Software Alternatives & Startups

macOS VS ReactOS

Compare macOS VS ReactOS and see what are their differences

macOS

macOS High Sierra brings new forward-looking technologies and enhanced features to your Mac.

Rating
0 reviews
ReactOS

ReactOS is a free, modern operating system in alpha stage, based on the design of Windows XP/2003.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, ReactOS seems to be a lot more popular than macOS. While we know about 79 links to ReactOS, we've tracked only 1 mention of macOS.

social mentions
1 vs 79
Linux popularity
52% vs 48%
alternatives listed
183 vs 81

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

macOS
ReactOS
Website apple.com reactos.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

macOS 6 features
ReactOS 4 features
  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    macOS Sonoma offers seamless integration across Apple devices, allowing for continuity features like Handoff, AirDrop, and iCloud synchronization.
  • User Interface and Design
    macOS is known for its polished and intuitive user interface, which is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
  • Security and Privacy
    macOS is built with strong security features including Gatekeeper, XProtect, and full disk encryption to protect user data and privacy.
  • Optimized Performance
    macOS is optimized to run efficiently on Apple hardware, often delivering smooth and fast performance even on older machines.
  • Built-in Applications
    macOS comes with a suite of built-in applications such as Safari, Mail, Photos, and iMovie, which are well-integrated and offer good functionality out of the box.
  • Regular Software Updates
    Apple provides regular updates to macOS, offering new features and bug fixes, as well as important security updates.

Possible disadvantages

  • Software Compatibility
    Some specialized or legacy software available for Windows may not be available or fully compatible with macOS, requiring users to find alternatives or use virtualization.
  • Hardware Cost
    Apple hardware tends to be more expensive compared to PCs with similar specifications, making the total cost of entry higher for macOS.
  • Customizability
    Compared to Windows and some Linux distributions, macOS is less customizable in terms of user interface and system settings.
  • Gaming
    macOS is not typically favored by the gaming community due to fewer titles being available and often less optimal performance compared to Windows.
  • Limited Hardware Choices
    Users are limited to Apple hardware, which means fewer choices and the inability to build custom machines using components from different manufacturers.
  • 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

  • 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.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

macOS
ReactOS

No analysis of macOS yet.

Overall verdict

  • ReactOS is a promising project with potential, but it is still in the alpha stage of development. This means it may not be stable enough for everyday use and might lack support for some hardware and software. While it offers an interesting alternative to Windows, users seeking stability and complete compatibility may find it falls short.

Why this product is good

  • ReactOS is an open-source operating system intended to be binary-compatible with applications and device drivers made for Microsoft Windows. The project aims to provide users with a free alternative to Windows, which can run Windows applications natively without the need for emulation or virtualization.

Recommended for

  • Technology enthusiasts who enjoy testing and contributing to open-source projects.
  • Developers interested in operating system design and contributing to an open-source effort.
  • Users looking to experiment with a Windows-compatible OS alternative for non-critical tasks.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

macOS 6 videos + Add
ReactOS 3 videos + Add

What is macOS Server, and who should use it?

More videos

  • - macOS Catalina Review
  • - macOS Server: The Future of Apple's Server Product
  • - Top macOS Catalina features!
  • - Catalina macOS Review in Catalina!
  • - My New 2018 Mac Mini Server | Getting Started With A MacOS Server

ReactOS Demo

More videos

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
macOS
ReactOS
52% 52%
48% 48%
62% 62%
38% 38%
71% 71%
29% 29%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using macOS and ReactOS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

macOS 1 mention
ReactOS 79 mentions
  • What laptop should I buy
    Rekordbox works with Big Sur. You're acting like buying a hub is literally the end of the world, it's not. My interface has USB C. You're seriously grasping at straws with the touch screen argument. Unless you're on a DDJ-200 you can... Source: about 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: How long before someone reverse-engineers Windows?
    Most of the work has already been done: https://reactos.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago
  • Microsoft Needs Windows Lite
    There is already a "Windows Lite", and it's called ReactOS [0]. Except, the last thing we need is for Microsoft to own / embrace-extend-exterminate this. It's best that it's kept as an independent project, enabling developers to target... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Microsoft's "Fix" for Windows 11: Flowers After the Beating
    Kinda off-topic, but I wonder if a hypothetical OS that reimplements the Windows APIs (like ReactOS[0], but with perfect modern hardware support) would be better for end users than a Linux distro with a modern DE. In the past, this... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago

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Alternatives to macOS and ReactOS

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

  • Ubuntu

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

    Compare Ubuntu to macOS or ReactOS:

  • Linux Mint

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

    Compare Linux Mint to macOS or ReactOS:

  • Debian

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

    Compare Debian to macOS or ReactOS:

  • Arch Linux

    You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

    Compare Arch Linux to macOS or ReactOS:

  • Zorin OS

    A powerful operating system designed to make your computer faster, more secure and easier to use. DownloadDownload Lite - Install Zorin OS - Education - .

    Compare Zorin OS to macOS or ReactOS:

  • Fedora

    Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

    Compare Fedora to macOS or ReactOS: