Boxes AlternativesVirtualization Tools and other similar apps like Boxes

Boxes is described as 'A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner' and is a Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Boxes for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD and iPad apps. The best Boxes alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Boxes are VMware Workstation Pro, VMware Workstation Player, virt-manager and Parallels Desktop.

Boxes iconBoxes
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A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner.

More about Boxes
More about Boxes
Boxes alternatives page was last updated Jun 11, 2025
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  1. VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2899 likes
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    Open source VirtualBox offers powerful x86/AMD64 virtualization available freely under GNU GPL v2. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris hosts. Supports a vast array of guest OS like Windows, Linux, Solaris. Portable, lightweight, ad-free, with dark mode.

    63 VirtualBox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    VirtualBox Manager

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3. Zalando icon  Zalando integration
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Portable
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Hypervisor

    VirtualBox VS Boxes

     

    • VirtualBox is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Boxes.

    • VirtualBox is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Boxes.

    • VirtualBox is Free and Open SourceBoxes is also Free and Open Source
    • VirtualBox is Lightweight and Privacy focusedBoxes is not according to our users
  2. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     386 likes
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    VMware Workstation Pro Lets You Run Multiple Operating Systems as Virtual Machines (including Windows VMs) on a Single Windows or Linux PC. VMware Workstation Pro is the industry standard for running multiple operating systems as virtual machines (VMs) on a single Linux or...

    36 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1

    VMware Workstation Pro Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3.  Container Virtualization
    4.  Support for Android Things
    5.  Bundled with macOS

    VMware Workstation Pro VS Boxes

     
    Comments about VMware Workstation Pro as an Alternative to Boxes
    rygle
    Negative Jun 11, 2025
    0

    VMWare is showing a lot of contempt for its users in terms of pricing and licensing since it was acquired by Broadcom.

    Boxes Icon
    VMware Workstation Pro icon
    • VMware Workstation Pro is Free and ProprietaryBoxes is Free and Open Source
  4. VMware Workstation Player icon

    VMware Workstation Player

     247 likes
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    VMware Workstation Player builds on the industry leading foundation of Workstation Pro, and delivers a streamlined user interface for creating and running operating systems and applications in a virtual machine.

    37 VMware Workstation Player alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Workstation Player has been pashed out now that VMware Workstation Pro icon VMware Workstation Pro is free for personal use: VMware makes Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro free for personal use

    VMware Workstation Player Features

    1.  Container Virtualization

    VMware Workstation Player VS Boxes

     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Parallels Desktop icon
    Parallels Desktop

    Virtualization software for running Windows, Linux, and other OSes on Mac. Supports Windows 11 on Apple Silicon, resource adjustments, and seamless app access and file sharing between OS environments.

    https://www.parallels.com
    Learn More
  6. virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

     77 likes
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    Comprehensive desktop tool for managing virtual machines using libvirt, supporting KVM, Xen, and Linux Containers. It offers performance stats, resource allocation and virtual hardware configuration with VNC and SPICE clients for graphical consoles.

    30 virt-manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  VNC Viewer
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  SSH
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Live migration

    virt-manager VS Boxes

     
  7. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     141 likes
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    Virtualization software for running Windows, Linux, and other OSes on Mac. Supports Windows 11 on Apple Silicon, resource adjustments, and seamless app access and file sharing between OS environments.

    56 Parallels Desktop alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Chrome OS
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1

    Parallels Desktop Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    4.  Run Windows software
    5.  Support for Apple M1
    6.  Drag and Drop
    7. Microsoft 365 Copilot icon  Microsoft Office integration

    Parallels Desktop VS Boxes

     

    • Parallels Desktop is the most popular commercial alternative to Boxes.

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryBoxes is Free and Open Source
  8. UTM icon

    UTM

     22 likes
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    UTM is a full featured system emulator and virtual machine host for iOS and macOS. It is based off of QEMU. In short, it allows you to run Windows, Linux, and more on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

    56 UTM alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multi System Emulator
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Container Virtualization

    UTM VS Boxes

     

    • UTM is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Boxes.

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceBoxes is also Free and Open Source
    • UTM is Privacy focused and LightweightBoxes is not according to our users
  10. VMware Fusion icon

    VMware Fusion

     115 likes
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    Seamlessly run your favorite Windows applications and devices, on any Intel-based Mac. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion is the easiest way to switch to Mac—letting you bring all of your Windows applications with you, making the most of your Windows software...

    40 VMware Fusion alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1

    VMware Fusion VS Boxes

     
  11. Windows Sandbox icon

    Windows Sandbox

     20 likes
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    a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.

    55 Windows Sandbox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows Sandbox screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Sandbox
    2.  Container Virtualization

    Windows Sandbox VS Boxes

     
  12. Quickemu icon

    Quickemu

     8 likes
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    Quickly create and run highly optimised desktop virtual machines for Linux, macOS and Windows; with just two commands. You decide what operating system you want to run and Quickemu will figure out the best way to do it for you. For example:

    6 Quickemu alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Quickemu screenshot 1

    Quickemu VS Boxes

     
  13. Vectras VM icon

    Vectras VM

     4 likes
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    It's a Virtual Machine App for Android Which is Based on QEMU.

    12 Vectras VM alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    Vectras VM screenshot 1

    Vectras VM Features

    1.  Container Virtualization

    Vectras VM VS Boxes

     

    • Vectras VM is the most popular Android alternative to Boxes.

    • Vectras VM is Free and Open SourceBoxes is also Free and Open Source
  14. Lima icon

    Lima

     3 likes
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    Lima launches Linux virtual machines on macOS, with automatic file sharing, port forwarding, and containerd.

    57 Lima alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Lima VS Boxes

     
  15. Multipass icon

    Multipass

     7 likes
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    Multipass is a lightweight VM manager for Linux, Windows and macOS. It's designed for developers who want a fresh Ubuntu environment with a single command. It uses KVM on Linux, Hyper-V on Windows and HyperKit on macOS to run the VM with minimal overhead.

    57 Multipass alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    Multipass screenshot 1

    Multipass VS Boxes

     
12 of 24 Boxes alternatives