Lima AlternativesVirtualization Tools and other similar apps like Lima

Lima is described as 'Launches Linux virtual machines on macOS, with automatic file sharing, port forwarding, and containerd' and is a Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Lima for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and NVIDIA vGPU apps. The best Lima alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Lima are QEMU, VMware Workstation Pro, Proxmox Virtual Environment and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine).

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Lima alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools but may also be Compatibility Layer Tools or Web Browsers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Lima.
Lima iconLima
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Lima launches Linux virtual machines on macOS, with automatic file sharing, port forwarding, and containerd.

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Lima alternatives page was last updated Jul 11, 2023
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  1. VirtualBox icon
    VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2886 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
    VirtualBox Manager

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    Create Virtual Machine
    Setting of an OS
    +5
    Instaling Windows 10 as Virtual Machine

    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.  Hypervisor
    VirtualBox iconLima Icon

    VirtualBox VS Lima

    Is VirtualBox a good alternative to Lima?
     

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

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

    • VirtualBox is Free and Open SourceLima is also Free and Open Source
    • VirtualBox is Lightweight and Privacy focusedLima is not according to our users
  2. QEMU icon
    QEMU icon

    QEMU

     285 likes
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    QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization.

    44 QEMU alternatives
    QEMU with the free OS ReactOS

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Hardware Configuration of a VMware machine
    Harddisk based on a VMware vmdk-file
    +1
    Advanced settings of a vmdk-machine

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  GPU Acceleration
    3.  Portable
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Support for scripting
    7.  User mode emulation
    8.  Emulation
    QEMU iconLima Icon

    QEMU VS Lima

    Is QEMU a good alternative to Lima?
     
  4. VMware Workstation Pro icon
    VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     384 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...

    37 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    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 iconLima Icon

    VMware Workstation Pro VS Lima

    Is this a good alternative to Lima?
     
  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. Proxmox Virtual Environment icon
    Proxmox Virtual Environment icon

    Proxmox Virtual Environment

     129 likes
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    Proxmox Virtual Environment is a complete and easy to use Open Source virtualization platform for running Virtual Appliances and Virtual Machines. Proxmox VE tightly integrates KVM hypervisor and LXC containers, software-defined storage and networking functionality on a single...

    48 Proxmox Virtual Environment alternatives
    Proxmox Virtual Environment screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Proxmox Virtual Environment screenshot 1
    Proxmox Virtual Environment screenshot 2
    +2
    Proxmox Virtual Environment screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  WebUI Management
    3.  High Availability
    4.  Clustering
    5.  Live migration
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Portable
    9.  Dark Mode
    Proxmox Virtual Environment iconLima Icon

    Proxmox Virtual Environment VS Lima

    Is this a good alternative to Lima?
     

    • Proxmox Virtual Environment is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Lima.

    • Proxmox Virtual Environment is Freemium and Open SourceLima is Free and Open Source
    • Proxmox Virtual Environment is LightweightLima is not according to our users
  7. KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) icon
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) icon

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

     116 likes
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    KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V). It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.

    45 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Nt kernel
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Portable
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Emulation
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) iconLima Icon

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) VS Lima

    Is this a good alternative to Lima?
     
  8. VMware Workstation Player icon
    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.

    36 VMware Workstation Player alternatives
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    VMware Workstation Player Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    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 iconLima Icon

    VMware Workstation Player VS Lima

    Is this a good alternative to Lima?
     
  10. virt-manager icon
    virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

     78 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.

    29 virt-manager alternatives
    virt-manager screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1
    virt-manager screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy 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 iconLima Icon

    virt-manager VS Lima

    Is virt-manager a good alternative to Lima?
     
  11. Parallels Desktop icon
    Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     140 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.

    58 Parallels Desktop alternatives
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Chrome OS
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 2
    +6
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 3

    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 iconLima Icon

    Parallels Desktop VS Lima

    Is Parallels Desktop a good alternative to Lima?
     

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

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryLima is Free and Open Source
  12. VMware Fusion icon
    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...

    44 VMware Fusion alternatives
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1
    VMWare Fusion 3 library
    +4
    VMware Fusion screenshot 3
    VMware Fusion iconLima Icon

    VMware Fusion VS Lima

    Is VMware Fusion a good alternative to Lima?
     
  13. UTM icon
    UTM icon

    UTM

     20 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.

    55 UTM alternatives
    UTM screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1
    UTM screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

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

    UTM VS Lima

    Is UTM a good alternative to Lima?
     

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

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceLima is also Free and Open Source
    • UTM is Privacy focused and LightweightLima is not according to our users
  14. Windows Sandbox icon
    Windows Sandbox icon

    Windows Sandbox

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

    54 Windows Sandbox alternatives
    Windows Sandbox screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Sandbox
    2.  Container Virtualization
    Windows Sandbox iconLima Icon

    Windows Sandbox VS Lima

    Is Windows Sandbox a good alternative to Lima?
     
  15. Boxes icon
    Boxes icon

    Boxes

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

    25 Boxes alternatives
    Boxes screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Boxes screenshot 1
    Boxes screenshot 2
    +5
    Boxes screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Portable
    7.  VNC Viewer
    Boxes iconLima Icon

    Boxes VS Lima

    Is Boxes a good alternative to Lima?
     
12 of 56 Lima alternatives