Compare software

Snes9x vs RetroArch: catalog facts
Snes9x	RetroArch
Free Free and open source under a non-commercial licence: the Snes9x licence permits free…	Free Free and open source, funded by donations.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Very high compatibility with the SNES library, including cartridge enhancement chips Native builds for Windows, Linux (GTK and X11), FreeBSD and macOS	Configure once and every emulator core inherits the settings Runs on desktops, phones and a long list of games consoles
The licence prohibits commercial use, so it is not open source in the OSI sense Less cycle-accurate than bsnes or higan if exactness is your priority	The settings menu is deep and intimidating the first time You still have to download cores, and some systems need BIOS files you must supply
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.