Side by side
BGB vs PyBoy
Both stand on game boy emulators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose BGB if you want a Game Boy family emulator that also provides ROM debugging, cheat tools, rewind, and save states. Its linking feature has demanding low-lag requirements and does not support every game, while AVI capture records audio separately.
Visit BGB Free plan APILinuxMac+2
PyBoy offers a Python-facing emulator interface alongside command-line use and developer-oriented integration examples. Its development status makes keeping save backups particularly important when upgrading.
Visit PyBoyThe facts
| BGB | PyBoy | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | bgb.bircd.org | github.com |
| On game boy emulators | #6 of 23 | #10 of 23 |
BGB: what it does well
- Emulates Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy.
- Supports gamepads, rewind, low latency, and smooth VSync animation.
- Save states include quick keys and preview screenshots.
- Debugger can analyze emulation and assist with creating or modifying ROMs.
- Loads GameGenie and GameShark cheats and can search for codes.
What to know first
- TCP/IP game link does not work with every game.
- Game linking requires a modern PC and less than 1 ms lag.
- Debug mode runs about twice as slowly with breakpoints or break-on settings.
- AVI recordings have no sound; audio is recorded separately to WAV.
PyBoy: what it does well
- Can be embedded in Python programs.
- Python interface sends input and inspects memory.
- Rendering can be disabled or skipped.
- Supports save states and link cable emulation.
What to know first
- The project is under active development.
- The guide advises backing up save files.
- API reference excludes internal emulation components.