ES-DE Frontend
8.3#1 in emulation frontends$6.50 one-timeFree planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitES-DE Frontend vs Lakka
What both publish
| Fact | ES-DE Frontend | Lakka |
|---|---|---|
| Controller support | The interface supports full controller navigation. | Common USB joypads are preconfigured and work automatically when plugged in, according to the hardware support documentation. |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says the project does not collect personal information; the app accesses shared files locally and does not transfer them to ES-DE or partners. | The Lakka website says it uses no cookies, does not track browsing and does not provide navigation information to third-party analytics. |
| Purpose | ES-DE browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. | Lakka is a lightweight Linux distribution that transforms a small computer into a retrogaming console. |
| RetroArch integration | The 3.5.0 release can experimentally query whether a required RetroArch core is installed before launching a game. | Lakka uses RetroArch directly as its graphical interface and provides unified emulator configuration and RetroArch autoconfiguration for joypads. |
| Support | The official installation page directs users to the user guide, FAQs and Discord for support. | Users can get help through the documentation, FAQ, forums, IRC, Discord, and the GitHub bug tracker. |
ES-DE Frontend plans
- Windows, macOS and LinuxFree
- Windows, macOS and Linux desktopFree
- Android (Samsung Galaxy Store)$6.50, paid once
- Android—
Lakka plans
- Lakka OSFree
Pick ES-DE Frontend if…
ES-DE suits people who want one interface for browsing and launching games across multiple systems, including locally installed games and apps. Android users need a 64-bit device running Android 10 or later.
Pick Lakka if…
Lakka suits people who want to dedicate a compatible small computer or PC to retrogaming. It is less suitable for someone who needs virtualization, dual boot, or a console with hardware included.