Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Darling VS PlayOnLinux

Compare Darling VS PlayOnLinux and see what are their differences

Darling logo Darling

Run macOS applications on Linux

PlayOnLinux logo PlayOnLinux

PlayOnLinux will allow you to play your favorite games on Linux easily
  • Darling Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-09
  • PlayOnLinux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Darling features and specs

  • Compatibility with macOS Applications
    Darling allows users to run macOS applications on Linux systems by providing a translation layer that emulates Apple’s macOS environment.
  • Open Source
    Darling is an open-source project, enabling developers to contribute to its development and users to inspect and modify the code as needed.
  • Community Driven
    As a community-driven project, Darling benefits from collaborative efforts and contributions from a variety of developers, which can lead to continuous improvements.
  • No Need for Virtual Machines
    Unlike using a virtual machine to run macOS on Linux, Darling runs applications natively, which can lead to better performance and reduced resource usage.

Possible disadvantages of Darling

  • Limited Application Support
    Darling does not support all macOS applications; compatibility is limited and many software types, particularly those requiring advanced graphics or system features, may not run properly.
  • Active Development
    As Darling is still in active development, users might encounter bugs and incomplete features, making it less reliable for production environments.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Darling can be more complex than alternative solutions, requiring technical knowledge of Linux and compiling software.
  • Lack of Official Support
    Being a community-based project, there is no official support channel for Darling, which can make troubleshooting more challenging for non-technical users.

PlayOnLinux features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    PlayOnLinux provides a graphical user interface that makes it easier for users to install and manage Windows applications on Linux without needing complex command-line instructions.
  • Preconfigured Scripts
    It includes a library of scripts to help users install popular Windows applications and games easily, reducing the need for manual configuration.
  • Multi-Version Support
    PlayOnLinux allows users to install and run multiple versions of software simultaneously, which can be useful for testing or compatibility purposes.
  • Community Support
    The platform has an active community that contributes scripts and provides support, which can be valuable for troubleshooting and enhancing software compatibility.
  • Free and Open Source
    PlayOnLinux is free to use and open-source, allowing users to modify and contribute to the software’s development.

Possible disadvantages of PlayOnLinux

  • Performance Overhead
    Running Windows applications through PlayOnLinux can result in reduced performance compared to native Linux applications due to the emulation layer.
  • Limited Compatibility
    While PlayOnLinux supports many applications, not all Windows software can be successfully run, and some might have limited functionality or require significant tweaking.
  • Dependency on Wine
    PlayOnLinux is essentially a front-end for Wine, so it inherits all the limitations and bugs found in Wine, which can affect application compatibility and stability.
  • Complexity for Advanced Configurations
    While simpler installations are streamlined, users aiming to execute complex configurations might find the process involved and may require Wine-specific knowledge.
  • Inconsistent Script Updates
    Sometimes the scripts provided by the community may not be updated frequently, leading to compatibility issues with newer versions of Windows applications.

Darling videos

Darling Tamil Movie Review - G.V Prakash - Tamil Talkies

More videos:

  • Review - Darling Movie Review (Netflix Arthouse Horror!)
  • Review - Darling review by prashanth

PlayOnLinux videos

No PlayOnLinux videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Darling and PlayOnLinux)
Group Chat & Notifications
Cloud Computing
46 46%
54% 54
Gaming
33 33%
67% 67
Tool
49 49%
51% 51

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Darling and PlayOnLinux

Darling Reviews

15 Lutris Alternatives
Darling is an open-source compatibility layer that makes Linux act like macOS. It is a small and reliable compatibility layer for Windows that lets you run Windows programs on other platforms, like Linux and macOS. It's the same as using Windows directly on Linux; you won't need emulators to run Windows software. This program gives its users a lot of help, which makes it...

PlayOnLinux Reviews

15 Lutris Alternatives
Intelligent software called PlayOnLinux lets Linux users use Windows programs. With this program, you can easily switch between your two operating systems using the same application. It can make you much more productive. If you like Windows games but have a Linux computer or tablet, you can easily download them and play them there. PlayOnLinux uses a script library that can...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Darling seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Darling mentions (8)

  • Anon uses a thinkpad
    Not really possible (yet). Darling tries to do this, but so far it can mainly just run some command-line Darwin software (the open source part of Apple's OSes). Some simple GUI apps too, but you won't be running something like Xcode on Linux any time soon. Source: about 2 years ago
  • SheepShaver: macOS run-time environment for BeOS and Linux
    I really look forward to reliable (modern) macOS emulation, a la wine. I miss some of my wee little Mac utilities / games now that I’m in Linux full-time. I’m rooting for the guys working on stuff like Darling[0], but it looks like they still have a long road ahead. [0] https://darlinghq.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Check mate, Windows users. Plus side loading on Windows 11 is a big pain
    In addition to wine, there's also mono and darling ... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why linux cant run mac os apps natively?
    Because they are different kernels, Closest thing is Darling (compatibility layer like Wine) but it's still WIP (Work In Progress). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • airyxOS is a macOS clone, built on FreeBSD. (Beta ISO available.)
    That already exists! In fact, that’s what they’re using in the project: https://darlinghq.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

PlayOnLinux mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PlayOnLinux yet. Tracking of PlayOnLinux recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Darling and PlayOnLinux, you can also consider the following products

Wine - Open Source Software for running Windows applications on other operating systems.

CodeWeavers CrossOver - Don't buy a Windows license, don't reboot and don't use a Virtual Machine. Try a free trial of CrossOver to run your Windows software on Mac, Linux and Chrome OS.

WineBottler - WineBottler is an App to manage and wrap your Windows apps into convenient OS X apps.

Proton - Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components

Turbo.net for Mac - Turbo.net for Mac runs PC and other apps on Mac without VMs.

WinOnX - Run your Windows applications on OSX without the need of buying a Windows license.