Boxedwine vs PlayOnLinux
Boxedwine
boxedwine.orgPlayOnLinux
playonlinux.comSide by side
| Figure | Boxedwine | PlayOnLinux |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Windows Compatibility Layers | 8.9 (#2) | 8.3 (#3) |
| License | The maker says Boxedwine is open source under the GNU General Public License v2. | PlayOnLinux is free software. |
| Purpose | Boxedwine is an emulator that runs Windows applications by running a 32-bit version of Wine and emulating the Linux kernel and CPU. | PlayOnLinux lets users install and use numerous games and applications designed for Microsoft Windows. |
| Security and compliance | The maker’s overview identifies the GPL v2 license; the reviewed maker pages do not state security certifications or compliance claims. | The legal notice says the site is hosted in the European Union under GDPR requirements and uses firewalls, pseudonymization, encryption, and passwords to protect personal data. |
| Wine versions | The overview says Boxedwine supports multiple Wine versions from 1.6 to Wine 5.0. | The configuration interface lets users download and select different Wine builds for virtual drives. |
Plans
In their own words
Boxedwine
Boxedwine is an emulator for running 16-bit and 32-bit Windows applications on Windows, Mac, Linux, and in a browser. It runs a 32-bit version of Wine while emulating the Linux kernel and CPU, and is released under the GNU General Public License v2. The browser build uses Emscripten, including WebAssembly and asm.js. Boxedwine supports multiple Wine versions from 1.6 to Wine 5.0. Its web version uses memory storage by default, so changes to d:/ are discarded when the browser tab closes. Users can configure Dropbox storage or use local storage, whose limits depend on the browser and operating system. The web build can accept a dropped directory to list executable files and can be configured with URL parameters. Documentation warns that on-demand loading of large files can block the interface or potentially crash the emulator, and requires server range-request support. The site also provides online demos for selected applications and games, including AbiWord, Age of Empires, and Caesar III, plus user and developer documentation.
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.