MS-DOS Emulators
Alternatives to DosKit
DosKit offers a free, open-source way to run DOS applications from Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, or the web. It starts at a functional DOS command prompt, accepts keyboard and touch input, and can work offline after its first visit. Sound Blaster and AdLib emulation, gamepad support, deep links, and commands for pausing, screenshots, and filesystem access extend it beyond a basic launcher. Its installable PWA uses js-dos with DOSBox and DOSBox-X backends.
- 01 DOSBox
It suits people who need to run older DOS-compatible programs or games on Windows, Linux, or macOS.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted9.0 Visit Specs - 02 DOSBox Staging
DOSBox Staging suits people who want to run older DOS or Windows 3.1 software on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · API8.9 Visit Specs - 03 DOSBox Pure
It suits people who want to run DOS games or install an operating system from bootable DOS media on a desktop computer.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted8.8 Visit Specs - 04
DOSBox-X DOSBox-X is suited to people running DOS software, preserving historical software, testing or continuing DOS development.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted8.7 Visit Specs - 05 Magic DosBox
It suits Android users who want to run their own DOS games and customize touchscreen controls.
Free plan Android8.3 Visit Specs - 06 DOSBox PSP
It suits PSP owners who want to run MS-DOS software and are comfortable adjusting configuration settings.
Free plan8.2 Visit Specs - 07 DOS Browser Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux8.0 Visit Specs
- 08 DOS Wasm X
It suits people who want to run DOS-compatible software in a browser, including users who want gamepad or mobile input.
Free plan Web · Self-hosted8.0 Visit Specs - 09 dosbox-automation
It suits users automating DOS software or games through scripts, launchers, or test harnesses.
Windows · Linux · API7.9 Visit Specs - 10 MS-DOS Player
It suits Windows users who need to run text-oriented DOS utilities and want those programs to access host paths.
Free plan Windows7.9 Visit Specs - 11 DOSVisor
DOSVisor suits Windows users exploring the Windows Hypervisor Platform API or running a few sample MS-DOS programs.
Free plan Windows7.8 Visit Specs - 12 js-dos
js-dos suits developers embedding DOS or Windows 9x programs in webpages or running them in Node.
Free plan Web · Linux · API · Self-hosted7.8 Visit Specs - 13 DOS-Emulator
It suits users on macOS or Ubuntu Linux who need a DOS emulator and developers interested in Rust and emulation principles.
Free plan macOS · Linux7.7 Visit Specs - 14 DOSVAXJ3
DOSVAXJ3 suits users who need AX, J-3100, or DOS/V emulation with Japanese input and display support.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux7.6 Visit Specs - 15 Shed
Shed suits people who want to operate a live production studio on their own Linux system or container host.
Free plan Web · Linux · API · Self-hosted7.6 Visit Specs - 16 DOSBox Optionals Windows7.5 Visit Specs
- 17 dosdoor macOS · Linux7.3 Visit Specs
- 18 DOSBox 3DS 7.2 Visit Specs
- 19 iDOS 3 macOS · iOS7.2 Visit Specs
- 20 UniPCemu
It suits people who want to run classic PC games or MS-DOS software on supported mobile and desktop systems.
Free plan Windows · Android7.1 Visit Specs - 21 Retro-DOS Windows · Linux · iOS · Android7.0 Visit Specs
- 22 DOSBox Wii 6.7 Visit Specs
- 23 EM-DOSBox Web6.7 Visit Specs
- 24 riapyx Windows · macOS · Linux6.6 Visit Specs
- 25 Unity
Unity suits Java Edition players seeking a vanilla-focused resource pack with a traditional look and subtle visual changes.
6.1 Visit Specs
Choosing instead of DosKit
An alternative may suit you better when you need a dedicated desktop program, a different browser or operating-system target, more hardware emulation, built-in game libraries, multiplayer, or specialized controls. DosKit requires JavaScript and WebAssembly, recommends at least 2GB of RAM, excludes Internet Explorer, and has limited support on iOS Safari versions before 15. Before switching, weigh where you will run software, how you obtain and save programs, whether you need networking or disk-image handling, and how much graphics, audio, input, and configuration control you expect.