ReactOS Reviews & Product Details

What I like best about ReactOS is its goal of being fully compatible with Windows applications and drivers while remaining open-source and lightweight. It offers a familiar Windows-like environment without licensing costs, gives transparency and control over the OS, and is especially useful for learning, experimentation, and running legacy software on modest hardware. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I dislike about ReactOS is that it is still in an early development stage, which means stability issues, incomplete hardware driver support, and limited compatibility with some modern Windows applications. Bugs and crashes can occur, documentation is sometimes sparse, and it is not yet suitable for daily production use. As a result, it works better as an experimental or educational system than a reliable everyday OS. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The best thing about ReactOS is its vision to provide Windows application and driver compatibility while being completely open source. It allows users to explore a familiar Windows-like environment without licensing costs. Its lightweight nature and open codebase make it very useful for learning, experimentation, and testing legacy applications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

ReactOS is still in an early development stage, which makes it unreliable for daily or production use. Many features are incomplete, system stability can be an issue, and hardware and driver support is limited. The community support and documentation are helpful but not yet as mature as other operating systems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate ReactOS for its valuable role in providing real-world learning tools for developers interested in understanding the Windows kernel. For six months, I have found it particularly helpful in running older applications and for evaluation and testing purposes. I love its capability to use FAT16 or 32 for boot partitions, which aligns well with my testing needs. Moreover, ReactOS bridges the gap by running older applications that aren't backward compatible with other operating systems, which includes my usage of DOSBox. The performance of these applications on ReactOS impresses me, running smoother compared to other platforms. ReactOS is not hardware intensive, which is beneficial as it extends the life of aging systems and repurposes outdated hardware. I like the familiar Windows interface which makes it user-friendly and less intimidating. Additionally, the fast boot process is a feature I find appealing too. The straightforward setup and the ability for quick installation further enhance its user-friendly nature, making the experience pleasant and efficient overall. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find the lack of NTFS support in ReactOS a limitation. It prevents me from using larger drives efficiently, which could enhance my experience significantly by allowing better utilization of storage resources and handling of larger files. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like that ReactOS aims to provide full compatibility with Windows applications while being completely open source. It’s lightweight, fast to boot, and works surprisingly well on older hardware. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It’s still in an alpha stage, so stability can be an issue. Some drivers and applications don’t work perfectly yet, and updates come slowly compared to mainstream operating systems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The wide range of features and we can reuse the components. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

For large code bases it is taking time to build. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

ideal for reviving old hardware and open-source Windows-like OS that runs old Windows apps and drivers Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Limited Hardware and Software Support and Slow Development Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Free, open-source Windows compatible alternative. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Unstable and limited software compatibility. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like ReactOS for some reasons which are listed below -

1. Compatibility -It is compatible with Windows applications and drivers. And, our organization windows so we use this freely.

2. Free and Open Source - The best part is it's free.

3. Familiar Interface - It has a good UI.

4. Potential for Customization - As it is open source, we can customize it according to our business needs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It has limited hardware support and sometimes a slow development pace. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

If you wish Windows was open source, you should look into ReactOS

Even if it is in alpha stage, it is getting more stable every release. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

You can't open MSI installers, which is a very significant problem. Also, Game Maker Studio games don't open for some reason. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Its most appealing feature is its commitment to be a free and open-source alternative to Windows, making it a potential solution for older hardware or situations where a Windows license is cost-prohibitive. The familiarity it offers for those used to the Windows environment can also be a considerable advantage. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While it aims for Windows compatibility, it doesn’t fully support all applications or drivers, which can be limiting. There are also potential security concerns, given its development stage. The progress, albeit steady, has been slow, and it lacks some modern UI features present in newer Windows versions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.