Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · ZX Spectrum Emulators

ZEsarUX vs Zedex

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score ZEsarUX #1 in ZX Spectrum Emulators 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit ZEsarUX
Zedex #10 in ZX Spectrum Emulators 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Zedex

ZEsarUX leads on 1 check, Zedex on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreZEsarUX · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresZEsarUX · 2 of 2

ZEsarUX scores higher on our rubric for zx spectrum emulators: 9.4 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #10.

ZEsarUX offers built-in debugger; Zedex doesn't.

ZEsarUX is the better fit for broad, advanced desktop emulation. Zedex is the better fit for android gaming and media features.

  • ZEsarUX fits best

    Broad, advanced desktop emulation

  • Zedex fits best

    Android gaming and media features

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature ZEsarUX 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Zedex 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.3
Ranking #1 in ZX Spectrum Emulators #10 in ZX Spectrum Emulators
Best for Broad, advanced desktop emulation Android gaming and media features
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Android
Support Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features ZEsarUX 2/2 · Zedex 1/2
Built-in debugger ✓ (best) —
Open source ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported Spectrum models Not checked yet Not checked yet
Host platforms GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, Haiku, macOS, Windows, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin Android 11 and later
Tape formats RWA, SMP, WAV, TZX, PZX, CDT, TAP, P, P81, O, CAS TAP, TZX
Snapshot formats ZSF, ZX, Z80, SP, SPG, NEX, SNA, P, P81, O, Z81, ACE SZX, Z80, SNA
Peripheral support joysticks, steering wheel, ZX Printer, light guns, light pen, Kempston mouse, ZX Microdrive, MMC/SD interfaces, IDE interfaces, DivMMC, DivIDE, Dandanator, SamRam, LEC Memory, HiLow DataDrive Beta 128/TR-DOS, +3 floppy drives, DivMMC, tape deck, Kempston mouse, game controllers
Our review
Pros
  • Supports major ZX Spectrum models from 16K through +3
  • Extensive tape, snapshot, storage, and peripheral format support
  • Advanced debugging includes reverse debugging, watches, and CPU history
  • Supports tape, disk, cartridge, microdrive and RZX files
  • Includes shaders, recording, cheats and remappable controller controls
  • Offers library metadata scraping, catalog browsing and DivMMC emulation
Cons
  • Its breadth may exceed the needs of basic 48K emulation
  • Many formats and peripherals can make configuration more involved
  • Network gaming uses the ZEsarUX Network Gaming protocol
  • Runs on Android 11 and later only
  • Does not include a debugger
  • Desktop platforms are not supported
Our verdict

ZEsarUX is a free, GPL-licensed, open-source emulator for ZX Spectrum computers and related retro systems. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with support for Spectrum 16K, 48K, 128K, +2, +2A, and +3 models. The product is aimed at…

Read the review →

Zedex is a free, open-source ZX Spectrum emulator for Android 11 and later. It supports Sinclair, Timex, Pentagon, Scorpion and Spectrum SE machines, including 48k, 128k, plus2 and plus3 models. The app is aimed at Android users who want…

Read the review →
  1. ZEsarUXZX Spectrum Emulators 9.4Free plan
  2. ZedexZX Spectrum Emulators 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ZEsarUX — where it wins

    • Supports major ZX Spectrum models from 16K through +3
    • Extensive tape, snapshot, storage, and peripheral format support
    • Advanced debugging includes reverse debugging, watches, and CPU history

    Where it doesn't

    • Its breadth may exceed the needs of basic 48K emulation
    • Many formats and peripherals can make configuration more involved
    • Network gaming uses the ZEsarUX Network Gaming protocol

  • Zedex — where it wins

    • Supports tape, disk, cartridge, microdrive and RZX files
    • Includes shaders, recording, cheats and remappable controller controls
    • Offers library metadata scraping, catalog browsing and DivMMC emulation

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs on Android 11 and later only
    • Does not include a debugger
    • Desktop platforms are not supported
  • ZEsarUX9.4/10 · Free plan

    A broad desktop emulator for Spectrum models, storage formats, peripherals, and debugging.

    Visit ZEsarUXFull verdict →
  • Zedex8.3/10 · Free plan

    A feature-rich free Android emulator for gaming, media capture and library browsing.

    Visit ZedexFull verdict →

More comparisons

All ZX spectrum emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update