Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Game Compatibility Checkers

ProtonDB vs Can I Run It

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score ProtonDB #3 in Game Compatibility Checkers 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit ProtonDB
Can I Run It #6 in Game Compatibility Checkers 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Can I Run It

ProtonDB leads on 0 checks, Can I Run It on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreProtonDB · 8.6/10
  • Free planboth

ProtonDB scores higher on our rubric for game compatibility checkers: 8.6 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

ProtonDB is the better fit for linux and Steam Deck compatibility research. Can I Run It is the better fit for windows and Mac users needing automatic PC scans.

  • ProtonDB fits best

    Linux and Steam Deck compatibility research

  • Can I Run It fits best

    Windows and Mac users needing automatic PC scans

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature ProtonDB 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Can I Run It 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 7.9
Ranking #3 in Game Compatibility Checkers #6 in Game Compatibility Checkers
Best for Linux and Steam Deck compatibility research Windows and Mac users needing automatic PC scans
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Chrome extension
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features ProtonDB 1/2 · Can I Run It 1/2
Hardware scan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Linux/Proton data ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Scan method Not checked yet Both
Requirements detail Not checked yet Minimum_recommended
Game catalog size 32163 games Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 32,163-game catalog with compatibility ratings and search
  • Reports include Proton versions, hardware, distros, and workarounds
  • Steam Deck, Chromebook, and anti-cheat status indicators
  • Automatic detection checks CPU, GPU, RAM, OS and storage
  • Compares minimum and recommended requirements with bottleneck results
  • Saved profiles, FPS estimates and Steam/Xbox integrations
Cons
  • Crowdsourced report detail and consistency vary by game
  • Web-only access offers no native desktop or mobile app
  • Focused on Proton-based Linux play rather than other platforms
  • Performance figures are estimates, so actual frame rates may differ
  • Its focus is game compatibility, not general PC troubleshooting
  • Manual checks require entering several hardware and system details
Our verdict

ProtonDB is a free web database for evaluating how Windows and native games run on Linux through Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. It is aimed at Linux players, Steam Deck owners, and anyone researching compatibility before purchasing or…

Read the review →

Can I Run It is a free game-compatibility checker for gamers deciding whether a Windows PC or Mac can run a specific title. It combines searchable game pages with published system requirements and two checking paths: manual entry for CPU,…

Read the review →
  1. ProtonDBGame Compatibility Checkers 8.6Free plan
  2. Can I Run ItGame Compatibility Checkers 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ProtonDB — where it wins

    • 32,163-game catalog with compatibility ratings and search
    • Reports include Proton versions, hardware, distros, and workarounds
    • Steam Deck, Chromebook, and anti-cheat status indicators

    Where it doesn't

    • Crowdsourced report detail and consistency vary by game
    • Web-only access offers no native desktop or mobile app
    • Focused on Proton-based Linux play rather than other platforms

  • Can I Run It — where it wins

    • Automatic detection checks CPU, GPU, RAM, OS and storage
    • Compares minimum and recommended requirements with bottleneck results
    • Saved profiles, FPS estimates and Steam/Xbox integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Performance figures are estimates, so actual frame rates may differ
    • Its focus is game compatibility, not general PC troubleshooting
    • Manual checks require entering several hardware and system details

More comparisons

All game compatibility checkers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update