7 Best Windows Emulators for Mac

Suppose you have bought a new MacBook, but you aren’t used to the controls yet, you can dual boot either a Windows OS or a Linux OS. For this article, we’ll be going through the best Windows emulator software for your MacBook of any brand that you may possess.

Let’s quickly go through some of the best Windows emulators you may have when it comes to a Windows emulator for your MacBook.

Why Windows Emulators?

There are a variety of reasons you’d want to Emulate the Windows OS into your MacOS. Some of the most common reasons are:

• To make the system able to run games (MacOS isn’t compatible with running games).
• Be able to run applications that can run only on Windows OS.
• Your previous system was a Windows OS and you want to familiarize yourself with your new system without being overwhelmed.

Before, MacOS processors weren’t made with Intel products, it was made with Apple Silicon. Hence it was incompatible with Windows OS and emulating it was next to impossible. But, modern MacBook processors use Intel-manufactured products, similar to the processors of Windows OS (may use AMD/Ryzen too depending on the brand you have) and hence, it is possible to dual-boot both MacOS and Windows OS or even emulate Windows OS in MacOS.

What are the Best Windows Emulators?

Here are some free and paid Windows emulators that you can choose from. Normally, paid emulators have better workflow and their software can be trusted. But don’t worry, if you don’t want to spend any money on this, that’s completely okay! Whether you’re looking for the best Windows emulators or free options, there’s something for everyone.

1. Parallels (Paid)

It is a paid software emulator that allows you to download Windows OS into your MacBook. It allows you to boot both OS side-by-side. This enables you to use both the functionalities of MacOS and Windows OS at the same time without compromising on the other.

It also allows you to boot and play games with the Windows OS. Since it is locally available in your storage of the Macbook, it needn’t rely on the online network processes. The installation process is very straightforward, simply download the package into your MacBook and run it. It also provides both Windows 10 and 11. This also allows file transfer by simply using drag and drop between both OS. Looking for the best Windows emulators? This might just be the solution for you!

2. Fusion – VMWare (Paid)

It is the more costlier emulator out there. It provides a Virtual Machine (VM) of the Windows OS and since it is virtualized, you can download and use multiple instances of the Windows OS in your system. Along with Windows OS, it also provides support for other OS such as Linux OS and more. It is very simple to install Windows OS from a virtual drive to a hard drive in your MacOS.

These are the best-paid options out there for you to install and download a Windows emulator, including some of the best Windows emulators. The steps are easy and straightforward and explained well for you in a step-by-step manner.

3. VirtualBox (Free)

It is a free product which allows you to run Windows 10 virtually. But, it doesn’t possess a Windows 11 hypervisor, hence you cannot run Windows 11. Also, it doesn’t provide you with a Windows system, rather, you must get a Windows 10 ISO file from the internet. Virtualbox will simply provide you with a blank screen, to which you can then integrate the Windows 10 ISO file.

The process is straightforward, you simply follow the instructions and download the VirtualBox on your MacOS.

4. WineHQ (Free)

It is an open-source free Windows emulator that is popular with older versions. Unlike the earlier options, Wine doesn’t download the Windows OS in your system. Instead, it acts as a middleman and uses API calls based on some compatibility standards. It calls the Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) to emulate the Windows OS virtually.

This completely eliminates the need to manually download a Windows OS, which has the side-effect of overloading the memory and slowing applications down. This comes with a caveat since Wine will not be compatible with Apple Silicon OS for M1, M2 and M3 users.

5. WineSkin (Free)

It is another free best Windows emulator available on the internet in which you can download and boot up your Windows system. However, it doesn’t possess a dedicated website and hence should have to be downloaded from a third-party site, so beware.

6. WineBottler (Free)

One of the interesting things about this free emulator is that it doesn’t fully download the Windows system in your MacBook but instead, downloads an instance with which you can run Windows-based apps in your MacOS without worrying about compatibility issues. If you simply want to run Windows-based applications without downloading the Windows OS or you want to save storage space, WineBottler is your best bet.

7. Boot Camp (Free)

Officially launched by the Apple company, this application requires you to have a MacOS with only Intel components. So, if you only have an Apple Silicon, unfortunately, you’ll need to consider the other options mentioned above. Their website holds separate files for different versions of different MacBooks, like Air, Pro and so on.

But, you can only download Windows 10 with this and you cannot run both OS at the same time. You can only run either at a time. Best Windows Emulators offer various alternatives for running Windows on different platforms.

Conclusion

In this article, we cover 7 different emulators for Windows that are available along with their download links. Here, we’ve discussed the pros and cons of each of the emulator. With this, you can make the best decision which suits your situation and needs. Do go through each of the requirements, and discover the best Windows Emulators for your purposes.

7 Best Windows Emulators for Mac – FAQs

Can you virtualize MacOS?

No, it goes against Apple’s EULA (End User’s License) to run MacOS in any other hardware than Apple hardware. The other way around is accepted.

How to update from MacOS Catalina to Big Sur?

Since Apple is going to stop support for MacOS Catalina, you can simply go to the software update section in your MacBook and update your OS from Catalina to Sur.

Is it legal to run a MacOS instance on a Windows PC?

No, it isn’t legal to run one. Though there are virtualized MacOSs out there. The terminology used for them is called “Hackintosh”.

Is MacBook better than Windows?

Yes, with the design of the OS and the preference for high security and privacy, many users opt for a MacBook due to high-performance speeds with less RAM. For example, a MacBook with 8GB RAM can run faster than a Windows OS with 16GB RAM.

Is there a Mac OS emulator for Windows?

No Mac emulator for Windows, but virtual machines can run macOS. Try VMware, VirtualBox (free options), or Parallels (paid). Needs strong PC, not officially supported by Apple, and installation can be tricky.

Which Windows is best for MacBook?

MacBooks run macOS, but you can also use Windows:

• Boot Camp: Install Windows for a dedicated experience (restart to switch).
• Virtual Machines: Run Windows within macOS (requires a powerful MacBook).