Crosswire

6.7easy start · #7 of 25
in Windows Compatibility Layers

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you worknot on record

Runs on Mac.

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Crosswire is ranked #7 of 25 in Windows compatibility layers on The Geeks Club. It runs on macOS. There is a free plan.

Crosswire plans and pricing

All plans

Crosswire Free Free and open source under GPL-3.0 grubwire.io · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on Windows compatibility layers

Free plan: Yes
macOS support: Yes
Linux support: No
Apple silicon support: Yes
Compatibility database: Yes
Prefix management: Yes

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The record

Purpose: Crosswire runs Windows games and apps on macOS; users can install a Windows .exe and launch it from a library.
Isolated installs: Each install gets its own isolated space so apps do not interfere with one another.
App library: Installed apps appear by name in a searchable library and launch with a click.
Runtime support: During installation Crosswire detects common Windows runtimes such as Visual C++ and .NET and offers to install them.
Game configuration: For recognized games, Crosswire applies known-good settings automatically.
Updates: Crosswire can check for and update its Windows compatibility layer, and releases arrive automatically on version 1.1.1 or later.
Requirements: Crosswire requires macOS 14.6 or later and an Apple Silicon Mac, with about 1 GB of free disk space for the base install.
Security and signing: Crosswire is not Apple-notarized yet, so macOS requires users to confirm opening it in Privacy & Security.
License and source: Crosswire is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with source published on GitHub.
Support: The maker directs users to its wiki for troubleshooting and provides an email address for bugs and feedback.
Compatibility limits: The maker says compatibility varies by app version and macOS release, Microsoft 365 is unsupported, and League of Legends and Valorant are blocked by Vanguard.
Who it is for: The maker describes Crosswire for running Windows games and apps on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14.6 Sonoma or later.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Windows Compatibility Layers in 2026#7 of 25

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Sources

grubwire.io/crosswire/· checked 3 Oct 2026
grubwire.io/crosswire/compatibility/· checked 3 Oct 2026