--- title: Windows Subsystem for Linux canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/wsl/ category: Virtual Machine Software points: 71 rank: 5 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Windows Subsystem for Linux Windows feature that runs Linux distributions in a lightweight virtual machine, with open-source code and no extra price. 71 points out of 100. #5 of 12 virtual machine programs. Vendor: Microsoft. Website: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about - WSL is a Windows feature with no separate price; the wsl --install command needs Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11 [1][2]. - WSL 2 is available on Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Home [10]. - Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian and Kali run as guests; Windows guests are not documented [1][2]. - USB devices reach WSL 2 only through the separate usbipd-win project [4]. - The source is on GitHub under the MIT licence, and version 3.0.1 was released on 29 September 2026 [5][6]. Verdict: WSL suits developers who want Linux command-line tools, GPU access and shared Windows drives without managing a full virtual machine [1][3][10]. It costs nothing extra and works on Windows Home [10]. The catch: it runs Linux only, documents no snapshots with rollback, and needs a third-party tool for USB [4][11]. Best for: Developers who want Linux tools and distributions on a Windows PC. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Guest systems | Linux | 4/8 | WSL 2 runs Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian and Kali on a Linux kernel in a managed VM; no Windows guest is documented [1][2][9]. | | Systems | Also runs on other hosts | None | 0/4 | WSL is a Windows feature; no macOS or Linux host release is listed [1]. | | Systems | Works on Windows Home | Yes | 5/5 | FAQ says WSL 2 is available on all desktop editions, including Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Home [10]. | | Virtual machines | Snapshots | Not published | 0/8 | Docs offer export and import of a distribution to a file; rolling back to a saved state is not described [11]. | | Virtual machines | Virtual TPM and Secure Boot | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the WSL configuration page [3]. | | Virtual machines | Network modes | NAT, Bridged | 4/6 | networkingMode lists nat (default) and bridged; bridged is deprecated since WSL 2.4.5. Host-only is not listed [3]. | | Virtual machines | Nested virtualization | Yes | 4/4 | nestedVirtualization is on by default so other VMs can run inside WSL 2; Windows 11 only [3]. | | Virtual machines | Starts from a ready-made image | Yes | 4/4 | wsl --install -d installs a vendor-listed distribution; wsl --list --online shows the choices [2]. | | Devices | 3D graphics for guests | Yes | 8/8 | Setting gpuSupport lets Linux apps use the Windows GPU through para-virtualization [3]. | | Devices | USB devices in the guest | No | 0/6 | Docs say USB is not natively available in WSL and needs the third-party usbipd-win project [4]. | | Devices | Shared folders | Yes | 6/6 | Fixed Windows drives mount automatically under /mnt, so both sides read the same files [3][10]. | | Devices | Shared clipboard | Yes | 4/4 | WSLg aims at cut and paste across Windows and Linux applications [8]. | | Openness and upkeep | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | The microsoft/WSL repository carries an MIT licence label; the docs call WSL open source [1][5]. | | Openness and upkeep | Security advisories published | Yes | 4/4 | Microsoft's July 2026 security updates name the WSL2 kernel in CVE-2026-57968 and CVE-2026-57973 [12]. GitHub lists no advisories of its own [7]. | | Openness and upkeep | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 4/4 | Releases page marks version 3.0.1 as latest, dated 29 September 2026 [6]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 6/6 | Built into Windows with no separate edition or fee listed [1][2]. | | Price | Cheapest licence for work use | $0 | 12/12 | Windows feature with no separate price; counted as $0 under our rule [1][2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | WSL | Included with Windows [1][2] | $0 | ## Strengths - Works on Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Home [10]. - Source code is public under the MIT licence [5]. - Windows drives mount under /mnt, and GPU access is on by default [3][10]. - Installs a distribution with one command, wsl --install [2]. ## Limits - Only Linux distributions are documented as guests [1][2]. - USB support is not built in and needs the usbipd-win project [4]. - Docs describe export and import of a distribution to a file; they do not describe rolling back to a saved state [11]. - Bridged networking is deprecated and nested virtualization is Windows 11 only [3]. ## Sources 1. [What is Windows Subsystem for Linux](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [Install WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [Advanced settings configuration in WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [Connect USB devices](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/connect-usb), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [microsoft/WSL](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [WSL releases](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 7. [WSL security](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/security), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 8. [microsoft/wslg](https://github.com/microsoft/wslg), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 9. [Comparing WSL Versions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/compare-versions), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 10. [FAQ's about Windows Subsystem for Linux](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 11. [Basic commands for WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/basic-commands), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-09 12. [July 2026 Security Updates](https://api.msrc.microsoft.com/cvrf/v3.0/cvrf/2026-Jul), Microsoft Security Response Center, accessed 2026-10-09