PlayOnMac is free software for installing and using games and other programs designed for Microsoft Windows on a Mac. The maker says a Windows license is not needed. Compatibility is partial, and ease of use and performance depend on whether a particular program is supported. The site shows examples of supported software, including Star Wars: The Old Republic, Trackmania Nation Forever, Photofiltre, and Internet Explorer 8. The download page offers PlayOnMac 4.4.4 for macOS 10.15 or macOS 11 and later, and version 4.3.3 for macOS versions before 10.15. It also says antivirus warnings about some PlayOnMac .exe files may be false positives connected to interaction with the emulated Windows registry. PlayOnMac is listed for macOS, with no Linux support. Its listed plan is 0.00 USD per free and requires a supported Windows program.
Who it is for
PlayOnMac may suit Mac users who want to install Windows-designed games or other software without a Windows license. It is most relevant when the specific program is supported.
What is good
- Free software
- Does not require a Windows license
- Offers versions for older and newer macOS releases
- Includes a compatibility database
What to know first
- Compatibility is partial
- Ease of use and performance depend on program support
- No Linux support
- Requires a supported Windows program
Verdict
PlayOnMac provides a free route to using some Windows-designed programs on a Mac without a Windows license. Compatibility varies by program, so support for the specific software is an important consideration.
PlayOnMac plans and pricing
All plansCompared on Windows compatibility layers
- Free plan
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Linux support
- No
- Graphics acceleration
- dxvk
- Compatibility database
- Yes
- Prefix management
- Yes
