Wine AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Compatibility Layer Tools

The best Compatibility Layer alternative to Wine is WinBoat, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Wine and many of them are Compatibility Layer Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Compatibility Layer Tool alternatives to Wine are Proton, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, Bottles and CrossOver.

filter to find the best alternatives

Most Wine alternatives are Compatibility Layer Tools, but you can also narrow the list to Virtualization Tools or Game Emulators. Other popular filters are Linux, Mac and Android. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
Wine alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. WinBoat icon
     92 likes

    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.

    56 WinBoat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    Good alternative?
     
  2. Proton icon
     137 likes

    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.

    47 Proton alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Steam
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    6
  3. 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.

    47 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    • FreeBSD
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  4. CrossOver icon
     79 likes

    Cross-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.

    49 CrossOver alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  5. 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.

    60 Parallels Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    2
  6. Winlator icon
     22 likes

    Windows x86/x64 apps and PC games run on Android devices with support for DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan, and various hardware builds using Wine and Box86/Box64. Features setup guides, secure performance, APK downloads, and options for beginners or advanced users.

    19 Winlator alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • OpenAPK
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Vermouth icon
     7 likes

    A game and app launcher for Linux - native, Windows, and retro. KDE-first, lightweight, no frills.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Darling icon
     25 likes

    Darling is a macOS translation layer for Linux. It is designed to run macOS software directly without the need for a hardware emulator, making it fast and efficient.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Whisky icon
     21 likes

    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

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Wine
    • Homebrew
    Good alternative?
     
  10. ProtonPlus icon
     8 likes

    A simple Wine and Proton-based compatibility tools manager.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Wine
    • Flatpak
    • Vala
    • Proton
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Proton GE icon
     5 likes

    Compatibility layer enabling Windows games on Linux via Steam Play, featuring advanced video playback, FSR integration, Nvidia CUDA support, raw input, per-game fixes automation, upstream Wine patches, frequent updates, wine-staging patches, and open-source maintenance.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wine
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 32 Wine alternatives