Free VMware Workstation Pro Alternatives

The best free alternative to VMware Workstation Pro is VirtualBox, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro are QEMU, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), VMware Workstation Player and Parallels Desktop.

VMware Workstation Pro alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools but may also be Remote Desktop Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of VMware Workstation Pro.

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VMware Workstation Pro

361

Paid • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool

Windows
Linux

VMware Workstation Pro Lets You Run Multiple Operating Systems as Virtual Machines (including Windows VMs) on a Single...

Learn more about VMware Workstation Pro

VirtualBox
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Solaris
60 alternatives to VirtualBox
VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as...
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VirtualBox Features
1. LightweightVirtualBox consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Container VirtualizationVirtualBox can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
3. PortableVirtualBox can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Multiple languages
VirtualBox vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Most users think VirtualBox is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro.
Guest
It works and crashes less then some of the virtualisation software I have used and it's free.
Positive comment•
5

Guest
VMware cannot work well.Imay be love this
Positive comment•
0

Guest
because it has features similar to vmware workstation
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Free. Full of functionalities
Positive comment•
0
QEMU
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
42 alternatives to QEMU
QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization.
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QEMU Features
1. PortableQEMU can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. LightweightQEMU consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Support for scriptingQEMU supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
4. Privacy focusedQEMU is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Container VirtualizationQEMU can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
6. Command line interfaceQEMU either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
GPU Acceleration
Security focused
User mode emulation
Emulation
QEMU vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Most users think QEMU is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro.
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Linux
Android
40 alternatives to KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)
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.
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KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) Features
1. Command line interfaceKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Container VirtualizationKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
3. LightweightKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. PortableKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Privacy focusedKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
6. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsKVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Linux-based
Nt kernel
Security focused
Emulation
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Almost everyone thinks KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro.
VMware Workstation Player
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Windows
Linux
38 alternatives to VMware Workstation Player
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.

VMware Workstation Player has no features, suggest some!

VMware Workstation Player vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Parallels Desktop
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Mac
47 alternatives to Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop gives Mac users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as macOS. Parallels Desktop is optimized for Intel and Apple M1 chip.
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Parallels Desktop Features
1. Support for Multiple MonitorsParallels Desktop supports the use of multiple displays.
Run Windows software
Office 365 integration
Support for Apple M1
Parallels Desktop vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Most users think Parallels Desktop is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro.
Boxes
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Linux
BSD
Flathub
21 alternatives to Boxes
A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner.
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Boxes Features
1. Privacy focusedBoxes is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Container VirtualizationBoxes can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
3. LightweightBoxes consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Command line interfaceBoxes either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
5. PortableBoxes can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
VNC Viewer
Security focused
VMware Fusion
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Mac
39 alternatives to VMware Fusion
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...

VMware Fusion has no features, suggest some!

VMware Fusion vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Some users think VMware Fusion is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro, some don't.
Windows Sandbox
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Windows
52 alternatives to Windows Sandbox
a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.
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Windows Sandbox Features
1. Container VirtualizationWindows Sandbox can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
2. LightweightWindows Sandbox consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Sandbox
Portable Virtualbox
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Windows
40 alternatives to Portable Virtualbox
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.
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Portable Virtualbox Features
1. PortablePortable Virtualbox can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
GNU/linux-libre
Discontinued
It has not been updated since 2017 and does not work with any version of Virtualbox beyond v5.1.22.

Portable Virtualbox vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions
Most users think Portable Virtualbox is a great alternative to VMware Workstation Pro.
Microsoft Hyper-V Server
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Windows
47 alternatives to Microsoft Hyper-V Server
Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a free product that delivers enterprise-class virtualization for your datacenter and hybrid cloud. Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2019 provides new and enhanced features that can help you deliver the scale and performance needs of your mission-critical...
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Microsoft Hyper-V Server Features
Hypervisor
VPS
Microsoft Hyper-V Server vs VMware Workstation Pro opinions