Provenance
Delta vs Provenance
Two well-regarded iOS emulators that barely overlap in console support — here's how to pick between them.
Overview
Delta and Provenance rarely compete for the same game — they cover almost entirely different console libraries. Delta emulates Nintendo handhelds and consoles: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, GBA, NDS, and N64. Provenance instead focuses on a broader spread that includes Sony's PS1 and PSP, several Sega systems, and additional retro hardware Delta doesn't touch at all, making the "which is better" question really a "which consoles do you want to play" question first.
Where they do overlap conceptually is philosophy: both are free, open-source, community-built projects rather than commercial products, and both support save states so you're not locked into finishing a session in one sitting. Delta pulls ahead on presentation, with its skin system letting you reshape the on-screen layout per game, while Provenance keeps a more fixed, utilitarian control scheme across its wider system list.
Availability has been the bigger practical difference over time — Delta has a stable, current App Store presence, while Provenance's distribution has shifted between official listings and sideloaded builds as App Store emulator policy has evolved, so it's worth checking current install options before assuming either one.
Screenshots
Console Grid
Unified Library
Custom Skin
PS1 Controls
Comparison
Step-by-Step
Good to Know
If your library is mostly Pokemon, Zelda, or other Nintendo handheld classics, Delta's focused, polished experience is the simpler pick.
If you want PS1-era games or systems outside Nintendo's lineup, Provenance covers ground Delta simply doesn't emulate at all.
Check current install methods before committing to either — sideloading requirements and App Store availability for both apps have changed more than once as platform policy shifts.
