EmulatorJS vs MAME

EmulatorJS8.5Visit MAME8.4Visit

Higher score EmulatorJS #5 in Multi-System Emulators 8.5/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit EmulatorJS

vs

MAME #6 in Multi-System Emulators 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit MAME

• EmulatorJS fits best

  Websites needing broad browser emulation

• MAME fits best

  Arcade-focused users needing broad hardware coverage

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Side by side

Feature	EmulatorJS 8.5/10 Visit ↗	MAME 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	8.4
Ranking	#5 in Multi-System Emulators	#6 in Multi-System Emulators
Best for	Websites needing broad browser emulation	Arcade-focused users needing broad hardware coverage
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Open source	Free plan
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Features EmulatorJS 3/5 · MAME 5/5
Android support	✓	✓
Arcade support	✓	✓
Netplay	—	✓ (best)
BIOS required	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Shader/upscaling	✓	✓
Specs
Supported systems	36	Not checked yet
License	Open-source	Open-source
Our review
Pros	Embeddable WebAssembly RetroArch cores cover 36 systems. Includes save states, recording, cheats, shaders, and cache management. Maps keyboards and controllers for up to four players.	Covers arcade machines, computers, consoles, chess computers and calculators Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android-related builds Includes network-linked play plus HLSL and GLSL display effects
Cons	Netplay is not currently supported. Its scope centers on web embedding, not standalone ROM management. The JavaScript and WebAssembly approach suits web projects more than native apps.	Requires external ROM, BIOS and other system data Configuration can vary across the many supported systems Network-linked play is available only for supported systems
Our verdict	EmulatorJS is an open-source JavaScript framework for developers who want to embed playable retro-system emulation into websites. It uses RetroArch libretro cores compiled to WebAssembly and provides generated embed code for browser-based… Read the review →	MAME is a free, open-source emulation framework for preserving and documenting vintage hardware. It is aimed at users who want one project covering arcade machines, computers, video game consoles, chess computers, calculators and other… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• EmulatorJS — where it wins

  • Embeddable WebAssembly RetroArch cores cover 36 systems.
  • Includes save states, recording, cheats, shaders, and cache management.
  • Maps keyboards and controllers for up to four players.

  Where it doesn't

  • Netplay is not currently supported.
  • Its scope centers on web embedding, not standalone ROM management.
  • The JavaScript and WebAssembly approach suits web projects more than native apps.

• MAME — where it wins

  • Covers arcade machines, computers, consoles, chess computers and calculators
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android-related builds
  • Includes network-linked play plus HLSL and GLSL display effects

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires external ROM, BIOS and other system data
  • Configuration can vary across the many supported systems
  • Network-linked play is available only for supported systems

• EmulatorJS8.5/10 · Open source

  A broad, open-source browser emulator for embedded retro-system play, without current netplay.

  Visit EmulatorJSFull verdict →
• MAME8.4/10 · Free plan

  A broad, free emulator framework for arcade systems and vintage hardware.

  Visit MAMEFull verdict →