Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

DOSBox VS ReactOS

Compare DOSBox VS ReactOS and see what are their differences

LibHunt
LibHunt tracks mentions of software libraries on relevant social networks. Based on that data, you can find the most popular projects and their alternatives. featured
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

DOSBox logo DOSBox

DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library.

ReactOS logo ReactOS

ReactOS is a free, modern operating system in alpha stage, based on the design of Windows XP/2003.
  • DOSBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27
  • ReactOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-21

DOSBox features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Accurate DOS Emulation
    DOSBox provides highly accurate emulation of the original DOS system, allowing older games and applications to run smoothly as they did on legacy hardware.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, DOSBox is freely available and can be modified by anyone with programming knowledge, fostering community contributions and improvements.
  • Active Community and Support
    DOSBox boasts an active user community and comprehensive documentation, which provides extensive support, troubleshooting tips, and user-generated content.
  • Customization and Configuration
    Users can customize and configure DOSBox through its configuration file to optimize performance and compatibility for specific games and applications.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox

  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users might find DOSBox's command-line interface intimidating and may need time to familiarize themselves with its commands and setup procedures.
  • Limited Hardware Emulation
    While DOSBox emulates essential hardware, it may not support all legacy hardware configurations, potentially leading to compatibility issues with some older titles.
  • Performance Limitations
    Although suitable for many older games, DOSBox might struggle with more demanding applications from the late DOS era due to its emulation overhead.
  • Manual Configuration Required
    Some games and applications may require manual configuration adjustments for optimal performance, which can be time-consuming and challenging for less tech-savvy users.
  • Not Ideal for Non-Gaming Applications
    DOSBox is primarily geared towards gaming emulation, and it might not be the best solution for users looking to run non-gaming DOS applications.

ReactOS features and specs

  • Open Source
    ReactOS is an open-source operating system, which means its source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. This allows developers and contributors to participate in its development and enhancement.
  • Windows Compatibility
    ReactOS aims to be binary-compatible with Windows, especially Windows Server 2003, meaning it can run many Windows applications and drivers without modification. This could be beneficial for users who rely on legacy Windows software.
  • Lightweight
    ReactOS is designed to be lightweight, requiring fewer system resources compared to modern Windows operating systems. This makes it suitable for older hardware that may not support contemporary operating systems efficiently.
  • Freedom from Licensing Costs
    Being free and open source, ReactOS eliminates the cost associated with purchasing Windows licenses, providing an alternative for users who wish to avoid these costs.

Possible disadvantages of ReactOS

  • Incomplete Development
    ReactOS is still in the alpha stage of development, which means it is not yet stable or feature-complete. This can lead to various issues such as system crashes, incomplete features, and compatibility problems.
  • Limited Application Support
    Despite its goal of Windows compatibility, ReactOS does not support all Windows applications and drivers, particularly newer ones that require features not yet implemented in ReactOS.
  • Lack of Commercial Support
    Unlike Windows, which has extensive commercial support from Microsoft and third-party service providers, ReactOS lacks official commercial support, which may be a concern for enterprise environments.
  • Security Concerns
    As ReactOS is still under development, it may not have implemented all necessary security features and updates that a more mature operating system might have, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.

DOSBox videos

+ Add

Why Do You Need DOSBox?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - DOSBox Tutorial - Installing Games With DOSBox
  • Review - DOSBox review - Can DOSBox actually replace real DOS?

ReactOS videos

+ Add

ReactOS Demo

More videos:

  • Review - ReactOS 0.4.12 Review - Window Snapping, New Fonts, New Looks!
  • Review - ReactOS Is An Open Source Windows-Inspired Operating System

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DOSBox and ReactOS)

DOSBox

ReactOS

Emulators
100 100%
Emulators
0% 0
Linux
0 0%
Linux
100% 100
Gaming
100 100%
Gaming
0% 0
Operating Systems
0 0%
Operating Systems
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using DOSBox and ReactOS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

DOSBox Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
For those hoping to go back to that magical time, or even for those who were not lucky enough to live it in the moment: DOSBox has got you covered.
Source: retrododo.com
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
Honestly, people still play these games made for MS-DOS hence the need for DosBox. If you miss those games and still want to use your dos commands, this emulator is for you. Download
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
DOSBox specializes in emulating an environment where MS-DOS programs can run as intended. So if you have some old DOS games lying around that won’t run on your modern PC, give it a try on DOSBox. It should emulate the game accurately and at native speed.
Source: www.hongkiat.com

ReactOS Reviews

We have no reviews of ReactOS yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ReactOS seems to be a lot more popular than DOSBox. While we know about 70 links to ReactOS, we've tracked only 1 mention of DOSBox. 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.

DOSBox mentions (1)

  • Emulation retro game console that lets me add my own games
    Any xbox using dosbox.com. Plays right from the browser, uses your google drive to pull the roms from. I adore that site. Source: almost 2 years ago

ReactOS mentions (70)

  • Unofficial Windows 7 Service Pack 2
    > but there’s no reason why a thoughtfully engineered Win7 clone DE on a lightweight Linux Why not a "thoughtfully engineered Win7 clone Desktop Environment" (without Linux :-) ). By the way: people are working on ReactOS: > https://reactos.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Free95: An open-source windows-compatible operating system
    Seems very WIP. Might be easier to start with something like ReactOS[0] and work backwards. [0]https://reactos.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • You can now write React in Lua
    Soon, everything will be in react. Your browser? React. OS? React. Car operating system? React. I thought I was making a joke and then googled some and here it is: https://github.com/shirakaba/react-native-web-browser-app https://star.global/posts/react-native-for-automotive/ They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • ExectOS – brand new operating system which derives from NT architecture
    Why this over ReactOS, a much more mature open source OS, which is also based on NT? https://reactos.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Someone connected Windows XP to the internet, and it didn't survive long
    I wonder how ReactOS does as it is Windows XP/2003 compatible? https://reactos.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DOSBox and ReactOS, you can also consider the following products

DOSEMU - DOSEMU stands for DOS Emulation, and allows you to run DOS and many DOS programs, including many...

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

vDosPlus - vDosPlus (formerly vDos-lfn) is a free general-purpose non-gaming DOS emulator running on Windows...

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

vDos - vDos lets you conveniently run DOS applications by emulating a (spiced up) DOS PC in a window.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

Loading...