VirtualBox Alternatives

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 NVIDIA vGPU 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, virt-manager and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine).

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VirtualBox alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools but may also be Compatibility Layer Tools. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of VirtualBox.
VirtualBox iconVirtualBox
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Open source virtualization tool supporting x86/AMD64, runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris. Offers portable, lightweight, ad-free use.

More about VirtualBox
More about VirtualBox
VirtualBox alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
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  1. 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 iconVirtualBox Icon

    VMware Fusion VS VirtualBox

    Is VMware Fusion a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
  2. 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 iconVirtualBox Icon

    UTM VS VirtualBox

    Is UTM a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
    Comments about UTM as an Alternative to VirtualBox
     
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Jul 29, 2022
    0
    VirtualBox Icon
    UTM icon

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

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • UTM is Privacy focused and LightweightVirtualBox is not according to our users
  4. 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 iconVirtualBox Icon

    Boxes VS VirtualBox

    Is Boxes a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
    Comments about Boxes as an Alternative to VirtualBox
     
    Guest

    This is a virtual machine manager, not virtualization software

    Negative comment •Aug 12, 2019
    6
    VirtualBox Icon
    Boxes icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Boxes is a great VirtualBox alternative.

    • Boxes is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • Boxes is Lightweight and Privacy focusedVirtualBox is not according to our users
  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. 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 iconVirtualBox Icon

    Windows Sandbox VS VirtualBox

    Is Windows Sandbox a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
  7. Microsoft Hyper-V Server icon
    Microsoft Hyper-V Server icon

    Microsoft Hyper-V Server

     40 likes
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    Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a free product that delivers enterprise-class virtualization for your datacenter and hybrid cloud.

    52 Microsoft Hyper-V Server alternatives
    sconfig

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Microsoft Hyper-V Server Features

    1.  Hypervisor
    2.  VPS
    Microsoft Hyper-V Server iconVirtualBox Icon

    Microsoft Hyper-V Server VS VirtualBox

    Is this a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
    Comments about Microsoft Hyper-V Server as an Alternative to VirtualBox
     
    Guest

    hyper-v server is a complete os in command line with a virtualisation tool (hyper-v)

    Negative comment •Aug 19, 2015
    2
    VirtualBox Icon
    Microsoft Hyper-V Server icon

    • Most users think Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a great VirtualBox alternative.

    • Microsoft Hyper-V Server is Free and ProprietaryVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  8. Xen icon
    Xen icon

    Xen

     74 likes
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    Xen.org, home of the Xen hypervisor, the powerful open source industry standard for virtualization. It is a native (bare-metal) hypervisor providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently.

    35 Xen alternatives
    Xen screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Xen Features

    1.  Hypervisor
    Xen iconVirtualBox Icon

    Xen VS VirtualBox

    Is Xen a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
    Comments about Xen as an Alternative to VirtualBox
     
       
    Guest

    xen appears to be a hypervisor, which is quite different than basic virtualization software...

    Top negative comment •Apr 27, 2017
    8
    Guest

    Xen is hypervisor that isn't emulate but isolate.

    Negative comment •Jun 16, 2020
    2
    Guest

    This is a hypervisor, not a virtual machine.

    Negative comment •May 27, 2020
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    VirtualBox Icon
    Xen icon

    • Some users think Xen is a great VirtualBox alternative, some don't.

    • Xen is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
  10. VMware vSphere Hypervisor icon
    VMware vSphere Hypervisor icon

    VMware vSphere Hypervisor

     61 likes
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    VMware vSphere Hypervisor ( based on ESXi ) is a free bare-metal hypervisor that virtualizes servers so you can consolidate your applications on less hardware.

    44 VMware vSphere Hypervisor alternatives
    VMware vSphere Hypervisor screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • NVIDIA vGPU
    • AMD MxGPU

    VMware vSphere Hypervisor Features

    1.  VPS
    VMware vSphere Hypervisor screenshot 1
    VMware vSphere Hypervisor iconVirtualBox Icon

    VMware vSphere Hypervisor VS VirtualBox

    Is this a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
  11. XCP-ng icon
    XCP-ng icon

    XCP-ng

     44 likes
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    XCP-ng is a high-performance, enterprise-level hypervisor with a rich ecosystem and is the result of massive cooperation between individuals and companies. All commercial features are enabled with no commitment required to a support agreement.

    24 XCP-ng alternatives
    Installation boot screen

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • NVIDIA vGPU
    • AMD MxGPU
    Initial set-up
    Set-up confirmation
    +4
    Installation type

    XCP-ng Features

    1.  Live migration
    2.  Hypervisor
    3.  High Availability
    4.  Disaster Recovery
    5.  Unlimited resource usage
    6.  Replication
    7.  DRM Free
    8.  Clustering
    9.  Live VDI-Migration
    10.  Compatible with xen
    XCP-ng iconVirtualBox Icon

    XCP-ng VS VirtualBox

    Is XCP-ng a good alternative to VirtualBox?
     
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