VirtualBox Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to VirtualBox for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is QEMU, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to VirtualBox and 16 are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to VirtualBox are Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, UTM and Lima.

filter to find the best alternatives

VirtualBox alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools, but if you're looking for Compatibility Layer Tools you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to VirtualBox.
VirtualBox iconVirtualBox
  2899
  • ...

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 Jun 5, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. QEMU icon

    QEMU

     287 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    43 QEMU alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    QEMU with the free OS ReactOS

    Properties

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

    Features

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

    QEMU VS VirtualBox

     
    Comments about QEMU as an Alternative to VirtualBox
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Jan 12, 2017
    14

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

    Most Recent Comment
    Leonart
    Positive Apr 26, 2025
    0

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

    Nuncio Bitis
    Positive Dec 24, 2024
    0

    If you want a GUI to manage QEMU machines, install AQEMU. It works like VirtualBox or VMware GUIs.

    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    VirtualBox Icon
    QEMU icon

    • Most users think QEMU is a great VirtualBox alternative.

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

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

    • QEMU is Free and Open SourceVirtualBox is also Free and Open Source
    • QEMU is Lightweight and Privacy focusedVirtualBox is not according to our users
  2. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     141 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 VirtualBox

     
    Comments about Parallels Desktop as an Alternative to VirtualBox
    ushabuntu
    Positive Nov 13, 2024
    0

    Pricey, but the best there is.

    VirtualBox Icon
    Parallels Desktop icon

    • Most users think Parallels Desktop is a great VirtualBox alternative.

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

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryVirtualBox is Free and Open Source
  4. VMware Fusion icon

    VMware Fusion

     115 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 VirtualBox

     
  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. UTM icon

    UTM

     22 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 VirtualBox

     
    Comments about UTM as an Alternative to VirtualBox
    Guest
    Positive Jul 29, 2022
    0

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

    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
  7. Lima icon

    Lima

     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Lima VS VirtualBox

     
  8. VirtualBuddy icon

    VirtualBuddy

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    VirtualBuddy can virtualize macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, with the goal of offering features that are useful to developers who need to test their apps on multiple versions of macOS, especially betas.

    50 VirtualBuddy alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • BR flagBrazil

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VirtualBuddy screenshot 1

    VirtualBuddy VS VirtualBox

     
  10. Multipass icon

    Multipass

     7 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 VirtualBox

     
  11. RVVM icon

    RVVM

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    RVVM is a virtual machine / emulator for RISC-V guests, which emphasizes on performance, security, lean code and portability. It already runs a lot of guest operating systems, including Linux, Haiku, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, etc.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Windows
    • Mac
    RVVM screenshot 1

    RVVM Features

    1.  Emulation

    RVVM VS VirtualBox

     
8 of 16 VirtualBox alternatives