PlayOnLinux
7.2#2 in windows compatibility layersFree planFree planLinuxmacOS
VisitPlayOnLinux vs umu-launcher
umu-launcher
6.2#7 in game compatibility layersFree planFree planLinux
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | PlayOnLinux | umu-launcher |
|---|---|---|
| License | PlayOnLinux is free software. | The GitHub repository identifies the project license as GPL-3.0. |
| Purpose | PlayOnLinux lets users install and use numerous games and applications designed for Microsoft Windows. | umu is a unified launcher for running Windows games on Linux through Proton outside the Steam client. |
| Support | Users can get help through the documentation and forums, and can contact the team by email at [email protected]. | The project asks users to report game failures with UMU_LOG=1 logs and directs unsupported compatibility-tool issues to those tools’ maintainers. |
PlayOnLinux plans
- FreeFree
- PlayOnLinuxFree
umu-launcher plans
- umu-launcherFree
Pick PlayOnLinux if…
It suits Linux and macOS users seeking to install Windows games or applications without owning a Windows license. Users should check the stated compatibility and performance limits before relying on it for a particular program.
Pick umu-launcher if…
It suits Linux users who want to run Windows games through Proton independently of Steam, including through supported launcher clients. It may also suit users who need configurable Proton versions, game fixes, or WINE prefixes.