Alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro

Type-2 hypervisor for running virtual machines on Windows and Linux desktops. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as VMware Workstation Pro.

  • VirtualBox

    The free desktop hypervisor most people start with: run Windows, Linux or BSD in a window on the machine you already have.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    VirtualBox is open source under GPL-3.0 and also runs on macOS, though its Extension Pack is free only for personal use and 3D acceleration is weaker.

  • Hyper-V

    Microsoft's type-1 hypervisor built into Windows and Windows Server for running Windows and Linux virtual machines.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    Hyper-V is a type-1 hypervisor built into Windows Pro, Enterprise and Server with nothing to download, but it is Windows only and missing from Home editions.

  • Virtual Machine Manager

    The standard desktop front end for KVM on Linux, plus the command line tools that go with it.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Virtual Machine Manager is the open-source desktop front end for KVM on Linux, adding remote libvirt host management over SSH but offering no Windows support.

  • Microsoft Hyper-V

    A type-1 hypervisor built into Windows Server and Windows for creating and running virtual machines.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    Microsoft Hyper-V comes built into Windows with nothing extra to install, is Windows only, and can conflict with other hypervisors on the same machine.

  • Parallels Desktop

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

    PaidProprietarymacOS

    Parallels Desktop moves you to macOS, with Coherence mode and Apple silicon support, and uses subscription or yearly upgrade pricing instead of free personal use.

  • UTM

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

    FreemiumOpen sourcemacOSiOS

    UTM runs virtual machines on Mac, iPhone and iPad using Hypervisor.framework, is open source under Apache-2.0, and can emulate over thirty architectures.

  • QEMU

    The machine emulator and virtualiser that most of the Linux virtualisation stack is built on.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    QEMU is an open-source emulator and virtualiser that can boot other architectures, but raw QEMU is a command line tool with a large option surface.

  • Quickemu

    Downloads an operating system and builds a properly configured QEMU virtual machine from one short config file.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxmacOSCommand line

    Quickemu builds QEMU virtual machines from a short config file and downloads images for you, but it is command line only and has no Windows host.

Also worth comparing

These listings name VMware Workstation Pro as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • GNOME Boxes

    A simple GNOME desktop app for creating and running virtual machines on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    VMware Workstation Pro adds mature snapshots, cloning, nested virtualisation and networking on Windows and Linux, but it is closed source and free only for personal use.

  • Windows Sandbox

    A disposable, isolated Windows desktop built into Windows 10 and 11 for running untrusted software.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    VMware Workstation Pro provides full VMs with snapshots and cloning on Windows and Linux, free for personal use, but it uses more memory than a sandbox.

  • Windows Subsystem for Linux

    Runs unmodified Linux command-line tools and applications directly on Windows, without a virtual machine or dual boot.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    VMware Workstation Pro runs complete Linux virtual machines with snapshots and virtual networking, is closed source, and needs a paid licence for commercial use.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.