WinBoat vs dockur/windows
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Runs Windows apps on Linux, with windows shown alongside your Linux desktop apps.
Open source · MIT
Runs full Windows inside a Docker container, with a browser-based viewer and automatic install.
The short answer
Choose WinBoat if you need…
- Linux users who need a specific Windows-only application for occasional use
- People comfortable with some troubleshooting while the project is in beta
- Users who already run Docker or Podman and have a machine with KVM virtualization enabled
- Users who want Windows apps integrated into their Linux workflow rather than a full Windows desktop
Choose dockur/windows if you need…
- People who need a Windows environment on a Linux server or PC without installing Windows directly
- Developers testing software on different Windows versions
- Users who want to run legacy Windows releases such as XP or 98 in a container
- Anyone who already uses Docker Compose and wants Windows managed the same way
Side-by-side
| WinBoat | dockur/windows | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.3k | 54k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Run with Docker |
| Main language | TypeScript | Shell |
| Last code update | 33 days ago | 29 days ago |
What each one is
WinBoat
WinBoat is an Electron desktop app that lets you run Windows applications on Linux. It runs a Windows virtual machine inside a Docker or Podman container, and uses FreeRDP with Windows' RemoteApp protocol so individual Windows apps appear as normal windows on your Linux desktop. People use it when they need a Windows-only program but want to stay on Linux. The README describes it as beta software.
dockur/windows
dockur/windows packages a Windows virtual machine inside a Docker container. It downloads a Windows edition for you, installs it automatically, and lets you view the desktop in a web browser or connect with a Remote Desktop client. It needs a Linux host with KVM virtualization support.
Best for
WinBoat
- Linux users who need a specific Windows-only application for occasional use
- People comfortable with some troubleshooting while the project is in beta
- Users who already run Docker or Podman and have a machine with KVM virtualization enabled
- Users who want Windows apps integrated into their Linux workflow rather than a full Windows desktop
dockur/windows
- People who need a Windows environment on a Linux server or PC without installing Windows directly
- Developers testing software on different Windows versions
- Users who want to run legacy Windows releases such as XP or 98 in a container
- Anyone who already uses Docker Compose and wants Windows managed the same way
Strengths
WinBoat
- Windows apps appear as native-looking windows on the Linux desktop, according to the README
- Automated setup through the app interface, per the README's feature list
- Released under the MIT license with a publicly available source repository
dockur/windows
- Installation is automated, and the README describes it as hands-free after the container starts
- Supports many Windows releases, from Windows 95 through Windows 11 and Server 2025, according to the version table
- Configuration is done through environment variables and volumes in a standard Docker Compose file
Not ideal for
WinBoat
- Users who need a stable, production-grade setup, since the README says WinBoat is in beta and may have bugs
- Users on machines below the listed requirements (4 GB RAM, 2 CPU threads, 32 GB free storage, KVM), because the VM will not run well or at all
- Users who rely on Docker Desktop, which the README says is not supported
- Users who need USB passthrough with Podman, which the README says is currently unsupported
dockur/windows
- Machines without KVM support, since the README says Docker Desktop on Linux, macOS, and Windows 10 does not provide KVM access to containers
- Systems with less than 2 GB of free RAM or 32 GB of free disk space, which are listed as minimums
- Users who need ARM64 Windows; the README points to a separate project, dockur/windows-arm, for that
Trade-offs
WinBoat
- The README labels the project as beta, so expect bugs and some troubleshooting
- Needs significant resources (at least 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, KVM) and extra software such as Docker or Podman plus FreeRDP 3.x
dockur/windows
- Requires KVM hardware virtualization, so it will not run on many desktop setups such as Docker Desktop on macOS
- Downloads are large, from about 0.1 GB to 7.9 GB depending on version, and the default disk is 64 GB
- The README states the web viewer is less responsive than RDP and lacks clipboard sharing
Getting started
WinBoat
Clone the repository (from the README building section)
git clone https://github.com/TibixDev/WinBoatInstall dependencies (from the README building section)
bun idockur/windows
Run Windows 11 with Docker CLI
docker run -it --rm --name windows -e "VERSION=11" -p 8006:8006 --device=/dev/kvm --device=/dev/net/tun --cap-add NET_ADMIN -v "${PWD:-.}/windows:/storage" --stop-timeout 120 docker.io/dockurr/windowsFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between WinBoat and dockur/windows?
WinBoat: Runs Windows apps on Linux, with windows shown alongside your Linux desktop apps. dockur/windows: Runs full Windows inside a Docker container, with a browser-based viewer and automatic install. WinBoat suits linux users who need a specific windows-only application for occasional use, while dockur/windows suits people who need a windows environment on a linux server or pc without installing windows directly.
Are WinBoat and dockur/windows free?
WinBoat: Free and open source. dockur/windows: Free and open source.
Is WinBoat or dockur/windows more popular?
dockur/windows has more GitHub stars (54k) than WinBoat (23.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to WinBoat and dockur/windows?
Other options people compare them with include electerm, Quickemu, macOS, Laradock.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.