VICE vs C64 Forever

VICE9.4Visit C64 Forever8.8Visit

Higher score VICE #1 in Commodore 64 Emulators 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit VICE

vs

C64 Forever #3 in Commodore 64 Emulators 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit C64 Forever

• VICE fits best

  Multi-platform Commodore 8-bit emulation

• C64 Forever fits best

  Plug-and-play users wanting games included

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Side by side

Feature	VICE 9.4/10 Visit ↗	C64 Forever 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.8
Ranking	#1 in Commodore 64 Emulators	#3 in Commodore 64 Emulators
Best for	Multi-platform Commodore 8-bit emulation	Plug-and-play users wanting games included
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$19.95 one-time
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	Windows
Support	Email, Tickets, Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features VICE 1/3 · C64 Forever 1/3
Built-in debugger	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Netplay support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Bundled software library	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Windows
Disk and tape formats	Not checked yet	RP9, D64, T64, C64 and other disk, tape and cartridge formats
Emulated C64 variants	Not checked yet	C64, PET 2001, CBM 3032, CBM 4032, CBM 8032, VIC-20, CBM 610, C16, Plus/4, C128
Our review
Pros	Cycle-accurate 6502/6510 CPU and chip-timing emulation Supports Windows, macOS, Linux and Android Includes debugger, media formats and network play	More than 200 preinstalled games and demoscene productions Emulates C64, VIC-20, C128, PET, CBM, C16 and Plus/4 systems Converts RP9, D64, T64 and other disk, tape and cartridge formats
Cons	Network play is experimental and may be unstable Requires system ROM files for emulation Focused on Commodore systems rather than arcade support	Windows is the only supported platform The Free Express Edition is feature-limited Plus Edition upgrades require a previous Plus Edition license
Our verdict	VICE is a free, open-source emulator collection for software made for Commodore 8-bit computers. It covers the C64, C64DTV, C128, VIC-20, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II through separate emulators that share a common interface, settings and… Read the review →	C64 Forever is a Windows-based emulation and preservation package from Cloanto for people who want Commodore 64 software with an included content library. It covers the C64 and several CBM 8-bit systems, including VIC-20, C128, PET 2001,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• VICE — where it wins

  • Cycle-accurate 6502/6510 CPU and chip-timing emulation
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
  • Includes debugger, media formats and network play

  Where it doesn't

  • Network play is experimental and may be unstable
  • Requires system ROM files for emulation
  • Focused on Commodore systems rather than arcade support

• C64 Forever — where it wins

  • More than 200 preinstalled games and demoscene productions
  • Emulates C64, VIC-20, C128, PET, CBM, C16 and Plus/4 systems
  • Converts RP9, D64, T64 and other disk, tape and cartridge formats

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows is the only supported platform
  • The Free Express Edition is feature-limited
  • Plus Edition upgrades require a previous Plus Edition license

• VICE9.4/10 · Free plan

  Free, open-source C64 emulation with cycle accuracy, debugging, media support and network play.

  Visit VICEFull verdict →
• C64 Forever8.8/10 · Free plan

  A Windows-focused C64 package with bundled titles, broad emulation, and preservation tools.

  Visit C64 ForeverFull verdict →