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Best Emulation Frontends in 2026
When you want one interface for browsing and launching games across emulators, these frontends can help organize a collection. Compare supported platforms and included emulators, then look at library import and metadata scraping to gauge how an existing library is handled. Controller navigation, cloud sync, and portable mode are other useful points to weigh. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help put access and cost in context. RetroArch, ES-DE Frontend, and Lakka are among the entries to consider, alongside Pegasus Frontend and RetroHub. The listed features can help you judge compatibility and collection-management fit for the way you play.
- 25 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Attract-Mode
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2Attract-Mode provides a customizable frontend for emulator collections, with game-list tools, controller mappings, and media support.
- 2
ES-DE Frontend
Free plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+1ES-DE brings browsing, launching, metadata scraping, and theme customization together for a multi-platform game collection.
- 3
EmulatorJS
Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+1EmulatorJS is aimed at website embedding rather than use as a standalone emulator site. Check the supported-systems documentation and browser-serving requirements before setting it up.
- 4
GameEx
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1Choose GameEx if you want an emulator front end with broad control support and built-in media functions.
- 5
AmberELEC
Free plan Self-hostedChoose AmberELEC if you own a supported Anbernic handheld and want free firmware with RetroArch, emulator cores, and device-focused defaults.
- 6
Batocera
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedChoose Batocera if you want a free Linux distribution for retro gaming across its listed compatible hardware, with removable-media use, emulator support, and documented integrations.
- 7
Lakka
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1Lakka combines a console-style interface with RetroArch-based emulator configuration on supported hardware.
- 8
Daijishō
Free plan AndroidDaijishō organizes retro game libraries and lets users configure separately installed players. Its maker says basic user information stays on-device and is not shared with the maker.
- 9
LaunchBox
Free plan AndroidAPIWindowsLaunchBox combines game importing, collection organization, and downloaded artwork, with Premium additions for presentation and gamepad use.
- 10
Pegasus Frontend
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1Pegasus offers a flexible frontend for collections that users assemble themselves, with broad input and screen-size support.
- 11
HyperSpin
Free plan LinuxWindowsHyperSpin organizes game and emulator launching with tools for library management, themes, overlays, and arcade use.
- 12
KNULLI
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedKNULLI provides a free firmware option with emulation, metadata, and local save-sync tools for supported devices.
- 13
RetroArch
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3RetroArch combines a broad core library with game organization, graphics options, netplay and recording or streaming. Check the limits of the specific platform or store version you plan to use.
- 14
EmulationStation
Free plan LinuxWindowsEmulationStation organizes games from different emulators and offers controller navigation, themes, and metadata scraping.
- 15
RePlayOS
Free plan APILinuxWebRePlayOS combines emulation, display options, controller support, and local-network tools for listed Raspberry Pi models.
- 16
MustardOS
Free plan Self-hostedMustardOS provides configurable, free firmware with broad listed handheld support and emulation features.
- 17
Recalbox
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedPick Recalbox for a free, open-source retro system with broad hardware downloads and beginner-oriented tools. Its saves, rewind, online play, and multi-system features cover varied retro setups.
- 18
RetroHub
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsRetroHub provides library organization and launching, while leaving emulator installation to users. Consider ScreenScraper quotas and media storage before scraping a large collection.
- 19
KRetro
Free plan LinuxPick KRetro if you use Linux and want a free Libretro frontend designed for Plasma environments, with library import, controller navigation and save slots.
- 20
RetroBat
Free plan WindowsChoose RetroBat if you want a free Windows frontend for a broad retro ROM library, with scraping and play options in one place.
- 21
RetroDECK
Free plan LinuxChoose RetroDECK if you use an x86_64 Linux system and want a preconfigured retro gaming environment with Steam integration and system management tools.
- 22
ROCKNIX
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedROCKNIX combines handheld retro emulation with multiplayer, sync, VPN and selected game services. Check device support before installing, and note that the project offers no formal support.
- 23
OnionOS
Free plan Self-hostedOnionOS brings game navigation, emulator, customization, and tracking tools to two Miyoo handhelds, with additional network features on the Mini+.
- 24
RetroPie
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedRetroPie offers a free route to a customizable retro gaming system, with a ready-made Raspberry Pi image and manual setup options. Users need to provide their own copyrighted game and BIOS files.
- 25
Maximus Arcade
Free trial WindowsMaximus Arcade centralizes emulator-based game launching with cabinet controls and customization tools. Buyers must provide their own games and emulators and use Windows.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price