How we choose

Short version: we check things against the source, we tell you the bad news, and nobody can pay to change a verdict.

How we check facts

Every page lists the sources it was checked against and the date we last checked. We use the maker's own website and documentation first, then well-known community databases that track what works on Linux. If we can't confirm something, we say so instead of guessing.

Software changes. If you spot something out of date, the "last checked" date at the bottom of the page tells you how old our information is.

How we pick what to recommend

We judge everything from one point of view: someone who has used Windows for years, has never used Linux, and doesn't want to type commands. An app that experts love but that needs a manual to get started will not rank above a simpler one that does the job.

When a Windows app has no good replacement, we say that plainly. Knowing what won't work before you switch is more useful than finding out afterwards.

Nothing here is paid for

No company pays to appear on this site, to rank higher, or to have a verdict written a particular way. There is no advertising, and none of the links are the kind that earn a commission.

Who we are

RunsOnLinux is an independent guide. It is not run by, or connected to, Microsoft, the Linux Foundation, or any maker of the software listed here.