Windows Sandbox AlternativesVirtualization Tools and other similar apps like Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is described as 'A new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation' and is a Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Windows Sandbox for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Web-based apps. The best Windows Sandbox alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Sandbox are WinBoat, QEMU, Sandboxie Plus and VMware Workstation Pro.

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Windows Sandbox alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2934 likes

    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.

    65 VirtualBox alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    VirtualBox Manager
     
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    1
    Comments about VirtualBox as an Alternative to Windows Sandbox
    Guest
    Negative
    7

    Windows Sandbox is a sandboxing tool, but VirtualBox is for virtual machines.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Sandbox Icon
    VirtualBox icon

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

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

    • VirtualBox is Free and Open SourceWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
    • VirtualBox is Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  2. WinBoat icon

    WinBoat

     63 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.

    52 WinBoat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    WinBoat screenshot 1
     
  4. QEMU icon

    QEMU

     298 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.

    44 QEMU alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    QEMU with the free OS ReactOS
     
  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. Sandboxie Plus icon

    Sandboxie Plus

     391 likes

    Sandboxie Plus creates a sandbox-like isolated operating environment in which applications can be run or installed without permanently modifying the local or mapped drive.

    21 Sandboxie Plus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Sandboxie runs your programs in an isolated space
     
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    1
    Comments about Sandboxie Plus as an Alternative to Windows Sandbox
    Noah Sean
    Negative
    0

    Windows Sandbox is a virtual environment. Sandboxie only works for specific applications.

    Windows Sandbox Icon
    Sandboxie Plus icon
    • Sandboxie Plus is Freemium and Open SourceWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
    • Sandboxie Plus is Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  7. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     393 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...

    36 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

     119 likes

    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.

    41 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) screenshot 1
     

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

    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Free and Open SourceWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Security-focused and Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  10. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     145 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.

    58 Parallels Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Parallels Desktop screenshot 1
     

    • Parallels Desktop is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Sandbox.

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
  11. VMware Workstation Player icon

    VMware Workstation Player

     247 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.

    40 VMware Workstation Player alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1
     
  12. virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

     81 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.

    34 virt-manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1
     
  13. UTM icon

    UTM

     26 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.

    58 UTM alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1
     

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

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
    • UTM is Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  14. VMware Fusion icon

    VMware Fusion

     116 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...

    41 VMware Fusion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1
     
  15. Boxes icon

    Boxes

     30 likes

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

    28 Boxes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Boxes screenshot 1
     
12 of 57 Windows Sandbox alternatives