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VMware Workstation Pro vs GNOME Boxes: catalog facts
VMware Workstation Pro	GNOME Boxes
Freemium Free for personal use since 2024. Commercial use still requires a paid Broadcom licence.	Free Free and open source, part of the GNOME project.
Windows, Linux	Linux
Snapshots, cloning, nested virtualisation and virtual networking are mature and reliable, and Broadcom made it free for…	Downloads and installs common operating systems automatically Snapshots, shared folders and a shared clipboard
It is closed-source commercial software, commercial use still needs a paid licence, and downloads now require a…	Linux only Fewer advanced settings than dedicated VM managers
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.