CrossOver vs Crosswire
CrossOver
codeweavers.com
Crosswire
grubwire.ioSide by side
| Figure | CrossOver | Crosswire |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $6.17/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Spec score · Windows Compatibility Layers | 9.0 (#1) | 7.6 (#11) |
| Compatibility limits | The maker says CrossOver is not complete, so some Windows applications may have reduced functionality or may not run at all. | The maker says compatibility varies by app version and macOS release, Microsoft 365 is unsupported, and League of Legends and Valorant are blocked by Vanguard. |
| Purpose | CrossOver translates Windows application commands so many Windows programs can run on Mac and Linux without a Windows emulator or Windows OS license. | Crosswire runs Windows games and apps on macOS; users can install a Windows .exe and launch it from a library. |
| 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. | The maker directs users to its wiki for troubleshooting and provides an email address for bugs and feedback. |
Plans
CrossOver
- CrossOver FreeFree
- CrossOver Free (14 Day Trial)Free
- CrossOver +$74 a year
- CrossOver + (12 Months Support)$74 a year
- CrossOver Life$494, paid once
- CrossOver Life (Lifetime Support)$494, paid once
In their own words
CrossOver
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.
Crosswire
Crosswire runs Windows games and apps on macOS, letting users install a Windows .exe and open it from a searchable library. Each installation has an isolated space, keeping apps separate. During installation, Crosswire detects common runtimes such as Visual C++ and .NET and offers to install them. For recognized games, it applies known-good settings automatically. The app can check for and update its Windows compatibility layer; automatic releases are available on version 1.1.1 or later. Crosswire is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with source published on GitHub. It requires an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14.6 or later, plus about 1 GB of free disk space for the base install. It is not Apple-notarized yet, so macOS requires users to confirm opening it in Privacy & Security. Compatibility varies by app version and macOS release. Microsoft 365 is unsupported, while League of Legends and Valorant are blocked by Vanguard.