Alternatives to Tart

A command-line toolset for building, running and managing macOS and Linux virtual machines on Apple Silicon. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

  • Tart

    A command-line toolset for building, running and managing macOS and Linux virtual machines on Apple Silicon.

    FreeProprietarymacOSCommand line

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Tart.

  • VirtualBuddy

    Run macOS virtual machines on an Apple Silicon Mac.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOS

    VirtualBuddy runs macOS virtual machines on Apple Silicon with guided image installation, is open source under BSD-2-Clause, and is aimed at desktop use rather than CI.

  • UTM

    Runs Windows, Linux and other systems in a virtual machine on a Mac, iPhone or iPad.

    FreemiumOpen sourcemacOSiOS

    UTM is an open-source graphical app for Mac, iPhone and iPad that runs macOS, Linux and Windows guests and emulates other architectures, without OCI registry storage.

  • Parallels Desktop

    Runs Windows and other operating systems in a virtual machine on a Mac.

    PaidProprietarymacOS

    Parallels Desktop is a paid, closed-source Mac hypervisor with Coherence mode and guided Windows 11 setup, aimed at desktop use rather than CI automation.

  • Lima

    Launches Linux virtual machines from the command line on macOS, Linux and Windows, with file sharing and port forwarding set up automatically.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Lima is an open-source command-line tool for Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing, running on macOS, Linux and Windows but without macOS guests.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.