The Best Free Virtualization Software Tools to Try Right Now

Many organizations are considering ways to bring their cloud computing and data center management initiatives online as virtualization technology continues to gain traction in the workplace. Software-defined virtual machines (VMs) provide an optimized solution for streamlining operations while maintaining high levels of security. But, before you choose which VM software to use, read this post that summarizes the top free solutions currently available - objectively evaluated and ranked against each other - so you can choose the best one for your needs.

Are Virtual Machines Free?

Yes. Despite being extremely complex pieces of software, the majority of virtual machines are free. This article will only cover the best free VM software tools. Don't be concerned. Every free virtual machine software in the following list is completely safe to download and use.

The Best Free Virtual Machines Of 2023
#1. The Best Open Source Virtual Machine Software: Oracle VM VirtualBox

The best open-source virtual machine software of all time is Oracle VM VirtualBox. This open-source VM software, which was released in 2007, has a rapidly growing online developer community with over 100,000 registered members. These members publish new releases, updates, and tutorials on how to use this tool on a regular basis.

VirtualBox is compatible with Windows XP through 10, Windows Server 2003, and Windows NT, as well as other guest operating systems such as OpenBSD, Open-Solaris, Solaris, and Linux versions 2.4 and above. VirtualBox can also be used to run macOS, but only on Apple devices. Apple does not allow users to legally run macOS on non-Apple devices.

If you're new to virtual machines and want to try one out for free, VirtualBox is the best free VM software. VirtualBox includes a large library of free and simple-to-install Guest Additions. It recognizes the majority of USB devices and can run on very old hardware. It is also simple to use VirtualBox. Here's a good video tutorial that explains VirtualBox in detail:

Because of its long track record of success, VirtualBox is ranked first on this list. Here are my favorite and least favorite features of this widely used virtual machine software:

Pros of VirtualBox:

Free
Easy-to-use interface
Offers stable performances
Supports multiple operating systems
Works on older hardware
Cons of VirtualBox:

Requires ample RAM for lag-free performances

#2. The Best Free VMS for Developers: VMware Workstation (Player)

VMware Workstation, like VirtualBox, has consistently been one of the best free VMS tools over the last decade. The VM provides a robust and dependable set of functions that address developers' basic virtualization requirements. It also includes advanced networking capabilities that enable users to create and manage their own sophisticated virtual networks for VMs.

VMWare's built-in data center topologies can be customized and integrated with various external tools to emulate an entire enterprise-grade data center. VMware's cloning system is also used by developers to deploy multiple instances of similar VMs and save hard drive space. It's all very complicated. Fortunately, using VMWare is not as difficult as the video below demonstrates:

The only issue I had with this free virtual machine was that it was insufficient. VMWare comes in two flavors: Workstation-Player and Workstation-Pro. Only Player is free to use and has limited features. Yes, you can still run 200+ guest operating systems, create new VMs, and easily share files between the host and guest.