Best Emulation Frontends in 2026
Updated
In short: ES-DE Frontend is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of LaunchBox and RetroArch. The best-ranked option with a free plan is LaunchBox. The lowest first paid tier on this page is RePlayOS at $5/mo.
Emulation frontends give you an interface for organizing and navigating game libraries across supported platforms. Compare which emulators are included with library import and metadata scraping, then check controller navigation if you expect to browse with a gamepad. Cloud sync and portable mode offer other ways to assess how a setup may fit across devices. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. ES-DE Frontend, LaunchBox and RetroArch are among the entries to compare, along with Pegasus Frontend and Daijishō. Weigh the listed platform support and library features against how you want to manage and access your games.
25 emulation frontends ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 ES-DE Frontend Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free
- 2 LaunchBox Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free
- 3 RetroArch iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free
- 4 Pegasus Frontend Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.3Free
- 5 Daijishō Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free Supported platforms: AndroidEmulators included: NoLibrary import: Yes
- 6 KNULLI No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3Free Supported platforms: Anbernic RG series, GoRetroid Pocket 5/Mini, Miyoo Flip, Powkiddy RGB30/X55, Orange Pi Zero 2w, TrimUI Brick/Smart ProEmulators included: YesLibrary import: Yes
- 7 RetroHub No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3Free Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxEmulators included: NoLibrary import: Yes
- 8 ROCKNIX No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free
- 9 Lakka No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0Free Supported platforms: PC; Raspberry Pi; Cubieboard; Banana Pi; Cubox-i; Hummingboard; UDOO; Odroid; WeTek Play
- 10 Batocera No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6
- 11 EmulatorJS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5
- 12 RetroDECK No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free
- 13 RePlayOS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$5/mo Supported platforms: Raspberry Pi Zero 2, 3, 4, and 5 running RePlayOS LinuxEmulators included: YesLibrary import: Yes
- 14 Recalbox No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3
- 15 GameEx No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3
- 16 RetroBat No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2
- 17 RetroPie No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0
- 18 OnionOS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Supported platforms: Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini+Emulators included: YesLibrary import: Yes
- 19 Attract-Mode No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7
- 20 KRetro No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Supported platforms: Linux; Plasma Desktop; Plasma Mobile; Plasma BigscreenEmulators included: YesLibrary import: Yes
- 21 EmulationStation No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 22 MustardOS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: Anbernic RG28XX H, RG34XX H, RG34XX SP, RG35XX 2024, RG35XX H, RG35XX PLUS, RG35XX PRO, RG35XX SP, RG40XX H, RG40XX V, RGCUBEXX; TrimUI Brick and Smart ProEmulators included: Yes
- 23 AmberELEC No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1
- 24 Maximus Arcade No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.8 Supported platforms: WindowsEmulators included: NoLibrary import: Yes
- 25 HyperSpin No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.6
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 emulation frontend is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
ES-DE Frontend is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 9.6. LaunchBox is second and RetroArch third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, RePlayOS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
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.