Horos for Windows: there is no PC version, so what do you use?
Horos is a free, open-source DICOM viewer derived from OsiriX, and both are macOS-only. The Horos project answered "Does Horos have a PC version?" on its own blog, and the answer is no. If you learned imaging on Horos and now sit in front of a Windows hospital PC, this page is the practical map of what to use instead.
By the Hirovix product team · Published 4 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against the sources listed at the end
The facts
Horos runs on macOS only; the project blog states there is no PC version. OsiriX MD, the commercial product Horos was forked from, is also Mac-only and sold by subscription. Neither can be run on Windows without a Mac virtual machine, which is impractical on a hospital PC and still leaves you without admin rights.
Windows options, by what you need
| Need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Free, open source, closest in spirit to Horos | Weasis | Open source, cross-platform, actively developed, portable archive runs without admin rights; strong general radiology toolset |
| Cheap paid viewer on your own Windows PC | RadiAnt (€39/year) or MicroDicom ($99 perpetual) | Fast, mature, well documented; both need installing |
| A viewer that runs on any Windows PC without installing | Weasis portable or PortaDICOM | Both run from removable media without admin rights |
| Cath-lab review with calibrated measurements | PortaDICOM | Cine XA codecs, % diameter stenosis (QCA), TIMI count, AHA segments, pre/post-PCI compare, on an SSD with a travelling case library |
What you lose leaving Horos, and what you gain
Horos is strong in 3D: MPR, volume rendering and plugins. On Windows, MicroDicom now offers 3D MPR and volume rendering, and Weasis offers MPR. What you gain by choosing a portable Windows viewer is independence from the machine: the same tool on the OPD counter, the ward PC, the cath lab and your laptop, with your cases alongside it.
PortaDICOM is for review and records only; measurements are operator-confirmed estimates, not a primary diagnostic read.
FAQ
Will Horos ever come to Windows?
The project has stated there is no PC version and it is built on macOS frameworks. Plan on a Windows-native viewer.
Can I run Horos in a virtual machine on Windows?
Technically only with macOS virtualisation on Apple hardware, which is not an option on a hospital PC.
What is the closest free Horos alternative on Windows?
Weasis. It is open source, free for any use, cross-platform and runs portably without admin rights.
Related guides and comparisons
- ComparisonPortable RadiAnt, or RadiAnt without admin rights: what actually works
- ComparisonRadiAnt DICOM Viewer alternatives for Windows
- ComparisonMicroDicom alternatives
- ComparisonWeasis vs PortaDICOM
- ComparisonBrowser viewer, installed viewer, or a viewer on an SSD?
- GuideHow to open a DICOM CD on a Windows PC
Sources
Third-party facts on this page were checked on the date shown at the top. Vendors change prices and features; verify before you buy.
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