Side by side
FCEUX vs JSNES
Both stand on nes 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 FCEUX for free emulation of its supported systems, especially if you want debugging, scripting, or movie tools. Look elsewhere if network play is a requirement, since it is not functional in the Win32 and SDL ports and the project has no plans to fix it.
Visit FCEUX Free plan LinuxWeb
JSNES provides emulator controls and browser input, audio and rendering support for developers integrating NES gameplay. Its open issues note ongoing accuracy and compatibility work, and applications must handle reliable frame timing.
Visit JSNESThe facts
| FCEUX | JSNES | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | fceux.com | github.com |
| On nes emulators | #3 of 26 | #7 of 26 |
FCEUX: what it does well
- Emulates NES, Famicom, Famicom Disk System, and Dendy.
- Supports NTSC, PAL, and NTSC-PAL Hybrid video modes.
- Includes debugging, ROM hacking, map making, and Lua scripting tools.
- Qt/SDL includes a TAS Editor and movie recording.
- Free and open source.
What to know first
- Network play in the Win32 and SDL ports is not functional.
- The project says it has no plans to fix network play.
- Building the Qt/SDL port requires several dependencies and CMake.
JSNES: what it does well
- Supports browser and Node.js use
- Can serialize and restore emulator state
- Browser helper accepts keyboard and gamepad input
- Licensed under Apache-2.0
What to know first
- Reliable frame timing is the integrator's responsibility
- Project issues cite emulator accuracy and compatibility work