DOSBox Pure vs Magic DosBox

DOSBox Pure8.8Visit Magic DosBox6.7Visit

Higher score DOSBox Pure #2 in MS-DOS Emulators 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit DOSBox Pure

vs

Magic DosBox #8 in MS-DOS Emulators 6.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Magic DosBox

• DOSBox Pure fits best

  RetroArch users wanting streamlined game loading

• Magic DosBox fits best

  Android users playing DOS games

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Side by side

Feature	DOSBox Pure 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Magic DosBox 6.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	6.7
Ranking	#2 in MS-DOS Emulators	#8 in MS-DOS Emulators
Best for	RetroArch users wanting streamlined game loading	Android users playing DOS games
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Mobile
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Android
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features DOSBox Pure 3/4 · Magic DosBox 3/4
Gamepad support	✓	✓
Save states	✓	✓
Audio CD support	Not published	Not published
Source available	✓	✓
Specs
Supported host platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Android
DOS target versions	Ms-dos	Ms-dos
Disk image formats	ISO, CUE, INS, IMG, IMA, VHD, JRC, TC, M3U, M3U8	ISO, GOG, INST, CUE
Our review
Pros	Loads ZIP and DOSZ archives without extraction Includes save states, rewind, controller mapping, and joystick emulation Works as a standalone app or RetroArch/Libretro core	Custom profiles, collections, layouts, and virtual controls Supports keyboard, mouse, stylus, gamepad, audio, CD-ROM, and ISO input Includes save states, networking, and layout import/export
Cons	Standalone release is still in development Focuses on MS-DOS rather than broader platform emulation Some advanced setup may still involve disk images or DOS files	Free Lite limits users to one game profile Free Lite allows only three widget types Games are not included, and save states have reliability limitations
Our verdict	DOSBox Pure is a free, open-source emulator for MS-DOS games, available as a standalone desktop application and as a RetroArch or Libretro core. It is aimed at players who want to load classic DOS software without repeatedly managing… Read the review →	Magic DosBox is an open-source Android port of DOSBox for running users’ own MS-DOS games and applications on phones, tablets, and other Android devices. It is aimed at Android users who want configurable touch controls alongside physical… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• DOSBox Pure — where it wins

  • Loads ZIP and DOSZ archives without extraction
  • Includes save states, rewind, controller mapping, and joystick emulation
  • Works as a standalone app or RetroArch/Libretro core

  Where it doesn't

  • Standalone release is still in development
  • Focuses on MS-DOS rather than broader platform emulation
  • Some advanced setup may still involve disk images or DOS files

• Magic DosBox — where it wins

  • Custom profiles, collections, layouts, and virtual controls
  • Supports keyboard, mouse, stylus, gamepad, audio, CD-ROM, and ISO input
  • Includes save states, networking, and layout import/export

  Where it doesn't

  • Free Lite limits users to one game profile
  • Free Lite allows only three widget types
  • Games are not included, and save states have reliability limitations

• DOSBox Pure8.8/10 · Free plan

  A focused, free DOS emulator with convenient archive loading and Libretro support.

  Visit DOSBox PureFull verdict →
• Magic DosBox6.7/10 · Free plan

  A feature-rich Android DOS emulator with a capable free Lite tier.

  Visit Magic DosBoxFull verdict →