Alternatives to CrossOver
A commercial Wine-based tool that runs Windows applications and games on macOS and Linux. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
CrossOver
A commercial Wine-based tool that runs Windows applications and games on macOS and Linux.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as CrossOver.
Wine
An open-source compatibility layer that runs Windows applications and games on Linux, macOS and BSD.
Wine is the free, open-source base that CrossOver builds on, running on Linux, macOS and BSD, but without commercial support and with more fiddly configuration.
Bottles
A friendly manager for Wine prefixes on Linux, so running a Windows program means picking an environment rather than editing config files.
Bottles is a free, open-source Wine prefix manager with templates, backups and a dependency catalogue, but it runs only on Linux, mainly as a Flatpak.
Porting Kit
A macOS app that installs Windows games and applications on a Mac using Wineskin wrappers.
Porting Kit is a free macOS app that installs Windows games through prepared Wineskin installers, but it is Mac only and focused on games.
Lutris
A Linux gaming platform that installs the right emulator, Wine build or engine for each game and launches them from one place.
Lutris is a free, open-source Linux game platform using community installer scripts and store library integration, but it does not run on macOS and focuses on games.
Also worth comparing
These listings name CrossOver as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
GE-Proton
A community build of Valve's Proton compatibility tool for running Windows games through Steam Play on Linux.
CrossOver is a paid Wine-based tool for macOS and Linux with commercial support, instead of a free community build chosen per game in Steam.
Proton
Valve's Wine-based compatibility tool that lets Steam run Windows games on Linux.
CrossOver is a paid commercial Wine-based tool for macOS and Linux with support and forums, working outside Steam rather than integrated into it.
WinApps
Runs Windows applications from a background virtual machine as if they were native Linux apps.
CrossOver runs Windows programs through Wine on macOS and Linux without a Windows licence or VM, but it is paid and not every program works.
WinBoat
A Linux desktop app that runs Windows programs from a containerized Windows virtual machine.
CrossOver runs Windows programs through Wine on macOS and Linux without a full Windows guest or licence, but it is paid and compatibility varies.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Winetricks
A helper script that installs missing DLLs and runtime libraries and applies tweaks to Wine prefixes.
Shadow
A subscription cloud PC service that streams a full Windows computer to your own devices.
DXVK
Vulkan-based translation layer that runs Direct3D 8, 9, 10 and 11 games on Linux.
Heroic Games Launcher
An open-source launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime games, on Linux, Windows, macOS and the Steam Deck.
