bsnes vs nSide Balanced

bsnes9.2Visit nSide Balanced8.1Visit

Higher score bsnes #2 in SNES Emulators 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit bsnes

vs

nSide Balanced #6 in SNES Emulators 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Libretro

• bsnes fits best

  SNES users wanting broad platform coverage

• nSide Balanced fits best

  Libretro users wanting simple SNES netplay

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Side by side

Feature	bsnes 9.2/10 Visit ↗	nSide Balanced 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.1
Ranking	#2 in SNES Emulators	#6 in SNES Emulators
Best for	SNES users wanting broad platform coverage	Libretro users wanting simple SNES netplay
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Support	Email, Docs	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features bsnes 3/5 · nSide Balanced 2/5
Online multiplayer	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Rewind	✓	✓
Shader support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Cheat support	✓ (best)	—
RetroAchievements	Not checked yet	—
Specs
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Libretro frontend; RetroArch
Emulation format	Both	Libretro
Our review
Pros	Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS Includes rewind, run-ahead, shaders, cheats, and recording Emulates Satellaview and SNES coprocessors	Supports SNES/SFC, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color content Includes save states, rewind, netplay, and controller remapping Offers softpatching, resolution controls, color, blur, and multitap 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	Requires a Libretro frontend such as RetroArch Does not support cheats Does not include RetroAchievements support
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 →	nSide Balanced is an open-source Libretro emulation core based on higan’s Balanced profile. It targets SNES and Super Famicom content, while also supporting Game Boy and Game Boy Color content. Its feature set suits players who want a… Read the review →

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

• nSide Balanced — where it wins

  • Supports SNES/SFC, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color content
  • Includes save states, rewind, netplay, and controller remapping
  • Offers softpatching, resolution controls, color, blur, and multitap support

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires a Libretro frontend such as RetroArch
  • Does not support cheats
  • Does not include RetroAchievements support

• bsnes9.2/10 · Free plan

  A feature-rich, open-source SNES emulator for users who value platform coverage.

  Visit bsnesFull verdict →
• nSide Balanced8.1/10 · Free plan

  A focused SNES core with saves, rewind, netplay, and flexible display controls.

  Visit LibretroFull verdict →