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Supermodel alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Supermodel: covers only one arcade platform, and no built-in game browser; setup leans on config files and the command line. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Supermodel, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MAME currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MAME logoMAMEOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2RetroArch logoRetroArchOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Flycast logoFlycastOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +15 of 559.6
  1. MAME logo

    1. MAMETop pick

    Best for: Arcade collectors and cabinet builders who want the widest, most accurate hardware coverage

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Supermodel

    Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's.

    Pros

    • Supports thousands of arcade boards and vintage systems
    • Accuracy-first development with monthly releases
    • Free and open source, used inside many front ends

    Cons

    • ROM sets must match the MAME version, which confuses newcomers
    • Official binaries are Windows-only
    • Accuracy focus means heavier CPU needs for some systems
    Visit MAME Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MAME a good Supermodel alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mamedev.org(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-2.0 (core mostly BSD-3-Clause)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mamedev.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Game code included
    No, user supplies ROMs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mamedev.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Official binaries
    Windows x64 and Arm64
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mamedev.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. RetroArch logo

    2. RetroArch

    Best for: Retro gamers who want one app, one controller setup and advanced latency and shader options

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Supermodel

    One front end for many systems, with arcade cores and a polished menu instead of config files.

    Pros

    • One interface and controller setup for dozens of systems
    • Run-ahead, shaders and netplay go beyond most standalone emulators
    • Runs on almost every platform, including phones and consoles
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Deep, confusing menus with layered per-core settings
    • Some cores lag behind their standalone emulators
    • Several systems need BIOS files you must supply
    Visit RetroArch Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is RetroArch a good Supermodel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cores
    200+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, consoles
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Netplay
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Project started
    2012
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Flycast logo

    3. Flycast

    Best for: Players who want Dreamcast and Sega Naomi arcade games on PC, Mac, Linux or Android

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Supermodel

    Handles Sega's next arcade generation (Naomi, Atomiswave) plus Dreamcast, with a full graphical interface.

    Pros

    • Covers Dreamcast plus three Sega arcade boards in one app
    • Available on desktop, Android and even Xbox
    • Graphical setup with upscaling and widescreen options

    Cons

    • No iOS version any more
    • Arcade games need separate BIOS files
    • Documentation lives on a third-party wiki
    Visit Flycast Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Flycast a good Supermodel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Emulated systems
    Dreamcast, Naomi, Naomi 2, Atomiswave
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux
    Flathub
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iOS
    Dropped
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Supermodel alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

MAME logo

Best Supermodel alternative for most people

MAME

Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's.

RetroArch logo

Best Supermodel alternative for a free option

RetroArch

One front end for many systems, with arcade cores and a polished menu instead of config files.

Flycast logo

Best Supermodel alternative for open source

Flycast

Handles Sega's next arcade generation (Naomi, Atomiswave) plus Dreamcast, with a full graphical interface.

MAME logo

Best Supermodel alternative for Mac

MAME

Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's.

MAME logo

Best Supermodel alternative for Windows

MAME

Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's.

MAME logo

Best Supermodel alternative for Linux

MAME

Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's.

RetroArch logo

Best Supermodel alternative for iPhone and Android

RetroArch

One front end for many systems, with arcade cores and a polished menu instead of config files.

Supermodel alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Supermodel?

MAME ranks first right now. Covers thousands of arcade boards in one app, though its Model 3 support lags behind Supermodel's. RetroArch and Flycast follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Supermodel?

Yes. MAME (open source), RetroArch (open source) and Flycast (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Supermodel?

Yes: MAME, RetroArch and Flycast.

Which Supermodel alternatives work on Linux?

MAME, RetroArch and Flycast run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Supermodel?

The complaints we hear most: covers only one arcade platform; no built-in game browser; setup leans on config files and the command line; old website is gone, so documentation is scattered.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Supermodel, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.