Side by side
Darling vs TDF
Both stand on game 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 LinuxWindows
Choose Darling if you need a free, open-source way to run supported macOS software from Linux or Windows through WSL2. It is most suited to shell use; people who depend on graphical macOS apps should account for the project’s experimental GUI support.
Visit Darling Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
TDF brings game installation, compatibility components and sandboxing to Windows games on GNU/Linux. Its system requirements and anti-cheat limitation matter, and sandboxing is not a guarantee against kernel, driver or bubblewrap exploits.
Visit TDFThe facts
| Darling | TDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Windows | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | darlinghq.org | github.com |
| On game compatibility layers | #12 of 27 | #16 of 27 |
Darling: what it does well
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL version 3
- Runs macOS software directly without a hardware emulator
- Implements Mach, dyld, launchd, and several macOS frameworks
- Lists Homebrew and Xcode command-line tools among tested software
- Can be used on Windows through WSL2
What to know first
- Most graphical applications do not work
- MPKG installation is unsupported
- Requires 64-bit x86 Linux, Linux 5.0 or later, and 4 GB RAM
- NFS and eCryptfs are unsupported for prefix storage
TDF: what it does well
- Portable and does not require installation.
- Blocks file and network access by default.
- Supports DirectX 3 through 12 translation.
- Can archive instances for transfer or redistribution.
What to know first
- GNU/Linux only; requires x86_64 and Vulkan 1.3.
- Online games requiring anti-cheat usually will not work.
- Some games need configuration changes.
- Project maintenance is described as mostly on hold.