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Our Verdict
Codeweavers is one of the uncomplicated way to track down Windows apps on a Mac , and you do n’t even call for Windows .
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CrossOver is base on WINE , which is one of the honest options for run Windows software on your Mac . And , like WINE , it use a compatibility layer that take into account Windows apps to run on the Mac without actually requiring a full interpretation of Windows to be instal as well . That can save you a caboodle of money , as you do need to buy a transcript of Windows for use with virtualisation political platform such asParallels DesktopandVMware Fusion . But although WINE is a free , open - source program , it ’s too complicated for most non - technical users , so the team at Codeweavers develop CrossOver as a more square and user - friendly alternative . They also provide good technical financial support to help with installing a wide variety of Windows games and software .
See how CrossOver compares to other Mac Virtual Machines we have tested in : Best practical Machine for Mac .
Our review is update for 2025 to take account of the fresh version : CrossOver 25 .
CrossOver Price
That technical accompaniment means that CrossOver is n’t gratuitous , costing $ 74/£60 for a licence that provide 12 months of technical reinforcement and updates , or you’re able to pay $ 494/£414 for life support . However , there ’s a 14 - day free test available , so that you may see if it work with the Windows software that you want to run before grease one’s palms ( and there ’s also a variation of CrossOver available for Linux as well ) .
CrossOver Performance
At the import , CrossOver is base on code that was primitively written for Intel processors , so it relies on Apple ’s Rosetta to run on Macs with Apple Silicon , but operation still seems to be passably good , and Codeweavers states that it is working on aboriginal support for Apple Silicon for the futurity .
CrossOver works with a wide range of Windows software and apps , but many CrossOver substance abuser are devote Mac gamers , so much of Codeweavers ’ workplace is focused on getting it to work with popular Windows games . And , in fact , the Game Porting Kit that Apple cater to help games developer farm Mac versions of their games is base on open - source computer code from Codeweavers – so these guy rope really know what they ’re doing . There ’s also a database on their web site that provides compatibility information and advice for running hundreds of Windows apps and game .
CrossOver Usability
CrossOver has always aimed to be more user - favorable than WINE , by allowing you to install Windows apps into ‘ bottles ’ – which are self - contained files that can be launch and run on your Mac without requiring a full copy of Windows . you may make band of different bottles for different apps , and bottles can even be configured to bring home the bacon compatibility with unlike versions of Windows . This is useful as it leave you to create nursing bottle that are suitable for older secret plan and software that might command a particular version of Windows in gild to run properly .
Even so , CrossOver can still be quite complicated at times , so version 22 introduced a new port that was redesigned to be more Mac - like , and also to cater more avail when instal many Windows apps and games . When you launch CrossOver you see the main Install window , which lists some popular Windows apps and games , such as The Witcher 3 and Diablo IV , and even productivity puppet such as the Quicken accounting software package for business enterprise users .
There ’s also a search creature that offer information on hundreds of other Windows apps , and an indication of how well they run with CrossOver . But , as we disclose , there are degrees of compatibility here , with some apps that run well , while others may run with problems – and some may simply not figure out with CrossOver at all . But , moderately to my surprise , I was able to install and run a 20 - class previous transcript of Microsoft Publisher from an old videodisk with no trouble at all , and also Icewind Dale II , an old favorite of mine that does n’t seem to be wide usable these sidereal day .
Latest CrossOver updates
CrossOver continues to receive veritable updates , many of which concentrate on improving support for specific Windows game . adaptation 22.1 fix problems that were affecting games such as BioShock Infinite and Grand Theft Auto V , and variant 23.0 introduced limited support for some games , such as Diablo IV , that employ Microsoft ’s DirectX 12 graphics computer software ( something that even Parallels Desktop is still work on ) . Diablo IV got a further carrying into action boost with rendering 23.7 , along with Counter Strike 2 and a telephone number of other games , while reading 24.0 provided compatibility with the late version of WINE , as well as a number of additional interface improvement .
However , the March 2025 launch of CrossOver 25 is one of the biggest update of recent years , with CrossOver promising to contribute “ next level gaming to the Mac ” . Some of the new features in v25 are under - the - bonnet changes , such as adopting the latest interpretation of the underlying WINE applied science , which Codeweavers claim includes thousands of programming update to improve carrying out and compatibility . This update also introduces a new artwork technology , shout out DXMT that , according to Codeweavers , supply better performance for less herculean Mac models when running Windows biz that use DX11 nontextual matter .
There ’s meliorate compatibility with batch of big - name Windows games , allowing you to roleplay games such as Path Of Exile 2 , Dragon ’s Dogma 2 , and Fallout 76 for the first time . And , along with Steam , CrossOver 25 now patronize the Windows variant of the GoG and Epic game stores so that you could download games that you own from those stores .
Codeweavers also extend to further streamline the induction process for Windows games and apps for new users who may not have a peck of proficient experience . As well as furnish a list of popular games and other apps that work well with CrossOver , this new version now has the ability to tie to the compatibility database stored on the Codeweavers website , and can automatically practice the best graphic and audio configurations for a variety of dissimilar game .
Should you buy Codeweavers CrossOver?
The sheer effort that the Codeweavers team puts into put up veritable update for CrossOver is telling , and we ’ve had good experiences using their technical school reinforcement to get assist running the Windows version of Steam on our get on office iMac . Even so , CrossOver can still be rather complicated for new users , so it ’s definitely worth download the test adaptation to see how well it act with your best-loved Windows games and other Windows software .
