Best Game Compatibility Layers in 2026
26 game compatibility layers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
26ranked
16free plans on this page
$6.17/molowest paid tier
3 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Proton-CachyOS Top pick · 8.5 Free plan · Free
#2 Bannerlator Runner-up · 8.4 Free plan · Free
#3 CrossOver Also great · 8.3 $6.17/mo
- Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Android
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Android
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 74 one-time
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$6.17/mofirst paid tier About CrossOverVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Android, iOS, macOS
- DirectX support
- not stated
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan macOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatformsFree About TDFVisit site - Free plan AndroidLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux, Android
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Android
- Host platforms
- Android
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux, Windows
- Runtime model
- translation
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatformsFree About DXVKVisit site - Free plan LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Windows, Linux
- Runtime model
- translation
- DirectX support
- directx 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidLinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Windows, Linux, macOS, Android
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Android
- Host platforms
- Android
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux; Windows via WSL2
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Linux
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 9/10/11 + 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, iOS/tvOS
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Linux
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Linux
- Host platforms
- Linux
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Runtime model
- translation + runtime
- DirectX support
- directx 12
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Host platforms
- Linux, Windows
- Runtime model
- translation
- DirectX support
- not stated
- Vulkan support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - LinuxRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which game compatibility layer is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Proton-CachyOS is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 8.5. Bannerlator is second and CrossOver third.
How many of these have a free plan?
16 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, CrossOver has the lowest first paid tier we found: $6.17/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.
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