# CrossOver

Runs many Windows applications and games on Mac without a Windows license or a virtual machine — built on Wine.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** $74.00 (CodeWeavers’ homepage lists this as the "Buy Now" price; confirm current billing term — annual vs. one-time — at checkout)
- **Open source:** no
- **Official site:** https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-mac/
- **Available via:** Homebrew, Direct
- **Requirements:** Intel or Apple Silicon Mac; per the developer’s system requirements table, Apple Silicon needs macOS 11.1+ and CrossOver 21+, and macOS 26 (Tahoe) needs CrossOver 25.1.1 or higher. Does not run on iPad or iPhone.
- **Maker:** CodeWeavers, Inc.

## Kitsmith's take

A translation layer, not an emulator or a virtual machine — CrossOver (built on the open-source Wine project) translates Windows API calls into native macOS calls, so compatible Windows apps run without installing Windows at all. That is the tradeoff to understand before buying: compatibility is per-app (CodeWeavers publishes a compatibility database to check first) rather than universal the way a VM like Parallels or UTM running actual Windows would be. $74/year per the developer’s own pricing (billed as a single "Buy Now" price on the homepage, structured as an annual license per CodeWeavers’ standard model), with a 14-day free trial.

## Features

- **No Windows license needed:** Runs compatible Windows software without installing Windows or buying a Windows license.
- **Native speed, no VM overhead:** Per the developer, apps run without the performance overhead of a full virtual machine.
- **Compatibility database:** CodeWeavers maintains a public database of which Windows apps and games are confirmed to work before you buy.

## FAQ

**Is CrossOver a virtual machine?**

No — it translates Windows API calls into native macOS calls (built on the Wine project) rather than running a full virtual Windows installation. For a true VM, see Parallels Desktop or UTM.

**Will my specific Windows app work in CrossOver?**

Not guaranteed — compatibility is per-application. Check CodeWeavers’ public compatibility database before buying.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/crossover/