OpenEmu vs Provenance

OpenEmu8.7Visit Provenance8.2Visit

Higher score OpenEmu #5 in Sega CD Emulators 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit OpenEmu

vs

Provenance #8 in Sega CD Emulators 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Provenance

• OpenEmu fits best

  Mac users wanting a polished game library

• Provenance fits best

  Apple users prioritizing library management

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Side by side

Feature	OpenEmu 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Provenance 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.2
Ranking	#5 in Sega CD Emulators	#8 in Sega CD Emulators
Best for	Mac users wanting a polished game library	Apple users prioritizing library management
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$39.99/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Mobile
Platforms	macOS	iOS
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features OpenEmu 3/4 · Provenance 1/4
Save states	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
CD audio support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Netplay	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Cheat support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	macos	Not checked yet
BIOS requirement	Required	Not checked yet
License	Open-source	Open-source
Our review
Pros	Free and open source with no paid tier Genesis Plus supports Sega CD/Mega CD emulation Unified library organizes games with artwork and save states	Automatic artwork, screenshots, ratings, manuals, and metadata CHD disc-image support for CD-based cores iCloud, CloudKit, WebDAV, AirDrop, and RetroAchievements support
Cons	Runs only on macOS Requires region-specific Sega CD BIOS files Multi-disc Mega CD and Sega CD games are unsupported	Some systems require BIOS files, with requirements varying by system Native Provenance online play is still described as in development App Store and sideloaded builds may differ in availability and supported systems
Our verdict	OpenEmu is a free, open-source emulator frontend for macOS that brings multiple classic systems into one organized game library. It is aimed at Mac users who want Sega CD/Mega CD support alongside a broader collection of legally backed-up… Read the review →	Provenance is a free, open-source multi-system emulator for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. It supports dozens of classic systems across Nintendo, Sega, Atari, Sony, NEC, SNK, and arcade platforms. Its strongest appeal is library management:… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenEmu — where it wins

  • Free and open source with no paid tier
  • Genesis Plus supports Sega CD/Mega CD emulation
  • Unified library organizes games with artwork and save states

  Where it doesn't

  • Runs only on macOS
  • Requires region-specific Sega CD BIOS files
  • Multi-disc Mega CD and Sega CD games are unsupported

• Provenance — where it wins

  • Automatic artwork, screenshots, ratings, manuals, and metadata
  • CHD disc-image support for CD-based cores
  • iCloud, CloudKit, WebDAV, AirDrop, and RetroAchievements support

  Where it doesn't

  • Some systems require BIOS files, with requirements varying by system
  • Native Provenance online play is still described as in development
  • App Store and sideloaded builds may differ in availability and supported systems

• OpenEmu8.7/10 · Free plan

  A polished, free Sega CD library for macOS with strong organization and core support.

  Visit OpenEmuFull verdict →
• Provenance8.2/10 · Free plan

  A free Apple-focused emulator with strong library tools and optional paid sync features.

  Visit ProvenanceFull verdict →