One library, two systems NostalgiApp on Mac and Windows
NostalgiApp for Mac and NostalgiApp for Windows share almost every feature: the eXo collections, your ROMs, the same library views and TV mode, and sync between your Macs and PCs. The differences come from how each system runs eXo’s games and from what each system offers. This page compares Mac 1.2.3.5 with Windows 0.1.21 (beta).
The same library on both. The Mac is paid, Windows is free.
On a Mac, NostalgiApp launches eXo’s games itself, with DOSBox, DOSBox-X, 86Box and DREAMM built in. It costs €29.99 once, after a 14-day free trial. On Windows, NostalgiApp runs eXo’s own scripts and emulators, the way eXo’s collections are made to run on a PC, and it is free. A NostalgiApp licence adds two paid services on both: the media service (pictures and details for your ROMs) and account sync. One licence covers your Mac and your PC: Personal is for one Mac and one PC.
What you get on either one.
eXoDOS, Win3x, Win9x, ScummVM, DREAMM
All of eXo’s collections, the German, Spanish and Polish eXoDOS language packs, and the Media Pack’s magazines, books, videos and soundtracks, streamed when they aren’t on disk.
Quick Start and Lite
Start with the eXoDOS catalogue and each game downloads the first time you play it. eXoDOS Lite works the same way.
Consoles, handhelds, arcade, computers
Over 70 systems, from the NES to the Switch and arcade boards like NAOMI and Sega Model 3. RetroArch and standalone emulators, ScreenScraper, RetroAchievements, cheats, shaders, CHD and 7z compression, and ES-DE import.
Views, search, playlists, smart collections
Coverflow, the Museum, 3D boxes and TV mode with a controller. Steam, GOG and Epic games sit next to your retro games.
Between your Macs and PCs
Favourites, playlists, play history, ratings and notes through your WorthyPunks account. Save sync (beta) keeps eXo saves and RetroArch saves and save states the same on every machine.
To your TV, phone or Steam Deck
Sunshine and Moonlight stream NostalgiApp in TV mode to any screen in the house.
Feature by feature.
“Same” means the feature works alike on both.
| Area | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €29.99 once, 14-day trial | Free; a licence adds the paid services |
| System | macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon and Intel | Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit |
| Status | Released | Beta |
| eXo collections | ||
| eXoDOS, eXoWin3x, eXoWin9x, eXoScummVM, eXoDREAMM | Launched by NostalgiApp with built-in emulators | Launched by eXo’s own scripts and emulators |
| Quick Start (no 6 GB Lite download) | About 40 MB | About 640 MB (eXo’s setup files are needed) |
| Lite downloads, game by game | Same | Same |
| Language packs (German, Spanish, Polish) | Same | Same |
| Media Pack (magazines, books, videos, soundtracks) | Same, streamed when not on disk | Same, streamed when not on disk |
| More than one collection | Merged into one collection | Kept in their own folders, shown together |
| Library | ||
| Library views, search, playlists, smart collections | Same | Same |
| Museum and 3D box | Same | Same |
| TV mode with a controller | Same | Same |
| Streaming to TVs (Sunshine and Moonlight) | Same | Same |
| ROMs | ||
| ROM platforms (full list) | The same systems, plus Apple II and IIgs disk images (MAME) | 78 systems |
| RetroArch and standalone emulators | Same | Same |
| ScreenScraper | Same | Same |
| RetroAchievements, cheats, shaders | Same | Same |
| ROM compression (CHD, 7z) and ES-DE import | Same | Same |
| Media service (pictures and details for ROMs) | With a licence (not in the trial) | With a licence |
| PC and store games | ||
| Steam, GOG, Epic | Same | Same |
| Amazon and Ubisoft games | Amazon through Heroic; Ubisoft Connect from a Wine or CrossOver bottle | Read from their own Windows apps |
| Windows PC games | Wine or CrossOver; Game Porting Toolkit on Apple silicon | Run directly |
| Sync, updates, signing | ||
| Account sync between Macs and PCs | With a licence (not in the trial) | With a licence |
| Save sync (beta): eXo saves, RetroArch saves and save states | With a licence, from 1.2.3.5 | With a licence, from 0.1.21 |
| Updates | Built-in updater, and Homebrew | Built-in updater with release notes |
| Code signing | Signed and notarised by Apple | Not signed yet (Windows warns once) |
Two things don’t run on Intel Macs: arcade games through MAME, because the downloadable MAME is for Apple silicon only, and the Game Porting Toolkit runtimes for Windows games. Everything else works.
What only one of them has.
Only on the Mac
Most of these exist because the Mac launches eXo’s games itself, or because they are macOS features.
- Game versions in a picker: CD or floppy, graphics and sound card, chosen in NostalgiApp’s own window, with your last choice remembered. On Windows, eXo’s console menu asks.
- Recommended sound: games written for the Roland MT-32 or Sound Canvas are marked “Recommended” and use the right ROMs when you have them.
- Per-game emulator settings for eXo games: CRT look, full screen, aspect ratio and which DOS emulator plays it.
- TV mode extras: Play Windowed, and the version picker in TV mode.
- ScummVM versions: the ScummVM version eXo tested a game with is offered as a download.
- Community seeding: the eXo games you have are shared back over BitTorrent, with an upload limit.
- Generic USB controllers (an optional mode), for pads macOS doesn’t recognise.
- macOS integration: iCloud library sync, Spotlight search, Shortcuts, a menu bar quick-launch and Homebrew install (
brew install --cask nostalgiapp).
Only on Windows
Some come from Windows itself, some from running eXo’s collections the way they were built.
- Free to use: everything except the media service and account sync works without a licence.
- Portable copy: a zip that keeps settings, caches, logs, emulators and logins in a folder beside it, for another drive or a USB stick. It updates itself.
- Installer choices: install for you only (no admin rights) or for everyone, in any folder or drive.
- Back Up and Restore of your favourites, playlists and play history to a file.
- System tray: NostalgiApp keeps running when its window is closed.
- Windows PC games run directly, with no Wine or CrossOver.
- Epic sign-in: your Epic library without a third-party launcher (the Mac reads it through Heroic).
- Amazon and Ubisoft games read from their own Windows apps.
- Collections stay where they are: another eXo collection is added from its own folder and nothing is merged on disk.
- ROM lists read in place: the Mac’s and LaunchBox’s ROM lists, ES-DE media and local artwork are used where they are, never copied.
One licence for your Macs and PCs.
A NostalgiApp licence works on both. Personal covers one Mac and one PC; Family covers five devices, Macs or PCs in any mix.
| Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|
| Without a licence | 14-day trial of everything except the media service and account sync | Everything except the two services below |
| Media service (box art, screenshots, details for ROMs) | After buying; not in the trial | Needs a licence |
| Account sync and save sync between Macs and PCs | After buying; not in the trial | Needs a licence |
| Personal licence (€29.99 once) | 1 Mac + 1 PC | |
| Family licence (€59.99 once) | 5 devices, Macs and PCs in any mix | |
A Linux version (an AppImage for desktops and the Steam Deck) is built from the Windows app and is in testing. It isn’t released yet; like Windows, it will be free, with the same paid services for licence holders.
Things people ask first.
Q. Is NostalgiApp for Windows really free?
Q. I bought NostalgiApp for Mac. Does my licence work on Windows?
Q. Can I play on my Mac and carry on on my PC?
Q. Why does Windows warn me when I start it?
Q. Why does the Windows Quick Start download more?
Get NostalgiApp for your computer.
Mac: 14-day free trial, no card required. Windows: free beta.