Head-to-head · Windows Compatibility Layers
Wine vs CrossOver
Wine leads on 1 check, CrossOver on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreWine · 9.0/10
- Free planonly Wine
Wine scores higher on our rubric for windows compatibility layers: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.
Wine offers free plan; CrossOver doesn't.
Wine is the better fit for A foundational, broad compatibility layer. CrossOver is the better fit for users wanting polished paid compatibility support.
- Wine fits best
A foundational, broad compatibility layer
- CrossOver fits best
Users wanting polished paid compatibility support
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Side by side
| Feature | Wine 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | CrossOver 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in Windows Compatibility Layers | #2 in Windows Compatibility Layers |
| Best for | A foundational, broad compatibility layer | Users wanting polished paid compatibility support |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS | macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Live chat, Docs | Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Wine 5/5 · CrossOver 5/5 | ||
| macOS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple silicon support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compatibility database | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prefix management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Graphics acceleration | Not published | Dxvk-vkd3d |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Wine is an open-source compatibility layer for running Windows applications and games on Linux and macOS without installing Windows. It translates Windows API calls for POSIX-compliant operating systems and provides Windows subsystem… Read the review → |
CrossOver is commercial compatibility software from CodeWeavers for running many Windows applications and games on macOS and Linux. It is aimed at users who want Windows software integrated into a host desktop without installing Windows or… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Wine — where it wins
- Runs Windows applications on Linux and macOS
- Supports WoW64, Vulkan, and Direct3D 12 through vkd3d
- Separate Wine prefixes help isolate application environments
Where it doesn't
- Application compatibility can vary across Windows software
- Setup uses Wine tools, prefixes, and platform-specific packages
- Not a conventional commercial SaaS with managed plans
CrossOver — where it wins
- Runs Windows applications without Windows or dual boot
- Recipes, bottles, and compatibility ratings guide application setup
- Supports Intel and Apple silicon Macs plus supported 64-bit Linux distributions
Where it doesn't
- No time-unlimited free plan
- Full support and upgrade coverage depend on the license
- Compatibility is focused on supported applications and games
- Wine9.0/10 · Free plan
Wine is a free, broad foundation for running Windows applications on Linux and macOS.
Visit WineHQFull verdict → - CrossOver8.7/10 · From $74 · 14-day trial
A paid compatibility layer with application recipes, bottles, ratings, and graphics options.
Visit CrossOverFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Wine vs Bottles
- Wine vs PlayOnLinux
- Wine vs Porting Kit
- Wine vs BottleLite
- Wine vs Q4Wine
- Wine vs Crosswire
- CrossOver vs Bottles
- CrossOver vs PlayOnLinux
All windows compatibility layers comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update