Best Commodore 64 Emulators in 2026
Updated
In short: VICE is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Breadbin466 and C64 Forever. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Breadbin466.
To run Commodore 64 software, compare emulators by the C64 variants they emulate and the disk and tape formats they support. A built-in debugger or bundled software library may matter depending on how you plan to use the emulator. Check netplay support and supported platforms for your intended setup, along with free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. VICE, POKE64, and C64.emu are among the options shown, alongside C64 Forever and VirtualC64. Consider which formats and features you need, and compare the listed platform and licensing details with the device you plan to use.
29 Commodore 64 emulators ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
6free plans on this page
4 Oct 2026last checked
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 VICE Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.8Free
- 2 Breadbin466 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1Free Supported platforms: macOS, Windows, LinuxDisk and tape formats: D64, G64, NIB, NBZ, D7ZBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 3 C64 Forever No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1Free Supported platforms: WindowsDisk and tape formats: RP9, D64, T64, C64 and other disk, tape and cartridge formats
- 4 VirtualC64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Supported platforms: macOSDisk and tape formats: D64, T64, PRG, P00, G64, TAP, CRTBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 5 Frodo No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5Free Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux/UnixDisk and tape formats: D64, G64, T64, TAP, X64, LYNX
- 6 Z64K No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Supported platforms: Windows, macOS and Linux via Java runtimeDisk and tape formats: D64, D71, G64, G71, IMD and CRTBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 7 CCS64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Supported platforms: Windows, DOS, Linux, UnixDisk and tape formats: PRG, P00, T64, TAP, D64, G41, G64, CRTBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 8 POKE64 iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Supported platforms: iPadOSDisk and tape formats: D64, D71, D81, G64, PRG, CRT, TAP, T64
- 9 C64.emu Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Supported platforms: AndroidDisk and tape formats: .bin, .crt, .d64, .g64, .p64, .x64, .t64, .tap, ZIP, RAR, 7Z
- 10 TRX64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxDisk and tape formats: D64, G64, CRT, REU, VSFBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 11 BMC64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: Raspberry Pi Zero, Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, Raspberry Pi 2, Raspberry Pi 3Disk and tape formats: .D1M, .D2M, .D4M, .DHD, .D64, .PRG
- 12 Viciious No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: Web browser; Node.js terminalDisk and tape formats: .t64, .d64, .tap, .prg, .sid, .json snapshotsBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 13 Denise No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3
- 14 Hoxs64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Supported platforms: Windows 7/10/11Disk and tape formats: D64, G64, P64, FDI, TAP, PRG, P00, T64, CRT
- 15 ViceSharp No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Supported platforms: WindowsDisk and tape formats: D64, G64, T64, TAPBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 16 C64 by ChronoCoders No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Supported platforms: Linux x86-64; Windows x86-64 (MSYS2 MinGW64)Disk and tape formats: D64 disk images
- 17 Emu64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1 Supported platforms: Windows, LinuxDisk and tape formats: D64, G64, CRT, TAP, T64, PRGBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 18 emudore No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1 Supported platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, webDisk and tape formats: PRG
- 19 Power64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1 Supported platforms: macOS; Classic Mac OSDisk and tape formats: D64, X64, G41, D71, D81, ZipCoded, T64, TAP, LynxBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 20 Zinc64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0 Supported platforms: Linux, WindowsDisk and tape formats: BIN, CRT, P00, PRG, TAPBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 21 simple-emu-c64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxDisk and tape formats: D64, read-only
- 22 minimal64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Supported platforms: webDisk and tape formats: PRG; CRT; Standard 8KB cartridges; Standard 16KB cartridges; Ocean Type 1; C64GS; Magic Desk
- 23 Avidemux No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5Free
- 24 Rust64 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Disk and tape formats: PRG, CRTBuilt-in debugger: Yes
- 25 C64net No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Supported platforms: WindowsDisk and tape formats: D64
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Disk and tape formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VICE | 9.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Breadbin466 | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS, Windows, Linux | D64, G64, NIB, NBZ, D7Z |
| 3 | C64 Forever | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 19.95 one-time | Windows | RP9, D64, T64, C64 and other disk, tape and cartridge formats |
| 4 | VirtualC64 | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS | D64, T64, PRG, P00, G64, TAP, CRT |
| 5 | Frodo | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux/Unix | D64, G64, T64, TAP, X64, LYNX |
| 6 | Z64K | 7.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS and Linux via Java runtime | D64, D71, G64, G71, IMD and CRT |
| 7 | CCS64 | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, DOS, Linux, Unix | PRG, P00, T64, TAP, D64, G41, G64, CRT |
| 8 | POKE64 | 7.2 | No | — | — | — | iPadOS | D64, D71, D81, G64, PRG, CRT, TAP, T64 |
| 9 | C64.emu | 7.0 | No | — | No | — | Android | .bin, .crt, .d64, .g64, .p64, .x64, .t64, .tap, ZIP, RAR, 7Z |
| 10 | TRX64 | 6.9 | No | — | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | D64, G64, CRT, REU, VSF |
| 11 | BMC64 | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Raspberry Pi Zero, Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, Raspberry Pi 2, Raspberry Pi 3 | .D1M, .D2M, .D4M, .DHD, .D64, .PRG |
| 12 | Viciious | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Web browser; Node.js terminal | .t64, .d64, .tap, .prg, .sid, .json snapshots |
| 13 | Denise | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Hoxs64 | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows 7/10/11 | D64, G64, P64, FDI, TAP, PRG, P00, T64, CRT |
| 15 | ViceSharp | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | D64, G64, T64, TAP |
| 16 | C64 by ChronoCoders | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux x86-64; Windows x86-64 (MSYS2 MinGW64) | D64 disk images |
| 17 | Emu64 | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Windows, Linux | D64, G64, CRT, TAP, T64, PRG |
| 18 | emudore | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Linux, Windows, macOS, web | PRG |
| 19 | Power64 | 6.1 | No | — | No | 30 one-time | macOS; Classic Mac OS | D64, X64, G41, D71, D81, ZipCoded, T64, TAP, Lynx |
| 20 | Zinc64 | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows | BIN, CRT, P00, PRG, TAP |
| 21 | simple-emu-c64 | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | D64, read-only |
| 22 | minimal64 | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | web | PRG; CRT; Standard 8KB cartridges; Standard 16KB cartridges; Ocean Type 1; C64GS; Magic Desk |
| 23 | Avidemux | 5.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | Rust64 | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | PRG, CRT |
| 25 | C64net | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | D64 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which Commodore 64 emulator is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
VICE is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 9.8. Breadbin466 is second and C64 Forever third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.
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