VirtualC64

7.0easy start · #6 of 30
in Commodore 64 Emulators

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you worknot on record

Runs on Mac, Web.

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VirtualC64 is ranked #6 of 30 in Commodore 64 emulators on The Geeks Club. It runs on macOS, Web. There is a free plan.

VirtualC64 plans and pricing

All plans

VirtualC64 Free Open-source emulator; requires legally obtained ROM images or free Mega65 ROM replacements dirkwhoffmann.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on Commodore 64 emulators

Free plan: Yes
Supported platforms: macOS
Disk and tape formats: D64, T64, PRG, P00, G64, TAP, CRT
Built-in debugger: Yes
Emulated C64 variants: PAL C64, NTSC C64, C64 II PAL, C64 II NTSC

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The record

Purpose: VirtualC64 turns an Apple Macintosh into a Commodore 64 emulator.
Emulation: It emulates both PAL and NTSC, with emphasis on PAL accuracy and cycle-accurate emulation.
Open source: VirtualC64 is open-source software published under the GNU General Public License.
CPU core license: The CPU core is published under the MIT license.
WebAssembly: The core emulator is designed to be compatible with WebAssembly and can run in a browser.
ROM requirement: On first launch, users are prompted to add four ROM images because they are not pre-installed due to unclear copyright status.
ROM replacements: Free ROM replacements developed as part of the Mega65 project ship with recent versions and can be installed from the ROM configuration panel.
Input devices: Joystick input can use keyboard emulation or an external USB joystick; the site also names Sony DualShock 4 controllers and the RetroFun! USB adapter as supported.
Media formats: Supported formats include D64, T64, PRG, P00, G64, TAP, and CRT.
Documentation: The official documentation describes the public API for developers incorporating the emulation core into their own projects.
Implementation: The documentation says VirtualC64 is implemented in C++20 with portability in mind.
Privacy: The maker's privacy notice says the website can be visited without registration and that personal data is collected voluntarily where possible.
Support: The official site links to GitHub Issues and Discussions for the project.
Maker: The site's imprint identifies Prof. Dr. Dirk W. Hoffmann at Hochschule Karlsruhe in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Commodore 64 Emulators in 2026#6 of 30

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Sources

dirkwhoffmann.github.io/VirtualC64/· checked 4 Oct 2026
dirkwhoffmann.github.io/VirtualC64/docs/index.html· checked 4 Oct 2026
dirkwhoffmann.github.io/impressum.html· checked 4 Oct 2026