DOSBox Staging vs iDOS 3
DOSBox Staging
dosbox-staging.orgiDOS 3
litchie.comSide by side
| Figure | DOSBox Staging | iDOS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · MS-DOS Emulators | 8.9 (#2) | 7.2 (#20) |
| Audio | Emulated sound options include Roland MT-32 and SC-55, FluidSynth MIDI, OPL, Gravis UltraSound, and PC speaker audio. | The listing names MT-32 emulation, MIDI sound fonts, and cue sheet CD images with compressed OGG, MP3, or FLAC audio tracks. |
| Privacy | The project says it collects no personal information and makes no network connections unless the user initiates one. | The App Store listing reports that the developer indicated the app does not collect data, and says that information has not been verified by Apple. |
| Purpose | Runs MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 software on modern Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, with MS-DOS emulation built in. | iDOS 3 runs classic DOS games on iPhone and iPad, and can also be used for word processing and casual programming. |
Plans
In their own words
DOSBox Staging
DOSBox Staging runs MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 software on modern Windows, macOS, and Linux computers through built-in MS-DOS emulation. Its main compatibility goal is PC Booter, DOS, and Windows 3.1 games released from 1981 to 2000. Default settings are intended to let most games and applications work without adjustment, and existing DOSBox configurations remain usable. Graphics options include CRT emulation, aspect-ratio-correct output, VGA and 3dfx Voodoo emulation, and custom shaders. Emulated audio includes Roland MT-32 and SC-55, FluidSynth MIDI, OPL, Gravis UltraSound, and PC speaker sound. Networking includes Ethernet through SLiRP and ENet modem transport. Host features include clipboard integration, physical CD-ROM mounting, high-DPI support, and Windows 3.1 seamless mouse integration. An optional HTTP REST API can inspect or modify emulator state, but it is disabled by default and binds to localhost; exposing it to untrusted networks gives them full control of the emulator. The project says it collects no personal information and makes no network connection unless initiated by the user. It is free for personal use, without warranty, and intended for low-stakes scenarios.