Lemuroid
Free, ad-free open-source emulator for 23 retro and handheld consoles
Emulator for Android: five apps compared
Five Android emulators are covered here, and they show what separates a solid pick from a weak one. Lemuroid and 8-Bit Wonders get the top grade in the catalog. Both are free, show no ads and are open source, under GPL-3.0-or-later and GPL-2.0-or-later respectively.
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Three of the five show no ads. GBA Emulator and Games Emulator PSP are the exceptions, with ads and in-app purchases.
Coverage matters too. Lemuroid handles many systems in one app, while 8-Bit Wonders focuses on Commodore machines. Update dates are worth a look as well, since every app here was updated in 2026.
Only emulators are covered. No ROMs or BIOS files are supplied, and nothing here links to them. The apps differ in how they ask you to bring your own game files, so read each description before installing.
Apps in this category
8-Bit Wonders
Free, ad-free Commodore 8-bit emulator with rewind and built-in games
One Emulator for Game Consoles
Free, ad-free Android emulator with save slots and no BIOS file needed
GBA Emulator
GBA emulator for Android with save states, ROM scanning and a paid ad-free tier
Games Emulator PSP
Android emulator for PSP, PS1, NDS and GBA with 5x upscaling and save states
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Top 5 picks
Lemuroid
Lemuroid, by Filippo Scognamiglio, is built on Libretro and earns the top grade. Version 1.17.0 was updated on April 29, 2026. At 11.4 MB it is the lightest of the group with a known size. It is free, ad-free and GPL-3.0-or-later, and covers Atari, NES, SNES, Game Boy and more.
8-Bit Wonders
8-Bit Wonders, by Rainer Hock, targets Commodore 8-bit systems and comes with built-in games. It also earns the top grade. Version 0.8.11 was updated on September 22, 2026. It weighs 36.4 MB, is free, has no ads and uses the GPL-2.0-or-later license. Pick it for a narrow retro focus.
One Emulator for Game Consoles
One Emulator for Game Consoles, from Browser by Fulldive Co., sits in the lower grade C. Version 1.12.6 arrived October 29, 2026, with no ads or purchases. Features include save states and quick save slots. Its description warns that newer consoles need a very powerful device.
GBA Emulator
GBA Emulator, by MILKY APPS CO.,LTD, targets Game Boy Advance games only. Its 4.6 rating is the highest in this group. It contains ads and in-app purchases. Version 2.4.0 was updated May 22, 2026. You must source game files yourself and import them with a scan button.
Games Emulator PSP
Games Emulator PSP, from CoolDev Co Ltd, plays PSP, PS1, NDS and GBA titles, and it is not a PS2 emulator. Google Play lists over 500,000 installs and a 4.4 rating. It has ads and in-app purchases. Version 1.2.2 was updated October 23, 2026.
Questions and answers
Which emulator here has no ads?
Lemuroid, 8-Bit Wonders and One Emulator for Game Consoles show no ads. GBA Emulator and Games Emulator PSP both contain ads and in-app purchases.
Do these apps include games?
Only 8-Bit Wonders is described as having built-in games. The GBA Emulator description says you need to obtain game files separately. TopDown APK does not provide ROMs or BIOS files.
Can Games Emulator PSP run PS2 games?
No. Its own description states it is not a PS2 emulator. It lists PSP, PS1, NDS and GBA as supported systems.
Related categories
Best-of lists
Before installing, match the app to the system you want to play. A single-console app like GBA Emulator suits one target, while Lemuroid spreads across many. Check the version date and the license line too, since open-source projects let you read what the code does.
The One Emulator description notes that not every device can emulate every console, and recent systems need strong hardware. Start with an older system if your phone is modest, and move up only if play stays smooth. Keep your own legally obtained game files ready in a folder before you open the app, since importing is the first step in most of these emulators.