Side by side
Boxedwine vs Crosswire
Both stand on windows compatibility layers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1
Boxedwine offers desktop and browser options for running Windows applications, with configuration flexibility and documented demos. The browser build's storage behavior and large-file loading warning are worth considering.
Visit Boxedwine
Free plan Mac
Crosswire offers a free way to organize and launch Windows apps on supported Apple Silicon Macs. Its system requirements, notarization prompt and app-specific compatibility limits are worth checking first.
Visit CrosswireThe facts
| Boxedwine | Crosswire | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows | Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | boxedwine.org | grubwire.io |
| On windows compatibility layers | #2 of 26 | #6 of 26 |
Boxedwine: what it does well
- Runs 16-bit and 32-bit Windows applications.
- Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web.
- Released under the GNU General Public License v2.
- Web version supports directory drop and URL configuration.
- Online demos and configuration documentation are available.
What to know first
- Browser memory storage discards d:/ changes when the tab closes.
- Dropbox storage requires configuration.
- Loading large files on demand can block the interface or crash the emulator.
Crosswire: what it does well
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0.
- Keeps each app installation in its own isolated space.
- Detects common Windows runtimes during installation.
- Applies settings automatically for recognized games.
- Installed apps are searchable in a library.
What to know first
- Requires an Apple Silicon Mac.
- Requires macOS 14.6 or later.
- Not Apple-notarized; opening requires confirmation in Privacy & Security.
- Microsoft 365 is unsupported; two games are blocked by Vanguard.
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