Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

No$GBA VS mGBA

Compare No$GBA VS mGBA and see what are their differences

No$GBA logo No$GBA

If you have no money you can play Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance game.

mGBA logo mGBA

mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.
  • No$GBA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-25
  • mGBA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-06

No$GBA features and specs

  • Compatibility
    No$GBA is known for its high compatibility with a wide range of Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, which allows users to play a vast library of titles without major issues.
  • Performance
    The emulator is lightweight and optimized for high performance, meaning it can run efficiently on older hardware without demanding too many system resources.
  • Debugging Tools
    No$GBA includes debugging features that are beneficial for developers and ROM hackers, providing in-depth insights into the functioning of game ROMs.
  • Low System Requirements
    The emulator has low system requirements, allowing it to function smoothly on a variety of systems, including those with limited processing power.
  • Frequent Updates
    No$GBA is regularly updated by its developer, ensuring ongoing improvements, bug fixes, and the addition of new features to enhance user experience.

Possible disadvantages of No$GBA

  • User Interface
    The user interface can be quite rudimentary and less intuitive compared to other modern emulators, potentially making it challenging for new users to navigate.
  • Sound Emulation
    There are reports of sound emulation issues that may detract from the overall experience, as audio output is sometimes less accurate compared to the original hardware.
  • Limited Features
    No$GBA lacks some advanced features found in other emulators, such as built-in cheat support and enhanced graphic options, which may limit customization and control for users.
  • DS Emulation Limitations
    While it supports Nintendo DS games, the emulation is not perfect and some games may experience graphical glitches or crashes, reducing playability.
  • Commercial Licensing for Debug Version
    The debugging version of No$GBA requires a commercial license for full access, which may be a drawback for those looking for free software solutions.

mGBA features and specs

  • Performance
    mGBA is known for its high performance, offering smooth emulation with minimal lag on both high-end and low-end systems.
  • Accuracy
    The emulator aims for high accuracy in replicating the original GBA hardware, ensuring that games run as they would on the original console.
  • Compatibility
    mGBA supports a wide range of Game Boy Advance titles, including both commercial and homebrew games.
  • User Interface
    It features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate through settings and game libraries.
  • Cross-Platform
    mGBA is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and various mobile operating systems.
  • Active Development
    The emulator is under active development, with frequent updates and new features being added.
  • Debugging Features
    mGBA includes advanced debugging tools that are useful for developers and advanced users.
  • Low System Requirements
    It runs efficiently on older hardware, making it accessible to a wide range of users with varying system capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of mGBA

  • Occasional Bugs
    Like all software, mGBA is not immune to bugs and glitches which may affect the user experience.
  • Limited BIOS Emulation
    While mGBA can run without a BIOS file, emulating BIOS-dependent features may not be as accurate.
  • Audio Issues
    Some users have reported occasional audio issues, such as crackling or desyncing, during gameplay.
  • High-Performance Features
    Some of the emulator's advanced features might require a more powerful system to run optimally.

Analysis of mGBA

Overall verdict

  • Yes, mGBA is considered one of the best emulators for Game Boy Advance games due to its accuracy, feature set, and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • mGBA is widely regarded as an excellent emulator because it offers high compatibility with Game Boy Advance games, has regular updates, and includes numerous features such as save states, screenshots, cheat code support, video recording, and more. It's also known for its performance efficiency, which allows it to run smoothly on less powerful hardware.

Recommended for

  • Gamers looking to play GBA games on modern devices
  • Those who want a stable and reliable emulator
  • Users who appreciate additional features like cheat code support

No$GBA videos

How to Play DS Games on Your PC (2018) - No$GBA

More videos:

  • Review - NDS TV OUT vs No$GBA emulator (comparative)
  • Review - No$GBA Mic Workarounds...

mGBA videos

PS Vita MGBA Emulator Version 0.8.1 Test! (Latest Update)

More videos:

  • Review - PS Vita MGBA Emulator! UPDATED! (Improved Frame Drawing)
  • Review - mGBA Emulator for PC: Full Setup and Play in 2 Minutes (The Game Boy Advance Emulator)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to No$GBA and mGBA)
Emulators
27 27%
73% 73
Gaming
24 24%
76% 76
Gaming Tools
32 32%
68% 68
Media Player
23 23%
77% 77

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, mGBA seems to be a lot more popular than No$GBA. While we know about 70 links to mGBA, we've tracked only 4 mentions of No$GBA. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

No$GBA mentions (4)

  • Is no$gba safe?
    It is, but it's not really the most accurate emulator so you may encounter graphical glitches and/or sound cracking, because the emulator is made to run on old computers and focuses on speed. I suggest you look for a alternative if you have a modern computer, you'll find others here, but No$GBA is fine if you really want or need it. The official website is here (use this link if the official site is out, it's a... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What would the best emulator be for emulating Nintendo DS games?
    If you don't want to hunt for DS firmware, No$GBA is another great emulator that has existed ever since Nintendo DS was released. Make sure you download if from problemkaputt.de as the top result isn't its official site. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Reliving perhaps one of the best bits of my childhood. Epic
    On android DraStic is the best one, on PC No$GBA seems to be the most updated one with DSi enhancements support. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • [DSi] Unlaunch and Wifiboot
    Using no$gba works slightly better than dslink with wifiboot, but wifiboot just doesn't really work with homebrew made with devkitARM. Source: over 4 years ago

mGBA mentions (70)

  • Cheats on Visualboy Advance for Mac
    Visual Boy Advance is actually outclassed these days, use mGBA instead. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I must know, how do you emulate fire emblem on a windows laptop?
    Which game do you want to emulate? If you're talking about fe7 (localized as just Fire Emblem in the west), you're gonna need a ROM which I can't link here but I can PM to you if you need it, and an emulator. I recommend Mgba (https://mgba.io/) for GBA games. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (D-Pad Controls) (GBC Hack)
    Install the GBA emulator called โ€œmGBAโ€ on your 3DS (You can install it through Universal Updater or heres a link to it: https://mgba.io [v0.10.2] ) It should be a cia file to install through FBI. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Hi, new to emulators. I had a question, can I run gba and nds games on this?
    No, you can use mGBA for GBA games, and MelonDS for NDS games. Source: over 2 years ago
  • If you had to use the 4.5 navis to create a team, who would you choose?
    Here's the thread for the Real Battle Network Gameplay patch, here's the English translation patch, and here's the emulator I recommend where you can just slot in the Navi of your choice to unlock them immediately. The ROM you'll have to scare up for yourself, but I'm sure you can handle it. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing No$GBA and mGBA, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

DeSmuME - DeSmuME is a freeware emulator for the NDS roms & Nintendo DS Lite games created by YopYop156.

VisualBoyAdvance - VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a free software (GNU GPL) emulator targeted for the Game Boy, Super Game...

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

melonDS - A Nintendo DS emulator with support for commercial games.

ePSXe - ePSXe (enhanced PSX emulator) is an emulator of the PlayStation video game console for x86-based PC...