
Overall, Crossover is an excellent, budget-friendly solution if you just need to run Windows apps without recreating the whole Windows operating system. Read more: The Easiest Way to Run Windows Programs on Mac
#PROGRAM TO RUN WINE ON MAC SOFTWARE#
That said, you can easily view Crossover’s list of available apps to make sure it supports all the software you need to use before you buy it, and it has a form to request new software. The downside of Crossover is that it can’t run every single Windows app, and it can take a while for brand-new releases to join the compatibility catalog. This also means Crossover doesn’t require any extra memory or processor power to run a second operating system, so you’ll get better performance for tasks like graphics editing software.
#PROGRAM TO RUN WINE ON MAC LICENSE#
Since Crossover doesn’t create a separate desktop, you don’t need to purchase a Windows license to run Windows apps. It uses the Wine open source software to run Windows apps right from your Mac desktop without the need for a virtual machine. CrossOver XI (formerly CrossOver Office) is a product made by a company called CodeWeavers that is based directly on Wine with a few tweaks and proprietary add-ons. However, keep in mind that if you want to activate your copy of Windows, you still need to purchase a Windows license for the VM.Ĭrossover is an app developed by Codeweavers. Wine is not perfect, but tens of thousands of people nevertheless use 'vanilla' Wine successfully to run a large number of Windows programs. Parallels Desktop has a streamlined interface that’s easy to learn even as a beginner, and it's less expensive than other full-featured virtual machine software. You can also copy and paste and share files between your host and guest desktops, and get access to 24/7 tech support. It has many convenient features, such as sharing printers between macOS and Windows, zooming and rotating using multi-touch gestures, and DirectX and OpenGL 3.2 support. Version 16, the latest release at the time of writing, is compatible with all versions of macOS including Big Sur. The default mode makes the Windows interface fit the entire screen, so it feels like you’re using a PC.


Parallels has two modes: Coherence mode allows you to hide the Windows interface while continuing to use Windows apps from your macOS desktop. Parallels Desktop is a user-friendly virtual machine app that allows you to run Windows from within your macOS desktop.
