CrossOver
codeweavers.com
What it is
CrossOver translates commands from Windows applications so many can run on macOS or Linux without a Windows emulator or Windows OS license. It is presented for productivity software, utilities and games, and advertises one-click installation, desktop integration and running apps without rebooting. CodeWeavers says the Linux version avoids Windows or virtual-machine overhead and integrates with Linux. Compatibility is incomplete: some applications may have reduced functionality or may not run. The Compatibility Center collects user reports about application behavior. CrossOver supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, as well as Linux PCs. The Mac version requires at least 1 GB of free disk space and does not run on iPads or iPhones; Linux has specified hardware, distribution and software dependencies. A fully functional 14-day trial costs nothing, requires no credit card and starts at first launch. CrossOver + costs $74 a year, including 12 months of phone and email support, upgrades and bug fixes, and Preview access. CrossOver Life costs $494, paid once, with lifetime upgrades, bug fixes and support. CodeWeavers says 95% of the Wine code it develops for CrossOver is released back to the Wine project.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- CrossOver translates Windows application commands so Windows software can run on macOS and Linux without installing Windows, dual booting, or using a virtual machine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Purpose
- CrossOver translates Windows application commands so many Windows programs can run on Mac and Linux without a Windows emulator or Windows OS license.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Trial
- The free, fully functional 14-day trial requires no credit card, and its period begins the first time CrossOver is launched.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Support
- The 12-month plan includes email and phone support for 12 months, while the lifetime plan includes unlimited email and phone support for life.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Headquarters
- St. Paul, Minnesota, USARead 23 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Founded
- 1996Read 23 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Android availability
- CodeWeavers announced that it stopped supporting the old Google Play CrossOver Android beta and directed Chromebook users to the Linux-based product instead.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- App types
- The product is presented for productivity software, utility programs, and games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Application installer
- For listed applications, CrossOver can download installers and required dependencies automatically when those files are freely available online.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Bottle environments
- CrossOver places applications in separate bottles containing a Windows-style C: drive, fonts, registry, and program files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Command-line access
- The Mac guide documents opening a bottle shell with Wine environment variables and running Windows executables through the wine command.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists CodeWeavers headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, with 51–200 employees and a 1996 founding year.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as CodeWeavers, Inc., a private for-profit company founded by Jeremy White.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Compatibility database
- CodeWeavers maintains a compatibility center with application-specific ratings, installation recipes, and user-submitted testing information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Compatibility limits
- The maker says CrossOver is not complete, so some Windows applications may have reduced functionality or may not run at all.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Documentation depth
- The support site provides Mac and Linux user guides, troubleshooting, changelogs, compatibility resources, forums, and extensive CrossTie profile documentation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Extensibility
- CrossTie documentation covers installer profiles, file and application profiles, pre-installation, installation, post-installation, CD, advanced options, examples, and data types.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Funding and ownership
- Crunchbase lists CodeWeavers as private and shows no disclosed funding total or completed funding rounds on the accessible profile.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Gaming support
- CrossOver 26 includes Wine 11, D3DMetal 3.0, DXMT updates, and fixes for numerous current Windows games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Graphics backends
- The Mac guide documents selectable Wine, DXVK, D3DMetal, DXMT, and high-resolution graphics modes, plus DLSS through MetalFX.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Install and run
- The maker advertises one-click installation, running Windows applications without rebooting, and desktop integration.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Licence model
- CrossOver is proprietary commercial software; its EULA permits one person per license at a time and restricts reverse engineering, renting, lending, and derivative works.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Limit: compatibility
- G2 reviewers report that many applications fail, work only partially, or behave oddly, especially when the underlying Wine support is incomplete.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: documentation and troubleshooting
- One G2 reviewer reports difficult shared-folder setup on newer Linux distributions and says troubleshooting information is hard to locate.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: upgrade cost
