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Best Delta Alternatives in 2026

Freemium#12 of 53 in Multi-System EmulatorsNintendo DS EmulatorsGame Boy Advance EmulatorsSega Genesis Emulators+1 more

The top Delta alternatives are RetroArch, Foxol and ares: 15 Multi-System emulators our editors would look at instead of Delta, in our ranking order.

7.4/10Editor score
Visit Delta
Delta7.4 Visit Delta

Delta: A broad Apple-only emulator with saves, controller support, sync, cheats, and DS multiplayer. Where it falls short: available on iOS and macOS, with no android support.

Switching from Delta? For most multi-system emulators buyers the best Delta alternative is RetroArch, built for most users wanting a broad emulator hub. EmulatorJS offers the most supported systems (36).

Why People Look for a Delta Alternative

  • Available on iOS and macOS, with no Android support
  • Arcade systems are not supported
  • Genesis/Mega Drive emulation is still in beta
  • No android support — 7 of the alternatives below have it
  • No arcade support — 10 of the alternatives below have it

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 Delta Alternatives, Ranked

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.

  1. RetroArch

    Best forMost users wanting a broad emulator hub

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Arcade support
    • Editor score 9.4 vs 7.4

    A broad, free emulator hub with one interface for collections, cores, controls, and play.

    • Arcade support
    • Android support
    • Netplay
    Free plan Our RetroArch verdict → Visit RetroArch
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit RetroArch
  2. Foxol

    Best forCross-device users wanting cloud saves and multiplayer

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Supported systems: 20 vs 7
    • Editor score 9.1 vs 7.4

    Foxol combines multi-system emulation, cloud saves, and multiplayer across web, desktop, and mobile.

    • Android support
    • Netplay
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our Foxol verdict → Visit Foxol
    9.1/10★★★★★
    Visit Foxol
  3. ares

    Best forDesktop users wanting broad standalone emulation

    • Better than Delta:
    • Arcade support
    • BIOS required
    • Supported systems: 34 vs 7

    A broad, free desktop emulator with preservation-focused tools and system-specific BIOS requirements.

    • BIOS required
    • Arcade support
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our ares verdict → Visit ares
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit ares
  4. Provenance

    Best forApple users wanting synced emulation libraries

    • Better than Delta:
    • Arcade support
    • BIOS required
    • Editor score 8.7 vs 7.4

    A broad Apple-focused emulator with synced libraries, metadata, cheats, and multiplayer.

    • BIOS required
    • Arcade support
    • Netplay
    Free plan Our Provenance verdict → Visit Provenance
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Provenance
  5. EmulatorJS

    Best forWebsites needing broad browser emulation

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Arcade support
    • Supported systems: 36 vs 7

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

    • Arcade support
    • Android support
    • Shader/upscaling
    Open source Our EmulatorJS verdict → Visit EmulatorJS
    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit EmulatorJS
  6. MAME

    Best forArcade-focused users needing broad hardware coverage

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Arcade support
    • BIOS required

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

    • BIOS required
    • Arcade support
    • Android support
    Free plan Our MAME verdict → Visit MAME
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit MAME
  7. BizHawk

    Best forTool-assisted gameplay and emulator debugging

    • Better than Delta:
    • Arcade support
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 7.4

    A focused choice for emulator debugging, tool-assisted movies, and desktop retro gaming.

    • Arcade support
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our BizHawk verdict → Visit BizHawk
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit BizHawk
  8. OpenEmu

    Best forMac users wanting a polished game library

    • Better than Delta:
    • Arcade support
    • BIOS required
    • Supported systems: 31 vs 7

    A free, organized emulator library for Mac users who want broad classic-system support.

    • BIOS required
    • Arcade support
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our OpenEmu verdict → Visit OpenEmu
    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit OpenEmu
  9. Manic EMU

    Best foriOS users needing extensive cloud import options

    • Better than Delta:
    • Editor score 7.9 vs 7.4

    A feature-rich iOS emulator with broad cloud imports and flexible retro-game controls.

    Open source Our Manic EMU verdict → Visit Manic EMU
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Manic EMU
  10. Dolphin

    Best forGameCube and Wii emulation

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Arcade support
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 7.4

    A mature, free emulator with broad GameCube and Wii features across four platforms.

    • Arcade support
    • Android support
    • Netplay
    Free plan Our Dolphin verdict → Visit Dolphin
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Dolphin
  11. Mednafen

    Best forDesktop users needing broad classic-system support

    • Better than Delta:
    • Arcade support
    • BIOS required
    • Supported systems: 17 vs 7

    A free, open-source emulator with broad classic-system coverage and advanced playback tools.

    • BIOS required
    • Arcade support
    • Netplay
    Free plan Our Mednafen verdict → Visit Mednafen
    7.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Mednafen
  12. MesenCE

    Best forDesktop users focused on 8- and 16-bit consoles

    A focused desktop emulator with strong save, video, and customization features.

    • Netplay
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our MesenCE verdict → Visit MesenCE
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit MesenCE
  13. Happy Chick

    Best forBroad free emulation with multiplayer

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support
    • Arcade support
    • Supported systems: 18 vs 7

    A free, broad emulator with 18 console types, arcade and PSP support, and multiplayer.

    • Arcade support
    • Android support
    • Netplay
    Free plan Our Happy Chick verdict → Visit Happy Chick
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Happy Chick
  14. Nexen

    Best forTAS creators and emulator power users

    • Better than Delta:
    • Supported systems: 8 vs 7

    A desktop emulator built for TAS creators, netplay, debugging, and recording.

    • Netplay
    • Shader/upscaling
    Open source Our Nexen verdict → Visit Nexen
    7.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Nexen
  15. SkyEmu

    Best forPortable users needing focused handheld emulation

    • Better than Delta:
    • Android support

    A focused, portable emulator with strong tools and beta-quality Nintendo DS support.

    • Android support
    • Shader/upscaling
    Free plan Our SkyEmu verdict → Visit SkyEmu
    7.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit SkyEmu

Delta Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Delta?

RetroArch: #1 in our Multi-System Emulators ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad, free emulator hub with one interface for collections, cores, controls, and play.

Is there a free alternative to Delta?

Yes. RetroArch, Foxol, ares, Provenance and EmulatorJS have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).

Why do people look for Delta alternatives?

Available on iOS and macOS, with no Android support; Arcade systems are not supported; Genesis/Mega Drive emulation is still in beta.

Which Delta alternative has the most supported systems?

EmulatorJS, with 36.

How do I switch from Delta?

Export your data from Delta (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Delta.

How to Switch from Delta

  1. Export your data from Delta (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Delta.

Delta vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromSupported systemsAndroid supportArcade supportNetplayScore
12DeltaYes7NoNoYes7.4
1RetroArchYesFreeYesYesYes9.4
2FoxolYes20YesYes9.1
3aresYesFree34NoYes8.8
4ProvenanceYesYesYes8.7
5EmulatorJSFree36YesYesNo8.5
6MAMEYesFreeYesYesYes8.4
7BizHawkYesFreeNoYes8.2
8OpenEmuYesFree31NoYesNo8.0
9Manic EMUFree7.9
10DolphinYesFree3YesYesYes7.8
11MednafenYesFree17YesYes7.6
12MesenCEYesFree7NoNoYes7.3
13Happy ChickYesFree18YesYesYes7.3
14NexenFree8Yes7.2
15SkyEmuYesFree4Yes7.1

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update