CrossOver AlternativesTop Compatibility Layer Tools and other similar apps like CrossOver

CrossOver is described as 'Install Windows applications on Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS without needing a Windows license, offering seamless integration and easy app management' and is a popular compatibility layer tool in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to CrossOver for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Flathub, Wine and Android apps. The best CrossOver alternative is Wine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like CrossOver are WinBoat, Lutris, Proton and PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac.

filter to find the best alternatives

CrossOver alternatives are mainly Compatibility Layer Tools, but if you're looking for Virtualization Tools or Game Library Managers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Mac and Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to CrossOver.
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Alternatives list

  1. Wine icon

    Wine

     743 likes
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    An advanced, free open-source tool enabling Windows applications to run on Linux and other systems without emulation. It offers configuration options, supports diverse operating systems, and benefits from continuous updates and robust community support to enhance Windows app compatibility.

    48 Wine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Wine screenshot 1
     
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    36
    Comments about Wine as an Alternative to CrossOver
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It’s free. And you never have to buy anything for wine. You can keep it as long as you want!! And I love that special ability! Thanks!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    CrossOver Icon
    Wine icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Wine is a great CrossOver alternative.

    • Wine is the most popular Android, Mac, Linux & Android Tablet alternative to CrossOver.

    • Wine is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to CrossOver.

    • Wine is Free and Open SourceCrossOver is Paid and Proprietary
    • Wine is Privacy focused and LightweightCrossOver is not according to our users
  2. WinBoat icon

    WinBoat

     60 likes
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    Runs Windows applications, individual apps, or full desktops inside Linux with native OS-level integration, sleek interface, advanced filesystem sharing, smartcard passthrough, and resource monitoring while supporting simple installation and ongoing feature updates.

    50 WinBoat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    WinBoat screenshot 1
     
  4. Lutris icon

    Lutris

     231 likes
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    Lutris is an open source gaming platform for GNU/Linux. It allows you to gather and manage (install, configure and launch) all your games acquired from any source, in a single interface.

    62 Lutris alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • Flathub
    Lutris screenshot 1
     
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    7

    • Almost everyone thinks Lutris is a great CrossOver alternative.

    • Lutris is the most popular Web-based alternative to CrossOver.

    • Lutris is Free and Open SourceCrossOver is Paid and Proprietary
    • Lutris is LightweightCrossOver is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Parallels Desktop icon
    Parallels Desktop

    Virtualization software for running Windows, Linux, and other OSes on Mac. Supports Windows 11 on Apple Silicon, resource adjustments, and seamless app access and file sharing between OS environments.

    https://www.parallels.com
    Learn More
  6. Proton icon

    Proton

     112 likes
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    Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on Linux kernel operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.

    43 Proton alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Steam
    Proton screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Proton as an Alternative to CrossOver
    Kelson V
    Positive
    0

    For Steam games, it's simpler to just run the native Steam client and let it configure Proton for each game than to mess around with running them through another Wine environment.

    CrossOver Icon
    Proton icon

    • Most users think Proton is a great CrossOver alternative.

    • Proton is Free and Open SourceCrossOver is Paid and Proprietary
  7. PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac icon

    PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac

     247 likes
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    PlayOnLinux is a graphical frontend for the Wine software compatibility layer which allows Linux and Mac users to install Windows-based video games, Microsoft Office (2000 to 2010), Microsoft Internet Explorer, as well as many other applications.

    44 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    • FreeBSD
    PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac screenshot 1
     
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    17
  10. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     145 likes
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    Virtualization software for running Windows, Linux, and other OSes on Mac. Supports Windows 11 on Apple Silicon, resource adjustments, and seamless app access and file sharing between OS environments.

    56 Parallels Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Chrome OS
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1
     
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    2
    6
    Comments about Parallels Desktop as an Alternative to CrossOver
    Guest
    Negative
    10

    CrossOver emulates windows application layer. parallels creates a fully virtualised machine and requires Windows installation, like if it was a physical computer.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    This is a virtualization tool, not a compatibility layer

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    CrossOver Icon
    Parallels Desktop icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Parallels Desktop is a legitimate CrossOver alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Parallels Desktop is the most popular commercial alternative to CrossOver.

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryCrossOver is also Paid and Proprietary
  11. Winlator icon

    Winlator

     17 likes
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    In this digital age, our smartphones and tablets have become indispensable tools for both work and play. While Android offers a vast ecosystem of apps, it has often left users longing for the convenience of their favorite Windows applications. But fear not!

    11 Winlator alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    Winlator screenshot 1
     
  12. Windows Subsystem for Linux icon

    Windows Subsystem for Linux

     26 likes
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    The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows.

    35 Windows Subsystem for Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows Subsystem for Linux screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Windows Subsystem for Linux as an Alternative to CrossOver
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It's the other way around. WSL is to run linux programs on windows not windows programs in Linux!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    CrossOver Icon
    Windows Subsystem for Linux icon

    • Windows Subsystem for Linux is the most popular Windows alternative to CrossOver.

    • Windows Subsystem for Linux is Free and Open SourceCrossOver is Paid and Proprietary
    • Windows Subsystem for Linux is LightweightCrossOver is not according to our users
  13. Whisky icon

    Whisky

     21 likes
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    Whisky provides a clean and easy to use graphical wrapper for Wine built in native SwiftUI. You can make and manage bottles, install and run Windows apps and games, and unlock the full potential of your Mac with no technical knowledge required.

    33 Whisky alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Wine
    • Homebrew
    Whisky screenshot 1
     
  14. Mythic icon

    Mythic

     10 likes
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    An open-source Epic Games Launcher alternative and normal game launcher for macOS written in Swift. We started this project to create a GUI frontend for Legendary and to play Windows games using game porting toolkit by Apple.

    48 Mythic alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Mythic screenshot 1
     
  15. ProtonPlus icon

    ProtonPlus

     5 likes
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    A simple Wine and Proton-based compatibility tools manager.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Wine
    • Flatpak
    • Vala
    • Proton
    ProtonPlus screenshot 1
     
12 of 45 CrossOver alternatives