Bottles vs PlayOnLinux
Bottles
usebottles.comPlayOnLinux
playonlinux.comSide by side
| Figure | Bottles | PlayOnLinux |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Compatibility Layers | 7.6 (#10) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Spec score · Windows Compatibility Layers | 7.6 (#10) | 8.3 (#3) |
| Purpose | Bottles is an application for managing Windows prefixes and running Windows software on Linux. | PlayOnLinux lets users install and use numerous games and applications designed for Microsoft Windows. |
| Support | The site directs users to documentation and offers links to report bugs, request features, and report dependencies. | Users can get help through the documentation and forums, and can contact the team by email at [email protected]. |
Plans
In their own words
Bottles
Bottles manages Windows prefixes, called bottles, to run Windows applications and games on Linux through compatibility-layer runners. It offers Gaming, Application, and Custom environments, plus Wine and Proton runners such as Soda, Caffe, Vaniglia, and CrossOver builds. Installers apply rules to set up programs, while a dependency manager uses a community-driven repository of manifests. Users can manage graphics components including DXVK, VKD3D, DXVK-NVAPI, and LatencyFleX. The community App Store provides Windows application installers with compatibility grades from Bronze through Platinum. Bottles also lists backups, versioning, duplication, and importing bottles from other managers. The project recommends Flatpak: it bundles required dependencies and is described as the most supported and tested release, as well as the only fully sandboxed package. Bottles supports Linux and macOS and is free software. Connection-dependent features do not work offline. The project also warns that exposing the system home directory to a runner breaks the Flatpak sandbox and can put personal files at risk.
PlayOnLinux
PlayOnLinux helps users install and run many games and applications made for Microsoft Windows on Linux and macOS. It is built on Wine, with the aim of shielding users from Wine’s complexity; a Windows license is not required. The project describes it as free software, and its listed plan is free. It uses Bash and Python and includes prefix management, a compatibility database, and DXVK graphics acceleration. Not every game is supported, though a manual installation module is available. The project also reports occasional performance declines, such as less-fluid images or less-detailed graphics. The website lists version 4.3.4 as the latest release. Installation options include a generic tar.gz package and instructions for Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, Frugalware, and Ubuntu. Documentation and forums offer support, with email contact also available. The project wiki includes tutorials, installation-script guidance, command and API documentation, and advanced topics.