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WinBoat

Runs Windows apps on Linux, with windows shown alongside your Linux desktop apps.

GitHub Download v0.9.2
Stars
23.3k
Forks
761
Licence
MIT
Language
TypeScript
Last update
1 months ago
Type
App

What it is

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.

  • Run a Windows-only program as its own window on a Linux desktop
  • Share files between Linux and Windows through your mounted home directory
  • Use the full Windows desktop when you need it instead of single apps
  • Use smartcard passthrough, which the README lists as a feature

Great for

  • 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

Not ideal for

  • 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
Step-by-step guide: how to use WinBoatInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
WinBoat vs dockur/windows

How to get it

  1. 1

    Download the app

    You'll need: Docker with Docker Compose v2, or Podman with Podman Compose · FreeRDP 3.x with sound support · KVM enabled in BIOS/UEFI · Bun and Go (only if building from source)

    Clone the repository (from the README building section)

    git clone https://github.com/TibixDev/WinBoat

    Install dependencies (from the README building section)

    bun i

    Build the app and guest server (from the README building section)

    bun run build:linux-gs
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install the prerequisites: a container runtime (Docker or Podman), FreeRDP 3.x, and KVM virtualization
    • Download the AppImage, .deb, .rpm, or unpacked build from the Releases page, or build from source
    • Launch WinBoat and follow the interface to set up the Windows environment
    • Open a Windows app once the environment is ready
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Load the kernel iptables or nftables modules for better network performance, as the README suggests
    • Use the home directory mount to move files between Linux and Windows
    • Review the project's Discord and documentation links in the README for help with troubleshooting
    • Check the Releases page for newer versions, since the README notes features are being added regularly

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v0.9.26 files incl. winboat-0.9.2-x86_64.AppImageOfficial website & docswww.winboat.app/

Strengths

  • 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

Trade-offs

  • 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

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
winboat (this)23.3kAppintermediate1 months agoLinux users who need a specific Windows-only application for occasional use
windows54kDev toolintermediate29 days agoPeople who need a Windows environment on a Linux server or PC without installing Windows directly
atom60.7kAppbeginner3.8 years agoDevelopers who want a desktop code editor they can customize with packages
yazi43.2kAppintermediate4 days agoPeople who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders
marktext63.5kAppbeginner4 days agoPeople who write notes or articles in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor
wails36.9kFrameworkintermediate4 days agoGo programmers who want a desktop app with a web-style interface

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.