front end.
Android5.3 - 224.3
- 234.3