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DOSBox Optionals vs DOSBox-X

DOSBox Optionals

github.com

DOSBox-X

dosbox-x.com

Side by side

FigureDOSBox OptionalsDOSBox-X
Price from—Free
Free plan—Yes
Free trial——
Open source—Yes
WindowsYesYes
macOS—Yes
Linux—Yes
Self-hosted—Yes
Plans published02
Spec score · MS-DOS Emulators7.5 (#17)8.7 (#4)
NetworkingThe README lists Novel NE2000 and IPX mode support.The project includes NE2000 Ethernet emulation and networking support.
PurposeDOSBox Optionals is a DOS, Windows 95, and Windows 98 emulator forked from DOSBox and targeting Windows.DOSBox-X is an open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games.
ReleaseThe releases page lists DOSBox SVN r4476 (Optionals v25), built October 10, 2025.The homepage lists version 2026.10.01 released on October 1, 2026.

Plans

DOSBox Optionals

No plans published.

DOSBox Optionals pricing →

DOSBox-X

  • DOSBox-XFree
  • FreeFree

DOSBox-X pricing →

In their own words

DOSBox Optionals

DOSBox Optionals has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit github.com

DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X is a free, open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games on Linux, macOS and Windows. It also supports DOS-based Windows guests, including Windows 3.x and Windows 9x/Me. The project emphasizes general emulation and accurate hardware behavior, with DOS/V services and emulation for NEC PC-98, AX and J-3100 systems. A graphical configuration tool and many virtual-machine options let users adjust the emulated environment. DOSBox-X provides up to 100 save slots, with automatic saving for selected programs or at user-defined intervals. Its emulated NE2000 adapter supports guest networking through PCAP and Slirp backends. Printing can use parallel ports and real or emulated printers, with PostScript or PNG output. Launching host applications from the emulator is disabled by default for security and can be enabled through configuration or a command-line option. The project describes use for DOS software, historical preservation, testing and continued DOS development; emulating Pentium 4-or-higher CPUs and post-2000 PC hardware are listed as non-goals.

Visit dosbox-x.com