Bourbon
Bourbon: A free macOS manager for isolated Windows application Bottles and installers. Ranked #18 of 26 in Windows Compatibility Layers by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free macOS EXE and MSI bottle management.
At a glance
- Editor score7.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree macOS EXE and MSI bottle management
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- macOS supportYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Creates isolated Bottles with separate files, settings, and applications
- Supports EXE, MSI, BAT, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and ISO installer files
- Automatically manages the BourbonWine runtime and includes problem reporting
Where it doesn't
- Designed for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later
- Public downloads are temporarily paused during a Wine and runtime update
- Its verified feature set is narrower than broader bottle managers
Our verdict on Bourbon
Bourbon is a free native macOS application for installing and launching Windows software through BourbonWine, its managed Wine runtime. It is aimed at Apple Silicon Mac users who want to organize Windows applications in separate Bottles rather than keep all files, settings, applications, and configuration together. Bourbon supports EXE and MSI installers, along with BAT, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and ISO files through its installer picker.
The product’s main strength is focused Bottle management. Each Bottle can maintain its own files, settings, installed applications, and configuration, while Bourbon can refresh the installed-program list after installation. The runtime is downloaded and managed automatically, reducing the number of separate runtime tasks involved in getting started. Built-in problem reporting and Discord-based community support add practical help when an application does not behave as expected.
Bourbon is free, with no paid tier described. Its platform scope is specific: the published product details target Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. Public downloads are temporarily paused while Bourbon validates a Wine and runtime update, which affects immediate availability. Choose Bourbon if free, per-application Bottle organization and common Windows installer support are the priority. Users who need a wider verified feature set or broader platform coverage should consider a different Windows compatibility manager.
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Bourbon pricing
Bourbon fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| macOS support | Yes |
| Linux support | Not verified |
| Apple silicon support | Yes |
| Graphics acceleration | Not verified |
| Compatibility database | Not verified |
| Prefix management | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | getbourbon.app |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Bourbon
- WineWine is a free, broad foundation for running Windows applications on Linux and macOS.9.4
- BottlesA free, open-source choice for organizing and running Windows apps across platforms.9.2
- CrossOverA paid compatibility layer with application recipes, bottles, ratings, and graphics options.9.0
See all Bourbon alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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