Want to cut right to the case? The best free virtual machine is VMware Workspace Pro.

A virtual machine is software running on a computer that allows you to access other operating systems. It’s technically like running another computer inside your computer. Using a virtual machine is a smart way to protect your computer because any viruses that infect the virtual machine won’t affect your actual computer. It’s also a great way for developers to test software. They can be used at home or for a business. All virtual machines come with different pros and cons. Some have advanced features while others have limitations on what computers they support. There is plenty of free virtual machine software available, and there are a lot of factors to consider before choosing the one for your needs.

Top 5 Free Virtual Machines

  1. VMware Workspace Pro – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Linux
  2. OracleVM VirtualBox – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Home Use
  3. Hyper-V – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Windows
  4. QEMU – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for All OS
  5. Xen Project – Beat Free Virtual Machine Software for High Security

#1. VMWare Workspace Pro – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Linux

PRICING: Free

VMWare Workspace Pro is a free virtual machine software best for personal use. You can use this software commercially if you’d like, but it does require a fee. VMWare is one of the most commonly-used virtual machine software in the virtual machine world. It works on both Windows and Linux computers. VMWare Workstation Pro is perfect for quickly testing new software that is too risky to be tested on your main computer. It’s not too complicated to use and can be easily learned by beginners. The performance is top-of-the-line. You could run one or many virtual machines using this VMWare with high speeds and amazing 3D graphics. The hype over VMWare Workspace Pro is definitely justified, and you can run all different OS like a breeze with this efficient and free virtual machine software.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Windows and Linux virtualization
  • Software testing
  • Snapshots
  • Personal and commercial use
  • 3D graphics
  • Dark mode

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free
  • Easily transfer snapshots
  • Works on Linux
  • Highly rated
  • Good performance
  • Easy to use
  • Customizable

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Difficult network setup
  • May lag or freeze up
Try VMware Workspace Pro

#2. OracleVM VirtualBox – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Home Use

PRICING: Free

Oracle VM VirtualBox is one of the most well known free virtual machines available for download. This free virtual machine software can run on many different hosts such as Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris. OracleVM VirtualBox is great for general at-home use and is pretty simple to understand for virtual machine beginners. You can run many different operating systems through OracleVM VirtualBox on your computer with ease. It can even run considerably old operating systems. It has a large number of customization features such as allowing you to choose exactly the amount of memory you’d like on your virtual machine. You can even run multiple virtual machines on one host. Communication between the host and virtual machine allows you to use resources interchangeably between the two. Overall, OracleVM VirtualBox is one of the best all-in-one free virtual machines out there offering many great features.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Highly customizable
  • Run multiple OS at one time
  • Informational
  • Portability
  • Multi screen resolutions
  • Snapshots

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Easy to use
  • Open source
  • Free
  • Highly rated
  • Many features
  • Runs on all types of computers
  • Good support for USB devices

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • May be slower than other virtual machine software
  • Outdated interface

#3. Hyper-V – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for Windows

PRICING: Free

Hyper-V is a virtual machine software that comes free with the Windows 10 operating system. This virtual machine is reliable, easy-to-use, and has many features that make it a great choice when it comes to virtual machine software. It supports multiple processors, multiple cores, and multiple threads. It also has a memory management unit that allows you to manage your memory more efficiently. This virtual machine software is beginner-friendly, making it a perfect choice for Windows users who are new to the virtual machine world. Hyper-V is faster than OracleVM VirtualBox, and makes it even simpler for developers to test certain software while protecting the main host. When considering the features, speed, and efficiency, this free virtual machine is top-of-the-line.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Heartbeat status checker
  • Data backup
  • Security features
  • Live migration
  • Customize memory of virtual machines

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free with Windows 10
  • Easy-to-use
  • Faster than other virtual machine software

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Could use more add-on features

#4. QEMU – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for All OS

PRICING: Free

QEMU, which stands for quick emulator, is a free virtualization software available for download on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is both an emulator and a virtual box in one. QEMU is best for more advanced virtual box users and requires KVM for virtualization. Ideal for both personal and professional use, QEMU is great for running different operating systems. This virtual machine works so well that the operating systems run almost identical to the real thing when using QEMU and KVM to run them. You can enjoy all of the great features QEMU has to offer for absolutely no cost, but make sure you’re knowledgeable about downloading and setting up a virtual machine software because the downloading process might be a bit difficult if you aren’t extremely tech-savvy.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Virtualization
  • Doubles as an emulator
  • Works with CD-ROM drives and USB devices

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free
  • Faster than other virtual machine software
  • Works with most operating systems
  • Open source
  • Many features
  • Also an emulator
  • Good performance

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • May be too difficult for beginners to figure out
  • Difficult download process

#5. Xen Project – Best Free Virtual Machine Software for High Security

PRICE: Free

If you’re a tech-savvy person that highly prioritizes security, the Xen Project may be the free virtual machine software for you. Your peace of mind is important when it comes to using your devices. That’s why the Xen Project makes it a point to be the best in business when it comes to security. The Xen Project is a free virtual machine software that doubles down on security with their multi-layered advanced security features. You can run multiple different operating systems on one computer safely and securely using this free virtual machine software. This virtual machine software is also bare-metal open-sourced. Virtualization with the Xen Project is easy and efficient thanks to helpful features and management tools such as live migration and snapshots. Setup is quick and allows for multiple virtual machines on one host. It can be used for personal use or commercial use. For a free virtual machine software, the performance is impressive. It’s definitely worth a chance.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Live migration
  • Snapshots
  • Server to virtual machine conversion
  • Performance monitoring
  • Advanced security features
  • Templates

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free
  • Open sourced
  • Supports operating systems
  • Supports multiple cloud platforms
  • Highly secure
  • Easy-to-use
  • Easy troubleshooting
  • Good performance

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not great overall support
  • Not great memory management
  • Buggy upgrade process
  • Needs better support for USB devices
  • Not very well known

REFERENCES & LINKS:

  1. https://www.virtualbox.org
  2. https://www.qemu.org
  3. https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html
  4. https://xenproject.org
  5. https://www.trustradius.com
  6. https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/best-free-virtual-machine/amp/