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 Android apps. The best Windows Sandbox alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Sandbox are QEMU, Sandboxie Plus, VMware Workstation Pro and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine).

filter to find the best alternatives

Windows Sandbox alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools but may also be Compatibility Layer Tools or Web Browsers.  Other popular filters includes Windows + Free. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Sandbox.
Windows Sandbox iconWindows Sandbox
  19
  • ...

a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.

More about Windows Sandbox
More about Windows Sandbox
Windows Sandbox alternatives page was last updated Jan 23, 2024
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
  1. VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2893 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    63 VirtualBox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    VirtualBox Manager

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3. Zalando icon  Zalando integration
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Portable
    8.  Hypervisor

    VirtualBox VS Windows Sandbox

     
    Comments about VirtualBox as an Alternative to Windows Sandbox
    Guest
    Negative •Jan 22, 2020
    7

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

    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 Lightweight and Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  2. QEMU icon

    QEMU

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

    QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization.

    43 QEMU alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Properties

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

    Features

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

    QEMU VS Windows Sandbox

     
  4. Sandboxie Plus icon

    Sandboxie Plus

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

    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.

    19 Sandboxie Plus alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Sandboxie runs your programs in an isolated space

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Live sandbox
    3.  Run file in a Sandbox
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Multiple languages
    10.  Local server

    Sandboxie Plus VS Windows Sandbox

     
  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. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

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

    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...

    37 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1

    VMware Workstation Pro Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3.  Container Virtualization
    4.  Support for Android Things
    5.  Bundled with macOS

    VMware Workstation Pro VS Windows Sandbox

     
  7. KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) icon

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

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

    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.

    43 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Nt kernel
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Portable
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Emulation

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) VS Windows Sandbox

     

    • 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 Lightweight and Privacy focusedWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  8. VMware Workstation Player icon

    VMware Workstation Player

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

    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.

    36 VMware Workstation Player alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 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 Features

    1.  Container Virtualization

    VMware Workstation Player VS Windows Sandbox

     
  10. virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

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

    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.

    29 virt-manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  VNC Viewer
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  SSH
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Live migration

    virt-manager VS Windows Sandbox

     
  11. Parallels Desktop icon

    Parallels Desktop

     140 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.

    57 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 Windows Sandbox

     

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

    • Parallels Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Sandbox is Free and Proprietary
  12. UTM icon

    UTM

     21 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.

    55 UTM alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    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 Windows Sandbox

     

    • 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 focused and LightweightWindows Sandbox is not according to our users
  13. 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...

    42 VMware Fusion alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1

    VMware Fusion VS Windows Sandbox

     
  14. Xen icon

    Xen

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

    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.

    34 Xen alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Xen screenshot 1

    Xen Features

    1.  Hypervisor

    Xen VS Windows Sandbox

     
  15. Boxes icon

    Boxes

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

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

    25 Boxes alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Boxes screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Portable
    7.  VNC Viewer

    Boxes VS Windows Sandbox

     
12 of 54 Windows Sandbox alternatives