App compatibility with M1 Mac’s

If they run on an Intel Mac with a reasonably recent macOS version and are 64 bit, Rosetta should be able to translate them fine.

Rosetta is not limited in any way to apps from the App Store.

In addition to the excellent reply provided by leroydouglas, you (or your friend) should contact the app developers to find out if their software is compatible with the M1 Macs.

Ref: Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

Inquisitive_Individual wrote:

Good afternoon everyone. I have a friend who is a accountant but he uses software that is not on the mac app store. He’s interested in buying an M1 MacBook Pro. The two main programs that he uses is:

1.) TPH Global Eclipse Production Accounting software.

2.) Cast and Crew PSL Production Accounting software.

On the Apple M1 chip and macOS Bigsur, will Rosetta 2 be able to translate these programs even if it’s not found on the mac App Store. He download’s the programs online.

All apps have to be 64-bit application, this applies to the Rosetta translation as well.

You will have to verify, your specific apps in question...

32-bit apps are not supported.

M1—

If you need to install Rosetta on your Mac - Apple Support

With the release of macOS 10.15 Catalina, applications will have to be 64-bit. App developers will issue updated apps if they want their apps to work on this newest macOS upgrade

32-bit app compatibility with macOS... - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436

Check Your Apps and Prepare for a 64-bit World

https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/index.html

Locate all 32-bit apps in System Info

http://osxdaily.com/2018/03/06/find-32-bit-apps-mac/