The Best VirtualBox AlternativesTop Virtualization Tools and other similar apps like VirtualBox

VirtualBox is described as 'Open source virtualization tool supporting x86/AMD64, runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris. Offers portable, lightweight, ad-free use' and is a leading Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 50 alternatives to VirtualBox for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Web-based apps. The best VirtualBox alternative is QEMU, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like VirtualBox are VMware Workstation Pro, VMware Workstation Player, WinBoat and virt-manager.

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Alternatives list

  1. QEMU icon

    QEMU

     312 likes

    QEMU, an open-source hypervisor, performs hardware virtualization, emulates CPUs using dynamic binary translation, and supports various architectures. It runs diverse unmodified guest OS, provides device models, and offers mixed translation modes for efficient execution.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    QEMU with the free OS ReactOS
     
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    8
    QEMU vs VirtualBox Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    14

    It runs faster than virtualbox using KVM. Also is better suited for production level.

    Amir-101
    Positive
    0

    It’s free, open source and has better features. It’s lighter and is the reference regarding production grade virtualization.

    Leonart
    Positive
    0

    Qemu on linux is perfect, but on windows, consider virtualbox or vmware as a better alternatives

    3 of 8 comments
    • QEMU is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • QEMU is Security-focusedVirtualBox is not according to our users
  2. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     399 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1
     
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    7
    VMware Workstation Pro vs VirtualBox Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    10

    Its much more user friendly and pleasant to work with.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    16

    Expensive. If you want the free version for personal use, go with VMware Workstation Player.

    dvdvideo123
    Negative
    2

    Virtual box is free, vmwre has 30 day trial.

    3 of 7 comments
    • VMware Workstation Pro is Free and ProprietaryVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  4. VMware Workstation Player icon

    VMware Workstation Player

     250 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1
     
    |
    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 vs VirtualBox Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    9

    Free and slightly more advanced. Less user friendly than virtualbox but also much more feature rich.

    • VMware Workstation Player is Free Personal and ProprietaryVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  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. WinBoat icon

    WinBoat

     83 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    WinBoat screenshot 1
     
  8. virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

     86 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1
     
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    3
    virt-manager vs VirtualBox Comments
    arpeters
    Positive
    1

    Fully open source alternative to VirtualBox available in Debian repository. I don't trust VirtualBox anymore since it was excluded from Debian main.

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    virt-manager with kvm/libvirtd is as powerfull as virtualbox, but much much more faster.

    zinz
    Negative
    -11

    this is not vm but a vm manager.

    • virt-manager is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • virt-manager is Security-focused and CustomizableVirtualBox is not according to our users
  10. Proxmox Virtual Environment icon

    Proxmox Virtual Environment

     168 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Proxmox VE 9.1 - Node Summary
     
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    1
    Proxmox Virtual Environment vs VirtualBox Comments
    Matt
    Positive
    0

    Proxmox VE is an excellent bare-metal/type I hypervisor. It has excellent features for creating and managing virtual machines on a dedicated virtualization server.

    If you are looking for a hosted/type II hypervisor, look elsewhere.

    • Proxmox Virtual Environment is Freemium and Open SourceVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  11. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     148 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Parallels Desktop vs VirtualBox Comments
    ushabuntu
    Positive
    0

    Pricey, but the best there is.

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  12. Portable Virtualbox icon

    Portable Virtualbox

     45 likes

    Portable-VirtualBox is a free and open source software tool that lets you run any operating system from a usb stick without separate installation. It unpacks and adjusts the paths and configuration of VirtualBox so it will run portably.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Portable Virtualbox screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Discontinued

    Discontinued.

    Portable Virtualbox vs VirtualBox Comments
    Evan Sercombe
    Positive
    -20

    It is basically VirtualBox for mobile.

    • Portable Virtualbox is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
  13. VMware Fusion icon

    VMware Fusion

     119 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1
     
  14. UTM icon

    UTM

     30 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    UTM vs VirtualBox Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    UTM Created from Quemu ; Work on ipad os under 14 ; Need jeelbreak ; not foun on apple app store ;

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
  15. Boxes icon

    Boxes

     34 likes

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

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Boxes screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Boxes vs VirtualBox Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    This is a virtual machine manager, not virtualization software

    • Boxes is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • Boxes is Security-focusedVirtualBox is not according to our users
12 of 70 VirtualBox alternatives