Wine AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Compatibility Layer Tools for Linux

There are many alternatives to Wine for Linux if you are looking for a replacement. The best Linux Compatibility Layer Tool alternative is Proton, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Wine and many of them are Compatibility Layer Tools available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux Compatibility Layer Tool alternatives to Wine are WinBoat, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, CrossOver and Bottles.

filter to find the best alternatives

Wine alternatives are mainly Compatibility Layer Tools, but if you're looking for Virtualization Tools or Game Library Managers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Mac, Android and Linux + Compatibility Layer. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Wine.
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Alternatives
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Alternatives list

  1. Proton icon
     136 likes

    Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on Linux kernel operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.

    45 Proton alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Steam
    Good alternative?
     
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    5
  2. WinBoat icon
     85 likes

    Runs Windows applications, individual apps, or full desktops inside Linux with native OS-level integration, sleek interface, advanced filesystem sharing, smartcard passthrough, and resource monitoring while supporting simple installation and ongoing feature updates.

    53 WinBoat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    Good alternative?
     
  3. PlayOnLinux is a graphical frontend for the Wine software compatibility layer which allows Linux and Mac users to install Windows-based video games, Microsoft Office (2000 to 2010), Microsoft Internet Explorer, as well as many other applications.

    45 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    • FreeBSD
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  4. CrossOver icon
     78 likes

    Cross-platform utility enables seamless installation and execution of Windows applications on macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. No Windows license required—facilitates easy app management with a few clicks, eliminates the need for virtual machines and reboots, delivering efficient compatibility layer operation.

    47 CrossOver alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  5. Vermouth icon
     7 likes

    A game and app launcher for Linux - native, Windows, and retro. KDE-first, lightweight, no frills.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Darling icon
     23 likes

    Darling is a macOS translation layer for Linux. It is designed to run macOS software directly without the need for a hardware emulator, making it fast and efficient.

    28 Darling alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  7. ProtonPlus icon
     7 likes

    A simple Wine and Proton-based compatibility tools manager.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Wine
    • Flatpak
    • Vala
    • Proton
    Good alternative?
     
  8. WinApps icon
     10 likes

    Allows use of Windows applications, such as Microsoft Office and Adobe software, directly within Linux desktops like GNOME or KDE, using background RDP virtualization and providing file right-click access, home directory mounting, and one-command setup.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Proton GE icon
     5 likes

    Compatibility layer enabling Windows games on Linux via Steam Play, featuring advanced video playback, FSR integration, Nvidia CUDA support, raw input, per-game fixes automation, upstream Wine patches, frequent updates, wine-staging patches, and open-source maintenance.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wine
    Good alternative?
     
  10. WineGUI icon
     11 likes

    At last, a user-friendly WINE graphical interface.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wine
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Q4wine icon
     20 likes

    Q4Wine is a qt4 GUI for wine that will help you manage wine prefixes and installed applications

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 22 Wine alternatives