Quite some time ago, in an attempt to attract all types of developers, Microsoft launched WSLThis is a subsystem where we can use Linux within Windows, and it's very reminiscent of Distrobox, but for the Windows system. The arrival of the second version of Windows Subsystem for Linux introduced many improvements, such as support for applications with graphical interfaces, and it's great for having all kinds of tools at hand.
Many will think that installing Ubuntu on WSL will always be a safe bet, but it will depend on how we want to use our Linux subsystem. There are more options, and what follows is a list with The best Linux distros you can use under Windows, the reason why I recommend them and also their weakest points
Best distros you can use in WSL
Arch Linux: everything and very soon
Arch Linux is difficult to install on a computer because we have to make all the decisions ourselves, and there may be something we miss. The Windows Subsystem edition is similar, but at the same time very different. At the time of writing, it is not listed in the Microsoft Store, but it can be installed with wsl --install archlinux.
Once installed, you have a user created, root, and you can now work with it. Initially, sudo is not installed, but it is not necessary. You can install packages with pacman -Sy nombre-del-paquete.
Why is it first on this list? Because:
- Arch Linux is Rolling Release with the fastest updates you'll find.
- Minimalist, which consumes fewer resources.
- High availability of packages in official repositories and in AUR.
It's not recommended if you're not familiar with Arch Linux or prefer graphical applications. Although it's compatible with them, you'll need to install additional packages. Arch does its thing: if you want something, do it yourself. But for use as a terminal, for me it's one of the best options.
Fedora: The Balance
Fedora is one of the best options if you're looking for a balance between minimalism, ease of use, and rapid updates. The distro with the name "fedora" updates its base every six months, but packages that aren't part of it arrive quickly. For example, and even if we don't use it in WSL, the desktop. Other packages like yt-dlp are updated at a good pace, but not as quickly as in Arch, and that can be a problem.
Its strengths:
- Updated packages coming soon.
- Easy to use.
- Less heavy than other options like Ubuntu.
It's not in the Microsoft Store. You have to install it with wsl --install FedoraLinux-42.
Kali Linux: High Availability and Readiness
Kali Linux is another good option. It's on this list because of its base, which is Debian Unstable. On WSL, it's like Debian with fast updates.
The yt-dlp sample package is in its most recent version, which is from April 2025. It's also fully prepared to run GUI applications. It's one of the most complete options, but the word "minimalism" shouldn't appear here. It's available in the Microsoft Store.
Its strengths:
- Easy to use.
- Minimalist if no cybersecurity packages are installed.
- Fast updates.
Debian: The Old Rocker
Debian is a must-have for obvious reasons. Many of the tutorials online discuss it or the next one on this list, and its strongest point is its stability. It's not recommended if you're looking for updated packages, unless you're making changes to use the unstable branch. It's available in the Microsoft Store.
Ubuntu: Our long-time friend, also on WSL
Of course, Ubuntu couldn't be missing here. It's like Debian, but with faster updates. It's available in versions 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04, or in other words, we find the LTS versions starting with Bionic Beaver. Also there is a Preview, which was supposed to be the development version, currently 25.10, but is now a test version of the main option. Another option is update the LTS to version interim (provisional) or normal, which is currently 25.04.
It's not the lightest option, but it is the most well-known. If you don't rely on packages like yt-dlp, which we've talked about extensively in this article, but because it requires constant updates, it's one of the best options.
There are more distros for WSL, but not as special anymore.
In the Microsoft Store we will find more options, but the complete list appears in the terminal if we write wsl --list --online.
If for whatever reason you have to use Windows and want to get away from it all, WSL is a good option, and one of the above will surely work for what you need.