Side by side
Attract-Mode vs ES-DE Frontend
Both stand on game library managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
Attract-Mode provides a customizable frontend for emulator collections, with game-list tools, controller mappings, and media support. Note that the listed pause functionality does not include OS X, and RetroPie availability is experimental.
Visit Attract-Mode
Free plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+1
ES-DE brings browsing, launching, metadata scraping, and theme customization together for a multi-platform game collection. Desktop editions are free and open source, while the Android edition is paid and has a stated minimum device requirement.
Visit ES-DE FrontendThe facts
| Attract-Mode | ES-DE Frontend | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Android, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Android (Samsung Galaxy Store): $6.50, paid once |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | attractmode.org | es-de.org |
| On game library managers | #1 of 40 | #2 of 40 |
Attract-Mode: what it does well
- Free and licensed under GNU GPL v3.
- Runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux.
- Supports joystick, keyboard, and mouse mappings.
- Can retrieve missing game details and artwork.
- Layouts support themes, animations, and GLSL shaders.
What to know first
- Emulator pause and resume is listed only for Linux and Windows.
- RetroPie availability is described as experimental.
- The listed OS X download is an app bundle.
ES-DE Frontend: what it does well
- Supports over 150 game systems.
- Preconfigured for a large emulator selection.
- Scrapes images, videos, and manuals.
- Offers full controller navigation.
- Desktop releases are open source and free.
What to know first
- Android release is paid; no price is listed.
- Android release is partially closed source.
- Android requires 64-bit Android 10 or later.
Alternatives to Attract-Mode Alternatives to ES-DE Frontend The whole list