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.
United States
Wine AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Compatibility Layer Tools
The best Compatibility Layer alternative to Wine is Proton, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 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 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 Emulators 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
- 45 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.
+2
45 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.
+1
45 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.
+2
+1
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.
+6
11 Winlator alternativesWindows 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.
+1
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.
+2
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application type
Platforms
- Linux
- Arch Linux
- Flathub
- Fedora
- Nix Package Manager
- Wine
- Flatpak
- Vala
- Proton
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.
38 WinApps alternativesAllows use of Windows applications, such as Microsoft Office and Adobe software, directly within Linux desktops like GNOME or KDE, using background RDP virtualization and providing file right-click access, home directory mounting, and one-command setup.
Romania
EU
France
Germany
Brazil
Canada
Steam have build in proton so you can run your games with steam on linux.