Recommended Solutions
Best for Ease & Support
CrossOver
A commercial WINE-based tool by CodeWeavers, designed to run Windows apps/games on macOS with a user-friendly interface and added compatibility patches.
Pros
- Commercial (paid support/tech assistance).
- Supports Intel and Apple Silicon.
- Easy to use with pre-configured "bottles" for popular software.
- Strong software support (Steam, Diablo IV with DirectX 12 tweaks).
- Polished UI/UX.
Cons
- Paid (subscription or one-time fee).
- Less Freedom on adjusting bottles (Choosing Wine versions, Winetricks, etc)
Kegworks
A free, open-source tool that wraps Windows apps into macOS app bundles using WINE, successor of Wineskin with broader compatibility.
Pros
- Free.
- Supports Intel and Apple Silicon (via Rosetta 2).
- Decent software support with manual tweaks.
Cons
- Steeper learning curve, less beginner-friendly.
- UI/UX is complicated and clunky.
- Limited official support; relies on community.
- Installs via Terminal (Requires Homebrew)
No Longer
Maintained
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with some limitations. CrossOver and Kegworks both support Apple Silicon through Rosetta 2 translation. Some apps like Whisky (now discontinued) and newer tools are built natively for Apple Silicon using Apple's Game Porting Toolkit. Performance varies depending on the specific Windows application and the compatibility layer used.
Yes, many Steam games work well through WINE-based solutions. CrossOver has excellent Steam support with pre-configured bottles for popular games like Diablo IV. Heroic Games Launcher is specifically designed for gaming and supports Epic Games Store and GOG. Performance depends on the specific game and your Mac's hardware.
WINE is a compatibility layer that translates Windows API calls to macOS equivalents without requiring a Windows license. Virtualization (Parallels, VMware) runs a complete Windows operating system inside a virtual machine, requiring a Windows license. WINE typically uses fewer resources but has more compatibility limitations.
CrossOver offers professional support, regular updates, and pre-configured software bottles that work out of the box. Free alternatives like Kegworks require more technical knowledge but offer greater flexibility. Choose CrossOver if you want ease of use and support; choose free options if you enjoy tinkering and want more control.
No! WINE stands for "Wine Is Not an Emulator" and works by translating Windows system calls to macOS equivalents. You don't need a Windows license or installation. However, you may need to install Windows fonts and some system libraries for certain applications to work properly.
Whisky was discontinued in April 2025 by its developer. While it was a popular free option for Apple Silicon Macs with an excellent SwiftUI interface, development challenges and the availability of other mature alternatives led to its discontinuation. Users are encouraged to migrate to CrossOver or Kegworks.
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