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Best Windows Compatibility Layers in 2026

24 windows compatibility layers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

24ranked
19free plans on this page
$6.17/molowest paid tier
3 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Bottles Top pick · 8.6 Free plan · Free #2 Porting Kit Runner-up · 8.4 Free plan · Free #3 CrossOver Also great · 8.3 $6.17/mo
  1. 1

    Bottles

    8.6
    Free plan LinuxmacOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk-vkd3d
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About BottlesVisit site
  2. 2

    Porting Kit

    8.4
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About Porting KitVisit site
  3. 3

    CrossOver

    8.3
    Free trial LinuxmacOS
    Free plan
    No
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk-vkd3d
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $6.17/mofirst paid tier About CrossOverVisit site
  4. 4

    PlayOnLinux

    8.2
    Free plan LinuxmacOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About PlayOnLinuxVisit site
  5. 5

    Q4Wine

    8.0
    Free plan LinuxmacOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About Q4WineVisit site
  6. 6

    Boxedwine

    7.9
    Free plan LinuxmacOSWebWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About BoxedwineVisit site
  7. 7

    BottleLite

    7.7
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About BottleLiteVisit site
  8. 8

    Crosswire

    7.5
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About CrosswireVisit site
  9. 9

    WineGUI

    7.4
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    Linux support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WineGUIVisit site
  10. 10

    WineCharm

    7.4
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WineCharmVisit site
  11. 11

    PlayOnMac

    7.3
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About PlayOnMacVisit site
  12. 12

    WINE@Etersoft

    7.2
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    No
    Graphics acceleration
    none
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WINE@EtersoftVisit site
  13. 13

    Hangover

    7.1
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About HangoverVisit site
  14. 14

    Scotch

    6.9
    macOS
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    About ScotchVisit site
  15. 15

    Bourbon

    6.6
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About BourbonVisit site
  16. 16

    MacWrap

    6.6
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About MacWrapVisit site
  17. 17

    WineBar

    6.5
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WineBarVisit site
  18. 18

    WIE

    6.4
    Free plan macOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    none
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WIEVisit site
  19. 19

    Weave

    6.4
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    No
    Graphics acceleration
    none
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About WeaveVisit site
  20. 20

    Decanter

    6.2
    macOS
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    About DecanterVisit site
  21. 21

    Moonshine

    6.1
    macOS
    macOS support
    Yes
    Linux support
    No
    Apple silicon support
    Yes
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    About MoonshineVisit site
  22. 22

    Cygwin

    6.0
    Free plan Windows
    Free plan
    Yes
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About CygwinVisit site
  23. 23

    GE-Proton

    5.8
    Linux
    macOS support
    No
    Linux support
    Yes
    Apple silicon support
    No
    Graphics acceleration
    dxvk-vkd3d
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    About GE-ProtonVisit site
  24. 24

    Proton Trainer Launcher

    5.6
    Free plan Linux
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    Free About Proton Trainer LauncherVisit site

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.

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Questions about this list

Which windows compatibility layer is ranked first on The Geeks Club?

Bottles is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 8.6. Porting Kit is second and CrossOver third.

How many of these have a free plan?

19 of the 24 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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