Side by side
VirtualC64 vs Zinc64
Both stand on commodore 64 emulators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan MacWeb
VirtualC64 combines multiple C64 variants, media formats, and input options in a free emulator. New users should account for the initial ROM setup; free Mega65 replacements are included with recent versions.
Visit VirtualC64 Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
Pick Zinc64 if you want a free, extensible Commodore 64 emulator toolkit with debugger access and Rust-based components. Look elsewhere if you need D64 or T64 support, floppy or mouse emulation, or a finished OpenGL client and Raspberry Pi 3 port.
Visit Zinc64The facts
| VirtualC64 | Zinc64 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac, Web | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | dirkwhoffmann.github.io | github.com |
| On commodore 64 emulators | #18 of 31 | #22 of 31 |
VirtualC64: what it does well
- Free and open source under the GNU General Public License
- Emulates PAL and NTSC C64 variants
- Includes a built-in debugger
- Supports seven disk and tape formats
- Offers keyboard and USB joystick input
What to know first
- Four ROM images require setup on first launch
- Listed supported platform is macOS
Zinc64: what it does well
- Free plan with Linux and Windows support
- Standalone emulator and reusable library
- Models major C64 chips and peripherals
- Replaceable components through custom ChipFactory
- Telnet debugger and radare2 RAP support
What to know first
- D64 and T64 formats are not started
- Floppy and mouse support are not started
- OpenGL client and Raspberry Pi 3 port are in progress
- Windows setup requires Visual C++ Build Tools 2017
Alternatives to VirtualC64 Alternatives to Zinc64 The whole list