VirtualBox
Open Sourceby Oracle
Run Windows, Linux and other systems in a window.
- Runs Windows, Linux and BSD guests
- Snapshots to roll back a machine instantly
- Shared folders and clipboard with the host
Free alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro
4 virtualization programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — VMware Workstation Pro.
Alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro
QEMU
Open Sourceby QEMU project
Powerful machine emulator and virtualizer.
- Emulates multiple CPU architectures
- Near-native speed with KVM acceleration
- Extensive virtual hardware support
UTM
Open Sourceby UTM
Virtual machines on macOS, including Apple Silicon.
- Native Apple Silicon support
- Virtualise or emulate other architectures
- Native macOS interface
Proxmox VE
Open Sourceby Proxmox Server Solutions
Bare-metal virtualisation platform for servers and home labs.
- Installs bare-metal, managed via web UI
- KVM virtual machines plus LXC containers
- Clustering and live migration
About VMware Workstation Pro
VMware Workstation Pro became free for personal use in 2024, putting a long-established commercial hypervisor within reach of home users. It is generally faster and better at 3D acceleration than the open-source alternatives, though commercial use still requires a paid licence.
It is free tier and runs on Windows, Linux. Below are 4 virtualization programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.
VMware Workstation Pro alternatives compared
| Program | Licence | Platforms | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| VirtualBox | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Runs Windows, Linux and BSD guests |
| QEMU | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Emulates multiple CPU architectures |
| UTM | Open Source | macOS, iOS | Native Apple Silicon support |
| Proxmox VE | Open Source | Linux | Installs bare-metal, managed via web UI |
The alternatives in detail
VirtualBox Open Source
VirtualBox runs complete guest operating systems inside your current one — ideal for testing software safely, running legacy applications, or learning Linux without touching your existing installation. Notable for runs windows, linux and bsd guests and snapshots to roll back a machine instantly. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
QEMU Open Source
QEMU both virtualises and fully emulates hardware, so it can run operating systems built for entirely different processor architectures. Notable for emulates multiple cpu architectures and near-native speed with kvm acceleration. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
UTM Open Source
UTM is the practical way to run Windows or Linux on a Mac, and one of very few options built properly for Apple Silicon. Notable for native apple silicon support and virtualise or emulate other architectures. Runs on macOS, iOS.
Proxmox VE Open Source
Proxmox VE installs directly onto hardware rather than inside an existing OS, managing virtual machines and containers through a web interface. Notable for installs bare-metal, managed via web ui and kvm virtual machines plus lxc containers. Runs on Linux.
How to choose
4 are fully open source (VirtualBox, QEMU, UTM, Proxmox VE) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. For the widest platform coverage, VirtualBox, QEMU run on three or more operating systems. On a Mac, VirtualBox, QEMU, UTM support macOS natively.
All 4 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.