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Retroactive vs CrossOver
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
Retroactive
6.0Run Apple apps on incompatible OS versions
CrossOver
8.0Tool to run Windows software
| Metric | Retroactive | CrossOver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Utilities | Utilities |
| AI Score | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| 30-day Installs | 10 | 907 |
| 90-day Installs | 20 | 2.6K |
| 365-day Installs | 86 | 9.0K |
| Version | 2.1 | 26.1.0 |
| Auto-updates | No | Yes |
| Deprecated | Yes | No |
| GitHub Stars | 2.3K | 43 |
| GitHub Forks | 130 | 11 |
| Open Issues | - | 5 |
| License | — | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | Shell |
| Last GitHub Commit | 1y ago | 1y ago |
| First Seen | Nov 2, 2020 | Aug 9, 2023 |
Reviews
Retroactive
Retroactive allows users to run older Apple applications like Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes on newer macOS versions where they would otherwise not function. It is particularly useful for users who rely on legacy software that Apple no longer supports natively.
Enables the execution of Apple apps on macOS versions they were not originally designed for.
Pros
- + Works with older versions of Apple apps that are no longer supported
- + Supports multiple macOS versions
- + Free and open-source
Cons
- - Discontinued, with no active development
- - No auto-update feature
- - Low recent installs
CrossOver
CrossOver enables running Windows software on macOS, offering seamless integration and support for major applications. It's ideal for users needing Windows apps without a virtual machine.
Runs Windows software on macOS.
Pros
- + Runs Windows applications natively on macOS.
- + Seamless integration with macOS ecosystem.
- + Support for popular Windows applications.
Cons
- - May require learning to optimize Windows app performance.
- - Depends on Codeweavers for updates and compatibility.