Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenEmu VS No$GBA

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

OpenEmu logo OpenEmu

Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

No$GBA logo No$GBA

If you have no money you can play Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance game.
  • OpenEmu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • No$GBA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-25

OpenEmu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenEmu offers a sleek, organized, and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and manage multiple game emulators from one platform.
  • Multi-System Support
    Supports a wide range of game systems including Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation, and more. This allows users to emulate multiple consoles without needing separate software for each.
  • Integration with macOS
    OpenEmu is specifically designed for macOS, allowing it to leverage the capabilities and features of the operating system effectively.
  • Game Library Management
    Features robust library management tools that allow users to organize, filter, and sort their game collections easily.
  • Save States
    Provides support for save states, enabling users to save and load their game progress at any point.
  • Controller Support
    Supports a wide range of USB and Bluetooth controllers, offering a more authentic gaming experience.
  • Community and Plugin Support
    OpenEmu has a vibrant community that offers plugins and additional emulation cores, increasing the range of supported games and systems.

Possible disadvantages of OpenEmu

  • macOS Exclusivity
    Available only on macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Legal Gray Area
    Emulating games often involves downloading ROMs, which can be legally ambiguous depending on whether the user owns the original copy of the game.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues with certain emulation cores, leading to lag or crashes during gameplay.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might seek.
  • Inconsistent Game Compatibility
    Not all games are fully compatible with the available emulation cores, potentially rendering some titles unplayable or glitchy.
  • No Native Online Multiplayer
    Lacks built-in support for online multiplayer gaming, which can be a drawback for users who wish to play with friends remotely.

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.

Analysis of OpenEmu

Overall verdict

  • OpenEmu is generally considered a good choice for those looking to play classic games on a Mac. Its ease of use and comprehensive features make it a favorite among users who want a seamless retro gaming experience.

Why this product is good

  • OpenEmu is frequently praised for its user-friendly interface, wide compatibility with different game systems, and convenient features such as save states and controller support. The platform integrates multiple emulators into a single application, making it easy to manage and play retro games from various consoles.

Recommended for

    OpenEmu is recommended for Mac users who are enthusiasts of retro gaming and want an all-in-one solution to organize and play games from multiple gaming systems. It is a great choice for anyone looking to relive classic gaming memories or explore titles from past generations.

OpenEmu videos

OpenEmu - How To Run Emulators on a Mac N64 PSP SNES NES And More!

More videos:

  • Review - OpenEMU Mac Multi Platform Retro Game Emulator Review
  • Tutorial - How To Play Retro Games On Mac Using OpenEmu
  • Tutorial - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNC93CAxTw

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...

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenEmu and No$GBA)
Gaming
88 88%
12% 12
Emulators
85 85%
15% 15
Gaming Tools
83 83%
17% 17
Media Player
87 87%
13% 13

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenEmu and No$GBA

OpenEmu Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
OpenEmu is free, easy to setup, easy to use, supports external controllers, and just makes keeping your retro game collection in one place as easy as possible.
Source: retrododo.com
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
OpenEmu is modular, and thanks to the work of other great open source projects, it can emulate a wide variety of video game systems (we call them โ€˜coresโ€™). OpenEmu emulates the following systems:
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
OpenEmu is steadily taking over the emulator market for Mac OS as it is compatible with Mac OS 10.7 and higher.
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
If you have a Mac and a lot of old video games lying around, OpenEmu is most definitely the one to get. With it, you can manage your collection with a beautiful front-end, as OpenEmu can help you name the games and get the box art online automatically.

No$GBA Reviews

We have no reviews of No$GBA yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenEmu seems to be a lot more popular than No$GBA. While we know about 92 links to OpenEmu, we've tracked only 4 mentions of No$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.

OpenEmu mentions (92)

  • The UI Future Is Colourful and Dimensional
    "I did a quick mockup" Sure you did.. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store
    Tangentially related: if anybody is looking for a good way to organize a library of retro emulators and games on their MacOS laptops/desktop computers then I recommend OpenEmu. It is designed from the ground up to look and feel like a Mac app. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • How do I play TurboGrafx 16 in 2023?
    The Pocket is a great device, highly recommended, get the Dock if you want to buy one. While waiting, I recommend using https://openemu.org/ on your Mac to run "roms", which are files that represent old games. To get the ROMs, google for "tubrografx roms archive.org". Then for a controller on a Mac, you can use a PS4/PS5 or Xbox (One/Series), if you have one lying around. That said, I recommend buying an SN30 Pro. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Help PSX / NEOGEO games
    Huh? Try http://openemu.org/ and download the experimental version (with arcade support). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Lucky Luke Western Fever
    Yeah should be pretty easy if you have the ISO or a disc copy, OpenEmu should do it without issue - https://openemu.org. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.

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

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

mGBA - mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.

PCSX2 - PCSX2 a Playstation 2 emulator for android, Linux and Mac