melonDS vs NooDS

melonDS9.3Visit NNooDS8.0Visit

Higher score melonDS #2 in Nintendo DS Emulators 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit melonDS

vs

N NooDS #8 in Nintendo DS Emulators 8.0/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit NooDS

• melonDS fits best

  Desktop users who want LAN multiplayer and DSi

• NooDS fits best

  Users prioritizing broad platform availability

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Side by side

Feature	melonDS 9.3/10 Visit ↗	NNooDS 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.0
Ranking	#2 in Nintendo DS Emulators	#8 in Nintendo DS Emulators
Best for	Desktop users who want LAN multiplayer and DSi	Users prioritizing broad platform availability
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Open source
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo
Features melonDS 0/4 · NooDS 0/4
Save states	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Local multiplayer	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Nintendo DSi support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Cheat support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch, Wii U, and Vita
Screen layout options	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux Local multiplayer over LAN or Wi-Fi Upscaling, JIT recompilation, saves, microphone, and RTC support	Supports Nintendo DS and GBA emulation Runs across desktop, mobile, Switch, Wii U, and Vita builds Offers upscaling, multi-core rendering, and configurable file paths
Cons	DSi emulation remains work in progress Desktop-only deployment limits use on mobile devices Focuses on Nintendo DS and DSi rather than broader system support	Requires legally dumped DS BIOS and firmware files Uses software rendering rather than a broader rendering approach Focuses on core DS and GBA emulation rather than wider features
Our verdict	melonDS is an open-source Nintendo DS emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop computers. It is intended for users who want to run Nintendo DS software on a computer with legally obtained game images and firmware dumps. The project… Read the review →	NooDS is an open-source Nintendo DS and GBA emulator developed by Hydr8gon as a personal project. It is aimed at users who want portable access across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with documented builds also covering Switch,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• melonDS — where it wins

  • Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Local multiplayer over LAN or Wi-Fi
  • Upscaling, JIT recompilation, saves, microphone, and RTC support

  Where it doesn't

  • DSi emulation remains work in progress
  • Desktop-only deployment limits use on mobile devices
  • Focuses on Nintendo DS and DSi rather than broader system support

• NooDS — where it wins

  • Supports Nintendo DS and GBA emulation
  • Runs across desktop, mobile, Switch, Wii U, and Vita builds
  • Offers upscaling, multi-core rendering, and configurable file paths

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires legally dumped DS BIOS and firmware files
  • Uses software rendering rather than a broader rendering approach
  • Focuses on core DS and GBA emulation rather than wider features

• melonDS9.3/10 · Free plan

  A capable desktop DS emulator with LAN multiplayer, upscaling, and in-progress DSi support.

  Visit melonDSFull verdict →
• NNooDS8.0/10 · Open source

  A broad-platform open-source emulator with focused DS and GBA support.

  Visit NooDSFull verdict →