QEMU AlternativesTop Virtualization Tools and other similar apps like QEMU

QEMU is described as 'Open-source hypervisor emulating CPUs via dynamic translation. Supports unmodified guest OS, allows mixed binary translation and native execution' and is a very popular Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 25 alternatives to QEMU for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, Self-Hosted and Web-based apps. The best QEMU alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like QEMU are WinBoat, VMware Workstation Pro, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and Parallels Desktop.

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QEMU alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools, but if you're looking for Compatibility Layer Tools or Operating Systems you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Portable and Windows. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to QEMU.
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Alternatives list

  1. VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2931 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.

    64 VirtualBox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    VirtualBox Manager
     
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    Comments about VirtualBox as an Alternative to QEMU
    Anipe
    Positive
    0

    Slower and older, though a good emulator still this one is better

    QEMU Icon
    VirtualBox icon

    • Almost everyone thinks VirtualBox is a great QEMU alternative.

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

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

    • VirtualBox is Free and Open SourceQEMU is also Free and Open Source
  2. WinBoat icon

    WinBoat

     62 likes
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    Runs Windows applications, individual apps, or full desktops inside Linux with native OS-level integration, sleek interface, advanced filesystem sharing, smartcard passthrough, and resource monitoring while supporting simple installation and ongoing feature updates.

    51 WinBoat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    WinBoat screenshot 1
     
  4. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     393 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...

    35 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1
     
  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. KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) icon

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

     118 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.

    40 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) screenshot 1
     
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    • Most users think KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a great QEMU alternative.

    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is the most popular Android alternative to QEMU.

    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Free and Open SourceQEMU is also Free and Open Source
  7. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     145 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.

    57 Parallels Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1
     

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

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryQEMU is Free and Open Source
  8. 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.

    39 VMware Workstation Player alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1
     
  10. UTM icon

    UTM

     26 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.

    57 UTM alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1
     

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

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceQEMU is also Free and Open Source
  11. Anbox icon

    Anbox

     66 likes
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    Anbox puts Android into a container and every Android application will be integrated with your operating system. Any Android version is suitable for this approach and try to keep up with the latest version from the Android Open Source Project.

    32 Anbox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Anbox screenshot 1
     
  12. OpenStack icon

    OpenStack

     63 likes
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    OpenStack OpenStack is a global collaboration of developers and cloud computing technologists producing the ubiquitous open source cloud computing platform for public and private clouds. The project aims to deliver solutions for all types of clouds by being simple to implement...

    77 OpenStack alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    OpenStack screenshot 1
     

    • OpenStack is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to QEMU.

    • OpenStack is Free and Open SourceQEMU is also Free and Open Source
  13. Windows Sandbox icon

    Windows Sandbox

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

    56 Windows Sandbox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows Sandbox screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Windows Sandbox as an Alternative to QEMU
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    0

    Easy to use but this is just windows 10 containerization not a complete VM program, soo you don't emulate other OS like linux or mac or other architecture(arm64, powerpc etc..).

    QEMU Icon
    Windows Sandbox icon
    • Windows Sandbox is Free and ProprietaryQEMU is Free and Open Source
12 of 43 QEMU alternatives