- Multiple G2 reviews criticize paying again for newer versions or features and describe upgrade pricing as expensive relative to Windows or Office licenses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Linux performance
- CodeWeavers says CrossOver Linux avoids the overhead of a Windows operating system or virtual machine and runs apps at native speed while maintaining Linux OS integration.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Linux requirements
- The Linux requirements include an x86-compatible 64-bit PC, glibc at least 2.31, Python at least 3.5, GTK at least 3.18, PyGObject at least 3.20, X.Org with XRender and GLX, and 1 GB of disk space.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- macOS requirements
- The current Mac guide requires an Intel or Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 10.15 or later and at least 1 GB of disk space.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Native-style integration
- Windows applications installed through CrossOver can launch from the macOS desktop like native applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.codeweavers.com
- Notable limitation: future Mac support
- CodeWeavers says CrossOver Mac 27 will require macOS Sonoma or newer, Apple silicon, and 64-bit bottles, ending 32-bit bottle support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Notable reliability issue
- CodeWeavers explains that Windows application and game updates can break CrossOver compatibility because Wine lacks some changing Windows APIs and vendors alter their software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Open source
- CodeWeavers says 95% of the Wine code it develops for CrossOver is released back to the Wine project.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Open-source components
- The EULA says CrossOver includes free and open-source components, provides their source, and permits building alternate Wine versions for use with CrossOver.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Praise: convenience
- Reviewers say supported Windows applications can run with little effort and let Mac or Linux users keep their preferred operating system.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Praise: setup
- G2 reviewers repeatedly praise the simple bottle setup and automatic handling of dependencies compared with configuring Wine manually.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on Capterra
- 0.0 out of 5 from 0 user reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Rating on G2
- 3.7 out of 5 from 21 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 0.0 out of 5 from 0 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Recent release
- Version 26.3.0 was released July 21, 2026 with fixes for Diablo IV, Epic Games Launcher downloads, and GOG Galaxy loading.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Recent technology
- The CrossOver 26.0 changelog says it includes Wine 11.0, Wine Mono 10.4.1, and vkd3d 1.18.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Security and privacy
- The maker’s site states that CodeWeavers or third-party tools process personal data such as browsing data or IP addresses and use cookies or other identifiers; the opened product pages provide no security certification details.Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Support policy
- During the support period, CrossOver Plus and Life customers receive product upgrades, bug fixes, and email support, while entitled versions remain redownloadable afterward.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Supported Linux distributions
- CodeWeavers tests CrossOver on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux while allowing other distributions that meet the stated requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
- Wine contribution
- CodeWeavers states that 95% of the Wine code it develops for CrossOver is released back to the Wine project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
Plans and prices
CrossOver Free Free 14-day trial Fully functional trial · installed Windows applications are disabled after 14 days Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
CrossOver Free (14 Day Trial) Free Free fully functional 14-day trial Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
CrossOver + $74 a year 12 months support Full version · email and phone support for 12 months · upgrades and bug fixes for 12 months · Preview access Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
CrossOver + (12 Months Support) $74 a year 12 months Full version · email and phone support for 12 months · upgrades and bug fixes for 12 months · CrossOver Preview access Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
CrossOver Life $494, paid once lifetime support Full version · no renewal fees · unlimited email and phone support · lifetime upgrades and bug fixes · Preview access Read 15 Oct 2026 · codeweavers.com
CrossOver Life (Lifetime Support) $494, paid once No renewal fees Full version · unlimited email and phone support · lifetime upgrades and bug fixes · CrossOver Preview access Read 30 Sep 2026 · codeweavers.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Runs many Windows apps without a Windows OS license.
- Supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, plus Linux.
- Fully functional 14-day trial requires no credit card.
- Paid plans include email and phone support.
Limits
- Some Windows applications may have reduced functionality or fail.
- Mac version does not run on iPads or iPhones.
- Linux version has specific hardware and software requirements.
Who it suits
CrossOver suits Mac or Linux users who want to run Windows productivity apps, utilities or games without installing Windows. It may be a poor fit if a needed application has limited or no compatibility.
Verdict
CrossOver provides a route to running many Windows applications on Mac and Linux, but compatibility is not complete. Its 14-day trial allows a no-cost start; paid plans begin at $74 a year.
Where Specifiction places it
- Windows Compatibility Layers#1 of 269.0
- Game Compatibility Layers#2 of 279.0