Alternatives to Windows Subsystem for Linux
Runs unmodified Linux command-line tools and applications directly on Windows, without a virtual machine or dual boot. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Runs unmodified Linux command-line tools and applications directly on Windows, without a virtual machine or dual boot.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Windows Subsystem for Linux.
VirtualBox
The free desktop hypervisor most people start with: run Windows, Linux or BSD in a window on the machine you already have.
VirtualBox runs a full Linux guest in a window with snapshots and shared folders, adding virtual machine overhead but also working on macOS and Linux hosts.
Multipass
Canonical's tool for launching a fresh Ubuntu virtual machine with one command, on Windows, macOS or Linux.
Multipass launches full Ubuntu virtual machines with one command and cloud-init support, but is Ubuntu-focused and lacks the direct Windows file and command integration.
VMware Workstation Pro
Type-2 hypervisor for running virtual machines on Windows and Linux desktops.
VMware Workstation Pro runs complete Linux virtual machines with snapshots and virtual networking, is closed source, and needs a paid licence for commercial use.
Hyper-V
Microsoft's type-1 hypervisor built into Windows and Windows Server for running Windows and Linux virtual machines.
Hyper-V runs full Linux virtual machines on Windows Pro, Enterprise or Server, giving a separate guest system rather than Linux tools integrated into Windows.
Lima
Launches Linux virtual machines from the command line on macOS, Linux and Windows, with file sharing and port forwarding set up automatically.
Lima launches Linux virtual machines from the command line with automatic file sharing and port forwarding, and also runs on macOS and Linux, though its Windows support is newer.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Rancher Desktop
Runs Kubernetes and containers locally on Windows, macOS and Linux, as an open-source alternative to Docker Desktop.
Microsoft Hyper-V
A type-1 hypervisor built into Windows Server and Windows for creating and running virtual machines.
Vagrant
Builds reproducible development virtual machines from a single file.
QEMU
The machine emulator and virtualiser that most of the Linux virtualisation stack is built on.
Windows Sandbox
A disposable, isolated Windows desktop built into Windows 10 and 11 for running untrusted software.
