Virtualization programs can be beneficial if you need another OS on your computer but want to avoid dealing with the trouble of a dual-start system. VMware’s VirtualBox stands out from the many other programs because it is easy to use and can be downloaded for free.
But VirtualBox might not be the right virtualization software for you, based on your desire. Also, it could be better. Sometimes it doesn’t work right and needs more tools than other (often paid) options have.
Best VirtualBox Alternatives
Following are the best VirtualBox Alternatives
1. VMware Workstation Pro
VMware Workstation Pro is the company’s business Type 2 hypervisor. It supports DirectX 11 graphics, Kubernetes and containers, Hyper-V, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2, and a dark mode interface. It can run Windows, Linux, and Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) operating systems and works on most 64-bit Windows or Linux host operating systems.
Workstation Pro is also full of essential tools in an enterprise setting. Its latest version, 17, adds support for TPM 2.0 virtual security devices, OpenGL 4.3 graphics, and faster encryption to its standard features, such as installing Kubernetes environments and vGPU and Vulkan rendering engines. It also lets people make mighty virtual machines (VMs) with up to 32 CPU cores, 128 GB RAM, and 8 GB VRAM.
At the time of writing, you can get the virtualization tool in two ways:
- VMware Workstation Player: This license for commercial use costs $149 to buy or $79 to upgrade from an earlier version.
- VMware Workstation Pro: This version has all the features of Workstation Player plus a few business networking options. It costs $199 or $99 to upgrade from an older version.
2. VMware Fusion
Apple’s move to custom M-series silicon meant that the famous virtualization program Boot Camp could no longer let users run Windows on their Macs. This was terrible news for people who use Apple products. But VMware has your back with Fusion, a virtualization program that lets you run Windows, Linux, containers, Kubernetes, and more without even restarting your Mac.
If you want to keep using VMware, it’s the best option to VirtualBox for macOS. You can make powerful VMs, with up to 32 CPU cores, 128 GB RAM, 10 TB virtual disks, and 8 GB of vRAM per VM. DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.3 are both enabled, and so are integrated GPUs, but only on Intel-based Macs. It also adds TPM 2.0 virtual security and faster encryption so that current guest operating systems, such as Windows 11, can be used.
It comes in two different versions, just like VMware Workstation:
- VMware Fusion Player: This version of VMware Fusion Player is free for personal use, but if you want to use it for Business, you can buy a license. The only thing it needs to have that the Pro version does is enterprise networking tools. If you want to buy it, it costs $149; if you want to upgrade from an earlier version, it costs $79.
- VMware Fusion Pro: This version has all the features of Fusion Player plus a few business networking options. It costs $199 or $99 to upgrade from an older version.
3. Microsoft Hyper-V
Hyper-V from Microsoft is an excellent option for VirtualBox, mainly if you use Windows. First, it’s an extra tool with Windows, so there’s nothing to download. If you have Windows Pro or Enterprise, turn it on using the Control Panel, PowerShell, or the Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management tool (DISM).
Hyper-V is designed to virtualize hardware, meaning each VM runs on virtual hardware. You can also make virtual hard drives, switches, and several other virtual devices that can be added to your VMs to make them more useful.
It is a bit harder to use than VMware’s accessible interfaces, but the fact that it is built into Windows makes it easier to use. Also, Microsoft’s instructions on how to turn on Hyper-V and make VMs are good.
4. QEMU
QEMU is an open-source and free virtualization program named “Quick Emulator.” It is mighty, but it is also the hardest to use. Setting up a QEMU VM on an Ubuntu machine is relatively easy. It is a virtualization program, but it does a few things differently from others. For example, it uses an integrated VNC server to show the screen of the guest OS instead of depending on the graphical interface of the host OS.
It can also be used with KVM (Kernel-Based Virtual Machine) or Xen to make VMs run almost as fast as if they were running directly on the hardware. This is similar to how a Type-1 Hypervisor would work. QEMU can simulate a whole machine in software without the help of hardware virtualization. This means it works with almost any hardware and can run almost any OS in a virtual environment.
5. Parallels Desktop
Parallels is a virtualization tool for macOS comparable to VMware Fusion in terms of features but is much cheaper. It can run over 200,000 Windows apps, including Microsoft Office, on Intel and Apple chips. It’s also one of the few ChromeOS apps that lets you use virtualization.
You also get a lot of features that make it easy to use, like the ability to copy and paste text or drag and drop files between macOS and Windows without any problems. You can also run Windows 11 on it because it supports TPM 2.0 virtualization. The program is designed for Windows 11 and macOS Ventura, which means it works well enough to run programs that use many resources.
Lastly, the fact that the program works best on Windows doesn’t mean it can’t imitate Linux machines. Parallels Desktop version 18 is compatible with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS,CentOS Linux 9 Stream, Fedora 36, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Kali Linux 2022.2, and many others.
It comes in three versions: Standard, Pro, and Business. The Standard version costs $99.99, the Pro costs $119.99, and the Business costs $149.99, but prices are often lowered during deals. If you still need to get a virtualization program for macOS, Parallels Desktop Standard and Pro are better deals than VMware Fusion.
6. KVM (Kernel-Based Virtual Machine)
Linux is usually the guest host for VMs, but you can use KVM to run a VM on Linux if needed. It is a virtualization tool for Linux on x86 hardware, including Intel VT (Virtualization Technology) and AMD-V virtualization extensions.
The hypervisor lets you run multiple VMs that use Windows or Linux files that have not been changed. Also, each VM has its own virtualized hardware, which includes a network. This makes it a great way to set up a quick security testing lab on your Linux machine.
It is open-source and free to use. Also, starting with version 2.6.20, the kernel part of KVM is already part of core Linux.
Conclusion
So, there you have it: seven good options for VirtualBox. Free isn’t really the best in this case, and if you have severe hypervisor and virtualization needs, you’d be better off using a reliable commercial solution. All of the paid tools on this list offer a free trial, so you can see which fits your needs best before paying for it.
Even if you don’t use it for Business, you should take advantage of the fact that VMware Workstation Player is free for non-business use.
