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VirtualBoxWindows Subsystem for Linux
Free

The base package is free and open source. The separate Extension Pack is free only for…

 Free

Free and open source under the MIT licence, published by Microsoft. Included with Windows.

Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
  • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux hosts with the same interface on each
  • Snapshots, shared folders and clipboard sharing between host and guest
  • Runs Linux command-line tools unmodified, with no virtual machine overhead or dual boot
  • WSLg lets Linux graphical applications appear as ordinary Windows windows
  • The Extension Pack is not open source and is free only for personal and educational use
  • 3D acceleration is weak compared with a native machine or a paid hypervisor
  • Requires Windows virtualisation features to be enabled, which conflicts with some other software
  • Filesystem performance across the Windows and Linux boundary is poor; keep files on the correct side
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License: GPL-3.0 License: MIT
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Works offline

Checked September 20, 2026

Checked September 21, 2026

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