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Head-to-head · SNES Emulators

bsnes vs BizHawk

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score bsnes #2 in SNES Emulators 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit bsnes
BizHawk #8 in SNES Emulators 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit BizHawk

bsnes leads on 0 checks, BizHawk on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorebsnes · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresBizHawk · 4 of 5

bsnes scores higher on our rubric for snes emulators: 9.2 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

bsnes is the better fit for SNES users wanting broad platform coverage. BizHawk is the better fit for tool-assisted SNES gameplay and debugging.

  • bsnes fits best

    SNES users wanting broad platform coverage

  • BizHawk fits best

    Tool-assisted SNES gameplay and debugging

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Side by side

Feature bsnes 9.2/10 Visit ↗ BizHawk 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 7.8
Ranking #2 in SNES Emulators #8 in SNES Emulators
Best for SNES users wanting broad platform coverage Tool-assisted SNES gameplay and debugging
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Windows, Linux
Support Email, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features bsnes 3/5 · BizHawk 4/5
Online multiplayer Not checked yet —
Rewind ✓ ✓
Shader support ✓ ✓
Cheat support ✓ ✓
RetroAchievements Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS Windows, Linux
Emulation format Both Both
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
  • Includes rewind, run-ahead, shaders, cheats, and recording
  • Emulates Satellaview and SNES coprocessors
  • Frame stepping, rewind, speed control, and save states
  • Memory tools, Lua and C# scripting, and RAM-based cheats
  • RetroAchievements and shader filter support
Cons
  • Mobile builds are distributed through RetroArch guidance
  • Its focus is limited to SNES and Super Famicom emulation
  • Advanced features may require more configuration than basic playback
  • Current supported releases are limited to Windows and Linux
  • Online multiplayer is not included
  • Its debugging and TAS tools may exceed casual players' needs
Our verdict

bsnes is an open-source emulator for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Famicom. It is aimed at players who want accurate hardware emulation across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The feature set covers core…

Read the review →

BizHawk is a free, open-source desktop multi-system emulator from TASEmulators. Its EmuHawk frontend supports Super Nintendo alongside other systems, making it suited to players who want more than conventional emulation. The product is…

Read the review →
  1. bsnesSNES Emulators 9.2Free plan
  2. BizHawkSNES Emulators 7.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • bsnes — where it wins

    • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
    • Includes rewind, run-ahead, shaders, cheats, and recording
    • Emulates Satellaview and SNES coprocessors

    Where it doesn't

    • Mobile builds are distributed through RetroArch guidance
    • Its focus is limited to SNES and Super Famicom emulation
    • Advanced features may require more configuration than basic playback
  • BizHawk — where it wins

    • Frame stepping, rewind, speed control, and save states
    • Memory tools, Lua and C# scripting, and RAM-based cheats
    • RetroAchievements and shader filter support

    Where it doesn't

    • Current supported releases are limited to Windows and Linux
    • Online multiplayer is not included
    • Its debugging and TAS tools may exceed casual players' needs

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update