Software Alternatives & Reviews

Playnite VS DS4Windows

Compare Playnite VS DS4Windows and see what are their differences

Playnite logo Playnite

Source code generated using layoutit.com

DS4Windows logo DS4Windows

DS4Windows is an open-source gamepad input mapper and virtual emulator designed to use and connect your PlayStation controller (DualShock 3/4 and DualSense 5) to a Windows 10 & 11 PC.
  • Playnite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05
  • DS4Windows Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

Playnite videos

Checking out the Playnite 5.5 Update and it's damned good

More videos:

  • Review - Is the best Launcher even BETTER? - Playnite 5 Review
  • Review - Playnite games launcher Quick Look and Impressions
  • Demo - Youtube.com

DS4Windows videos

[How To] Connect PS4 Controller To PC Using DS4Windows Tutorial (Windows 7/10)

More videos:

  • Review - Game Controller To Cull & Review Photos | PS4 DualShock DS4Windows
  • Review - Steam vs DS4Windows - Which Do I feel is best for DualSense on Windows

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Playnite and DS4Windows)
Gaming
62 62%
38% 38
Games
100 100%
0% 0
Controller Mapping
0 0%
100% 100
Emulators
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Playnite and DS4Windows. 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 Playnite and DS4Windows

Playnite Reviews

Best Free Game Launcher for Windows PC
Presenting you, Playnite, a game launcher, containing a nice set of features. In this, you can scan the games on your device, get a nice combination of features with a user-friendly UI. You will not only get a launcher but also emulators.
Top 6 best launcher games to launch and organize PC games
This is due to the open source of the project. Playnite has many contributions and so it grows quickly. In addition to the launcher, Playnite also supports many emulators, it can handle retro games effectively.
Source: tipsmake.com

DS4Windows Reviews

Top 5 REWASD Alternatives in 2021
DS4Windows is pretty great software, especially if we consider the fact that it comes for free. The options and functions are great, and the user interface is pretty simple and basic as well. So, I’d say it is one of the best contenders against REWASD if you’re a PS4 controller user.
10+ alternatives of DS4Windows (Ryochan7 fork)
Before we get to our list, let us take a quick look at the DS4Windows (Ryochan7 fork) review. We will also review the features, price, benefits, pros, and cons of DS4Windows (Ryochan7 fork). If you like our list of DS4Windows (Ryochan7 fork) and similar software alternatives in 2022, then please rate us below.
Best Alternatives to DS4Windows to Use Your PS4 Controller on PC
SCP and DS4Tool are both great alternatives to DS4Windows. Neither is as easy to use and both are more prone to crashing than DS4Windows. However, SCP lets you use legacy Dualshock devices and DS4Tool gives you control over more input settings like touchpad sensitivity and rumble intensity. From personal experience, we consider Steam Big Picture Mode to be the best solution:...
Source: techwiser.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Playnite should be more popular than DS4Windows. It has been mentiond 286 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.

Playnite mentions (286)

  • I wrote an app for myself to filter my library by HLTB
    I've done something similar before with Playnite (an open-source PC game library manager), which has an HLTB plugin. Source: 5 months ago
  • Tags no longer register and i've finally had it with galaxy 2.0. Any recommended alternatives?
    Playnite: The one with the most features and libraries available via addons and has a lot of options for customization. In my opinion the best one available for this purpose. Source: 5 months ago
  • What tools do I install?
    As for my LGO, the only other app I've installed outside of the standard launcher was Playnite to consolidate all games into one place as Legion Space doesn't detect everything I have installed and I don't want to manage manually adding games to their launcher. Source: 5 months ago
  • Login in to various stores when launching games
    Use playnite instead of the individual launchers. Source: 5 months ago
  • Steam Deck OLED
    Here is where I come in and recommend everyone check out Playnite: https://playnite.link/ When I care about supporting a developer or publisher and they offer their product on their own storefront DRM-free, I will often go there to buy. Or I buy from GoG which takes a smaller cut. Playnite lets me launch my Steam and non-Steam games in a seamless fashion. Steam still does a great job as a game installer/patch... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

DS4Windows mentions (172)

  • Problems with controller drift/game not detecting controller?
    If your gamepad is not supported by our service, you can try to install DS4Windows. Its function is to “trick” the PC into recognizing any controller as if it were an Xbox 360 or DualShock 4, which in turn might allow you to use it on Boosteroid. Please note: we do not guarantee that this method will work. We are not responsible for the possible consequences, you do it at your own risk. Source: 10 months ago
  • Controller Issues
    Use DS4, its a controller emulator that helps with stuff like that, don't really know how to explain it but with it I can use my ps5 controller for salt and sacrifice on pc instead Https://ds4-windows.com. Source: 10 months ago
  • Hellp.Pace Wheel not working right
    From what I see online, it only officially supports PS3+PS4, and not PC. You might be able to get it to work using https://ds4-windows.com/ . Source: 10 months ago
  • Can i use a ps5 controller on star citizen
    Playstation controllers don't use the xbox protocol. So it's a bit tricky. You need some extra software like ds4-windows. https://ds4-windows.com/. Source: 11 months ago
  • MCO/ADXP Gamepad???
    Yeah I kinda spammed a bit :PHotkey Auto Cast or Smart cast type of mods tobind spells or power directly to a key, then use some Macro app for your controller to remap the powers/spells keys to gamepad macros. I use DS4Windows for my DS4 controller for similar macros. Source: 11 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Playnite and DS4Windows, you can also consider the following products

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

JoyToKey - JoyToKey enables users to control the keyboard using any USB compatible controller (Dualshock 3, Xbox 360, etc.)

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

Xpadder - Xpadder simulates the keyboard and mouse using your gamepad What does Xpadder let you do?

Lutris - Lutris is an open source gaming platform for GNU/Linux.

reWASD - First and only gamepad mapper to make Xbox Elite paddles separate buttons.