The Best Apple II Emulators in 2026
We researched Apple II emulators through official websites, pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings focus on accurate Apple II game and application support, value for money and verified features across Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc and IIgs software for modern computers.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
OpenEmu#1 of 207.9/10A polished Mac library for classic games, but not a dedicated Apple II emulator.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Avidemux#2 of 207.9/10A free, open-source tool for basic video processing—not Apple II emulation.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
AppleWin#3 of 207.9/10A free desktop emulator with Apple II models, peripherals, video modes, and a debugger.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 20 tools, best first
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Best forMac users organizing games across multiple systems
A polished Mac library for classic games, but not a dedicated Apple II emulator.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenEmu -
Best forUsers who need basic video editing and processing
A free, open-source tool for basic video processing—not Apple II emulation.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Avidemux -
Best forFree Apple II emulation on Windows desktops
A free desktop emulator with Apple II models, peripherals, video modes, and a debugger.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit AppleWin -
Best forCross-platform users wanting deep tools and model coverage
A free, open-source Apple II emulator with broad model coverage and developer tools.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit POM2 -
Best forUsers seeking a free browser and desktop emulator
A free emulator with broad Apple II model, disk-image, and debugging support.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit ApplEm -
Best forLinux users who want strong debugging and disk support
A free Linux emulator with broad disk support and an interactive assembly debugger.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit LinApple -
Best forUsers wanting broad Apple II and IIgs coverage
Broad Apple II-family coverage, with flexible disk support and a desktop debugger.
- Built-in debugger
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit GSSquared -
Best forWindows users wanting hardware and cassette emulation
A free Windows emulator with broad Apple II model, disk, cassette, and peripheral support.
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Casso -
Best forUsers who value rewind, recording, and browser debugging
A free desktop emulator for Apple II models, with snapshots, recording and rewind.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit microM8 -
Best forDesktop users who want an assembler and debugger
A free, open-source desktop emulator with unusually deep tools for Apple II development.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit a2m -
Best forUsers needing many frontends and expansion-card options
A free, open-source Apple II emulator with broad image, card, and frontend support.
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit izapple2 -
Best forUsers wanting a focused, cross-platform Apple IIe emulator
A free, open-source Apple IIe emulator with disk support and saved machine states.
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forApple //e users who want configurable disk and card support
A configurable Apple //e emulator with broad disk-image support and a narrow model focus.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Aiie! -
Best forUsers specifically seeking an Apple IIgs emulator
A focused, free IIgs emulator with debugging, disk tools, and display effects.
- Built-in debugger
- Joystick support
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit GSplus -
Best forMac users seeking a polished paid desktop emulator
A Mac desktop emulator with multi-model support, snapshots, disk tools, and debugging.
- Built-in debugger
- Save states
- Joystick support
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Virtual ][ -
Best forBrowser users who want ready-to-run Apple II disks
A free browser archive for playing and downloading Apple ][ and IIgs software.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Virtual Apple -
Best forUsers wanting a simple Apple II browser emulator
Free, open-source Apple II emulation in a browser with flexible disk loading.
- Joystick support
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit apple2js -
Best forDevelopers experimenting with Apple II BASIC programs
A free, cross-platform Apple II emulator focused on BASIC programs and runtime analysis.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit a2emu -
Best forUsers who need a broad multi-system emulator collection
A broad, free emulator framework for arcade and vintage systems on desktop and Android.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit MAME -
Best forUsers seeking a browser-based Game Boy emulator
A capable browser and Tizen emulator for Game Boy software, not Apple II systems.
- Save states
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit GB-EMU
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Apple II model coverage | Host platform | Disk image formats | Built-in debugger | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenEmu | Yes | Free | 7.9 | ||||
| 2 | Avidemux | Yes | Free | 7.9 | ||||
| 3 | AppleWin | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Windows | DO, DSK, NIB, PO, WOZ, HDV, 2MG | Yes | 7.9 |
| 4 | POM2 | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | .dsk, .do, .d13, .po, .nib, .woz, .moof, .2mg, .hdv | Yes | 7.9 |
| 5 | ApplEm | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | DSK, DO, PO, WOZ, 2MG | Yes | 7.9 |
| 6 | LinApple | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Linux | .dsk, .do, .po, .nib, .woz v2, .hdv, .img, .2mg | Yes | 7.9 |
| 7 | GSSquared | Yes | $40 one-time | Multi-model | Cross-platform | .do, .po, .dsk, .nib, .2mg, .woz 1.0, .woz 2.0, .hdv, .img, .hda, .iso, .pmap | Yes | 7.9 |
| 8 | Casso | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Windows | WOZ, DSK, DO, PO, NIB, NB2 | 7.9 | |
| 9 | microM8 | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | DSK, D13, PO, DO, NIB, WOZ, 2MG, HDV | Yes | 7.9 |
| 10 | a2m | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | .nib, .dsk, .do, .po, .woz (WOZ read-only); SmartPort images include .po, .hdv, and .2mg | Yes | 7.9 |
| 11 | izapple2 | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | NIB, DSK, PO, WOZ 1.0/2.0, 2MG, HDV | 7.9 | |
| 12 | Apple IIe Emulator | Yes | Free | Iie | Cross-platform | .dsk, .do, .po, .nib | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Aiie! | Free | Iie | Cross-platform | .dsk, .po, .nib, .woz, .img, .hdv, .2mg | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | GSplus | Yes | Free | Iigs | Cross-platform | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 15 | Virtual ][ | No | Multi-model | Macos | dsk, do, po, d13, woz, nib, v2d, gz, gzip, 2mg, 2img, hdv | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 16 | Virtual Apple ][ | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | 7.6 | ||
| 17 | apple2js | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | .dsk | No | 7.5 |
| 18 | a2emu | Yes | Free | Multi-model | Cross-platform | DSK/DO | 7.4 | |
| 19 | MAME | Yes | Free | 6.8 | ||||
| 20 | GB-EMU | Yes | Free | 6.5 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- OpenEmu vs Avidemux
- OpenEmu vs AppleWin
- OpenEmu vs POM2
- OpenEmu vs ApplEm
- OpenEmu vs LinApple
- OpenEmu vs GSSquared
- OpenEmu vs Casso
- Avidemux vs AppleWin
- Avidemux vs POM2
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How we rank apple II emulators
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update