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Windows Subsystem for Linux Alternatives

Windows Subsystem for Linux is described as 'The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows, alongside your traditional Windows desktop and modern store apps' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Windows Subsystem for Linux for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Online / Web-based and Android. The best alternative is Wine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Subsystem for Linux are Proton, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, Anbox and Cygwin.

Windows Subsystem for Linux alternatives are mainly Compatibility Layer Tools but may also be Android Emulators or Virtualization Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Subsystem for Linux.
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Windows Subsystem for Linux iconWindows Subsystem for Linux
  14
  • Free • Proprietary
  • Windows

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools...

Learn more about Windows Subsystem for Linux
  1. Wine icon

    Wine

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    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    27 alternatives to Wine 

    Wine is a free, open source application for running Windows software on operating systems that are normally not supported. With Wine, you can install and run these applications just like you would in Windows.

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    Wine vs Windows Subsystem for Linux opinions
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    Guest

    Wine isn't an alternative to running Linux processes under Windows. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) runs a Linux instance on Windows, similar to a virtual machine.

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  2. Proton icon

    Proton

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    • Linux
    • Steam
    25 alternatives to Proton 

    Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on Linux kernel operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.

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  4. PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac icon

    PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac

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    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    • FreeBSD
    36 alternatives to PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac 

    PlayOnLinux is a graphical frontend for the Wine software compatibility layer which allows Linux and Mac users to install Windows-based video games, Microsoft Office (2000 to 2010), Microsoft Internet Explorer, as well as many other applications.

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    1.  Ad-freePlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  5. Anbox icon

    Anbox

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    • Linux
    37 alternatives to Anbox 

    Anbox puts Android into a container and every Android application will be integrated with your operating system. Any Android version is suitable for this approach and try to keep up with the latest version from the Android Open Source Project.

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    1.  LightweightAnbox consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    2.  Container VirtualizationAnbox can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
    3.  Unified inboxView e-mails (or similar) from all accounts in one unified view with Anbox.
      Screenshot
    • Cygwin icon

      Cygwin

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      • Free • Open Source
      • Shell
      • Windows
      31 alternatives to Cygwin 

      Cygwin is a Unix-like environment and command-line interface for Microsoft Windows. Cygwin provides native integration of Windows-based applications, data, and other system resources with applications, software tools, and data of the Unix-like environment.

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      1.  Command line interfaceCygwin either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
      Cygwin terminals running on Windows 7
      Cygwin vs Windows Subsystem for Linux opinions
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      axcqhsbsadoukciozt

      What was available before WSL was bundled into Windows. I avoid WSL and prefer Cygwin because Microsoft always does: embrace, extend, extinguish

      Positive comment• ago
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    • MinGW icon

      MinGW

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      • Free • Open Source
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • BSD
      24 alternatives to MinGW 

      MinGW ("Minimalistic GNU for Windows") is a port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and GNU Binutils. It provides a complete Open Source programming toolset which is suitable for the development of native MS-Windows (x86) applications, which do not depend on any...

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      1.  PortableMinGW can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
      Installation Manager
    • Bottles icon

      Bottles

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      26 alternatives to Bottles 

      Bottles is an application designed for elementary OS (but works on all GNU/Linux distributions), which helps in managing wineprefix.

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      1.  Ad-freeBottles doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
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      Screenshot
    • BitNami Application Stacks icon

      BitNami Application Stacks

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      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • Online
      44 alternatives to BitNami Application Stacks 

      BitNami Stacks make it incredibly easy to deploy your favorite open source software. BitNami Stacks include an open source application and all of the other software necessary to run it, such as Apache, MySQL, PHP or Ruby.

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    • MSYS2 icon

      MSYS2

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      • Free • Open Source
      • Windows
      38 alternatives to MSYS2 

      MSYS2 is an independent rewrite of MSYS, based on modern Cygwin (POSIX compatibility layer) and MinGW-w64 with the aim of better interoperability with native Windows software.

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      1.  Command line interfaceMSYS2 either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
      2.  Support for scriptingMSYS2 supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
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      Guest

      Familiar package manager from ArchLinux and up-to-date packages

      Positive comment• ago
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    • CrossOver icon

      CrossOver

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      • Mac
      • Linux
      • Android
      • Chrome OS
      27 alternatives to CrossOver 

      CrossOver allows you to install many popular Windows applications and games on your Intel OS X Mac or Linux computer.

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    Showing 10 of 19 alternatives
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