Side by side

GE-Proton vs Porting Kit

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.

GE-Proton

Free plan Linux

GE-Proton adds game-specific fixes and additional components to a Linux Steam Play compatibility tool. Installation depends on suitable Vulkan packages, and non-Steam games outside Steam require umu-launcher.

Visit GE-Proton

Porting Kit

Free plan Mac

Porting Kit offers a free route for installing Windows games and apps on macOS, with instructions for several sources. Compatibility is not guaranteed, and the terms limit distribution and support for outside copies.

Visit Porting Kit

The facts

	GE-Proton	Porting Kit
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Linux	Mac
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	github.com	portingkit.com
On windows compatibility layers	#9 of 26	#13 of 26

GE-Proton: what it does well

Free and open source.
Automatically applies game-specific protonfixes.
Includes Media Foundation video playback patches.
Supports AMD FSR patches and NVIDIA CUDA for PhysX and NVAPI.
Native Steam and Steam Flatpak instructions are provided.

What to know first

Requires compatible Vulkan drivers and packages.
NTSync requires kernel 6.14 or newer with CONFIG_NTSYNC.
Non-Steam games outside Steam require umu-launcher.
Flathub and Snap builds are unofficial and unsupported.

Porting Kit: what it does well

Free to use.
Download offers Porting Kit 7 for macOS 12.0 and later.
Instructions cover several game sources.
Can install the Windows Steam client for Steam ports.
Apple Silicon support is growing, according to the maker.

What to know first

The maker does not guarantee port compatibility.
Ports are for personal use.
Distribution requires the maker’s approval.
Copies from outside PortingKit.com are not supported.

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