Skip to main content Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming Tech Radar Pro TechRadar the business technology experts Search TechRadar View Profile België (Nederlands) Deutschland North America US (English) Australasia New Zealand Expert Insights Website builders Web hosting Best web hosting Best website builder Best office chairs Expert Insights Free Microsoft Windows rival gets first major update in four years but is it already too little, too late? Wayne Williams 2 April 2025 26 years after work began, ReactOS is still only at version 0.4.15 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: ReactOS) ReactOS is a free Windows-like OS built from scratch without Microsoft code A new version just launched after a four year wait with lots of changes The OS targets compatibility with Server 2003 - yes, you read that right If you’re looking to move away from Windows, there are plenty of alternative operating systems to consider - from the many Linux distributions on offer to macOS (if you're open to switching to Apple). One of the more intriguing options is ReactOS, which aims to be Windows, but without Microsoft - more specifically, it’s designed to be an OS that’s compatible with Windows applications and drivers, without using any proprietary Microsoft code. Unlike Linux, which is built on a Unix foundation, ReactOS reimplements the Windows NT architecture from the ground up. It's currently targeting compatibility with Windows Server 2003, yes 2003, although it can run software like LibreOffice, Firefox, and some older versions of Adobe Photoshop. ReactOS integrates parts of the Wine project and even supports booting 64-bit Linux systems via its Freeloader utility. Four years in the making Originally launched as FreeWin95 in the late 1990s, it evolved into ReactOS with a goal of becoming a true Windows alternative. Today, it looks like Windows 2000 in appearance and functionality, although compatibility is very hit and miss - some classic games and apps run perfectly well, while others crash or simply fail to launch at all. The last named release, version 0.4.14, came out in December 2021, and since then development has continued apace, with new builds automatically produced each time a change is committed, although these releases aren’t tested in the same way as the stable ones. Now, four years after the last stable update appeared, ReactOS 0.4.15 has arrived and you can download it as a boot CD or liveCD here. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The latest release offers Plug and Play fixes, audio fixes, memory management improvements, registry healing, and enhancements to accessories and system tools including Notepad, Paint, RAPPS, the Input Method Editor, and the shell. As you can tell from the version number, 0.4.15, ReactOS is still in alpha, and will likely remain so for a very long time. It may never reach beta, let alone ever be finished, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time. You won’t want to use it as your daily driver, but take it for a spin in VirtualBox and marvel at what the team has managed to create here. ReactOS, while impressive for what it is, will for many remain little more than a retro curiosity - but the team is planning some major additions in the next big release, which hopefully won’t take another four years to arrive. Planned future features include UEFI support, a new graphical installer, a new NTFS filesystem driver, symmetric multiprocessing (SMP), power management, and broader application compatibility. You might also like These are the best free office software options you can use right now These are 10 operating systems you've never heard of Windows 11 Pro vs Windows 11 Home: which version is right for you? Operating System Wayne Williams Social Links Navigation Wayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Latest in Pro When it comes to security, public Wi-Fi could be a risky choice for commuters worldwide Google warns North Korean spies are gaining positions in Western firms Why US third-party vendors need to act fast on DORA compliance Great news everyone! Google is going to let you transfer your passkeys to a new phone Microsoft reveals new tool to help with Windows 11 boot recovery crashes Thousands of PostgreSQL servers are being hijacked to mine crypto Latest in News The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller has been revealed offering a bunch of improvements over its predecessor 11 things we learned from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, including the new Mario Kart, pricing for the console, and some fancy new features Kirby Air Riders announced at the Switch 2 Direct as Nintendo throws in another racing game to the mix Apple TV+ has discovered the Fountain of Youth and you can jump in this May when the movie starts streaming Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment sees Zelda take the lead, plus upgraded Switch 2 Editions bring Hyrule GPS and new memories to the best Switch Zelda games Hollow Knight: Silksong was just shown at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct with a 2025 launch window More about pro When it comes to security, public Wi-Fi could be a risky choice for commuters worldwide Google warns North Korean spies are gaining positions in Western firms Nintendo Switch 2 mouse mode revealed: Joy Con 2 mouse function, how it works, and which games are confirmed to use it See more latest Most Popular Nintendo Switch 2 mouse mode revealed: Joy Con 2 mouse function, how it works, and which games are confirmed to use it Deltarune gets surprise Chapter 3 and 4 release date at Nintendo Switch 2 Direct – and they're launching very soon The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller has been revealed offering a bunch of improvements over its predecessor Apple TV+ has discovered the Fountain of Youth and you can jump in this May when the movie starts streaming Bad news, foldable fans – the rumored Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone could be harder to get hold of than we first thought 11 things we learned from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, including the new Mario Kart, pricing for the console, and some fancy new features Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment sees Zelda take the lead, plus upgraded Switch 2 Editions bring Hyrule GPS and new memories to the best Switch Zelda games Sony launches two new budget soundbars – one with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and one with big surround-sound for cheap Kirby Air Riders announced at the Switch 2 Direct as Nintendo throws in another racing game to the mix When it comes to security, public Wi-Fi could be a risky choice for commuters worldwide LATEST ARTICLES Free Microsoft Windows rival gets first major update in four years but is it already too little, too late? Nintendo Switch 2 mouse mode revealed: Joy Con 2 mouse function, how it works, and which games are confirmed to use it Deltarune gets surprise Chapter 3 and 4 release date at Nintendo Switch 2 Direct – and they're launching very soon The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller has been revealed offering a bunch of improvements over its predecessor Apple TV+ has discovered the Fountain of Youth and you can jump in this May when the movie starts streaming TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Contact Future's experts Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Web notifications Accessibility Statement Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...