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.
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The Best Wine AlternativesTop Compatibility Layer Tools and other similar apps like Wine
Wine is described as 'A free, open-source compatibility layer allowing Windows applications to run on Linux and other systems, offering configuration and community support' and is a leading compatibility layer tool in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Wine for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Wine, Flathub and Windows apps. The best Wine alternative is Proton, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Wine are WinBoat, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, CrossOver and Bottles.
filter to find the best alternatives
Wine 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 Linux, Mac, Linux + Compatibility Layer and Android. 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 Wine.
Alternatives list
- 44 Proton alternatives
53 WinBoat alternativesRuns 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.
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46 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac alternativesPlayOnLinux 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.
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46 CrossOver alternativesCross-platform utility enables seamless installation and execution of Windows applications on macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. No Windows license required—facilitates easy app management with a few clicks, eliminates the need for virtual machines and reboots, delivering efficient compatibility layer operation.
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58 Parallels Desktop alternativesVirtualization 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.
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11 Winlator alternativesIn 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!
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42 VMware Fusion alternativesSeamlessly run your favorite Windows applications and devices, on any Intel-based Mac. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion is the easiest way to switch to Mac—letting you bring all of your Windows applications with you, making the most of your Windows software...
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37 Windows Subsystem for Linux alternativesThe Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows.
33 Whisky alternativesWhisky 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.
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49 Mythic alternativesAn 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.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application type
Platforms
- Linux
- Arch Linux
- Flathub
- Fedora
- Nix Package Manager
- Wine
- Flatpak
- Vala
- Proton
Romania
EU
France
Germany
Brazil
Canada
Steam have build in proton so you can run your games with steam on linux.