18 Best Virtual Machine Software Reviewed in 2025
Best Virtual Machine Software Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best virtual machine software:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Resource management challenges are common in today's tech environment. Managing multiple platforms and systems can be challenging. Virtual machine software offers a practical solution, allowing you to run various operating systems on a single physical machine, creating isolated environments for testing without additional hardware.
After extensive evaluation of virtual machine solutions, I've developed a comprehensive assessment of the leading options. My analysis explores the key features of each platform, helping you identify the best match for your organization's requirements.
Next is an in-depth examination of top virtual machine software, featuring a detailed analysis of capabilities, advantages, and limitations to support your decision-making process.
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With one-on-one help, we guide you to your top software options. Narrow down your software search & make a confident choice.
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Best Virtual Machine Software Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top virtual machine software selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for enterprise Linux | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 2 | Best for desktop virtualization | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for open-source enthusiasts | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
| 4 | Best for high performance | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
| 5 | Best for container management | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 6 | Best for Windows on Mac | 14-day free trial | From $74.99/month | Website | |
| 7 | Best for data center management | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
| 8 | Best for macOS users | Free plan available | Website | ||
| 9 | Best for hybrid cloud solutions | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
| 10 | Best for Linux integration | Not available | Free to use | Website |
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Best Virtual Machine Software Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best virtual machine software that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at each tool’s key features, pros and cons, integrations, and ideal use cases to help you find the best one for you.
Red Hat Virtualization is a virtualization solution tailored for enterprises using Linux environments. It enables businesses to deploy, manage, and optimize virtualized workloads efficiently.
Why I picked Red Hat Virtualization: It’s designed for enterprise Linux environments and provides a reliable platform for managing virtual machines. The tool supports high availability, ensuring your critical applications remain operational. Its integration with other Red Hat products enhances its functionality. Red Hat Virtualization also offers advanced management features, helping you optimize your IT infrastructure.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include live migration, which allows your team to move virtual machines without downtime. The platform supports snapshot and backup capabilities, ensuring data protection. It also provides performance monitoring tools, helping you maintain system health.
Integrations include Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ansible, OpenShift, Red Hat CloudForms, SAP, Microsoft Azure, AWS, VMware, IBM Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Advanced management features
- High availability support
- Strong Linux integration
Cons:
- Requires Linux expertise
- Complex installation process
VMware Workstation is desktop virtualization software for developers and IT professionals. It enables users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single PC, facilitating testing and development.
Why I picked VMware Workstation: It excels in desktop virtualization, offering a stable environment for running various OS configurations. VMware Workstation provides advanced 3D graphics support, which is excellent for graphics-intensive applications. It allows for easy switching between environments, which boosts productivity. The software also includes features like snapshots, helping you quickly save and restore VM states.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include support for DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1, which enhances graphics performance. VMware Workstation offers a virtual network editor, enabling you to configure complex network setups. The software also includes shared folders, making sharing files between host and guest systems easy.
Integrations include VMware vSphere, VMware vCloud Air, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, Chef, Puppet, and Jenkins.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports multiple OS configurations
- Easy environment switching
- Strong graphics support
Cons:
- Complex network configuration
- Can be resource-intensive
Proxmox is an open-source virtual machine software designed for enterprises and tech-savvy users. It primarily helps with virtualization, backup, and email security, making it valuable for IT infrastructure management.
Why I picked Proxmox: It’s tailored for open-source enthusiasts and offers enterprise virtualization and backup solutions. The built-in web interface simplifies managing virtual machines and containers. Proxmox provides enterprise-grade support, which can be crucial for optimizing IT infrastructure. Its open-source nature allows customization, catering to specific organizational needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include enterprise virtualization, backup and restore capabilities, and a user-friendly web interface. Your team can efficiently manage virtual machines, containers, and storage. Proxmox also offers email security through its Mail Gateway.
Integrations include Zabbix, Nagios, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, OpenStack, Kubernetes, Docker, SaltStack, and Terraform.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Frequent updates and improvements
- Strong community support
- Extensive customization options
Cons:
- Limited official support channels
- Requires technical expertise
Xen Project is an open-source virtualization platform catering to businesses needing high-performance solutions. It offers server virtualization, ensuring efficient and reliable operation for critical workloads.
Why I picked Xen Project: It's tailored for high performance, making it suitable for enterprises with demanding workloads. The platform supports paravirtualization and hardware virtualization, enhancing efficiency. Its architecture isolates virtual machines, improving security and stability. Xen Project's open-source nature allows customization, fitting unique business needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include live migration, which allows your team to move virtual machines between hosts without downtime. The platform also supports memory ballooning, which optimizes resource allocation. Additionally, Xen Project offers a security model that isolates virtual machines to protect against vulnerabilities.
Integrations include OpenStack, CloudStack, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, SaltStack, Puppet, Chef, and Nagios.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong isolation for security
- Supports multiple virtualization modes
- High performance for demanding tasks
Cons:
- Requires technical expertise
- Complex configuration process
Virtuozzo is a virtualization and cloud enablement platform aimed at businesses looking to manage containers and virtual machines. It offers solutions for cloud infrastructure, simplifying the deployment and management of applications.
Why I picked Virtuozzo: It specializes in container management, making it ideal for businesses relying on containerized applications. Virtuozzo provides features like automated provisioning and orchestration, enhancing efficiency. It supports both containers and virtual machines, offering flexibility in deployment. The platform's integration with cloud services makes it suitable for diverse environments.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated provisioning, which saves your team time by setting up environments quickly. Virtuozzo also offers orchestration tools, helping you manage complex workloads efficiently. Its high availability feature ensures that your applications remain operational during failures.
Integrations include Kubernetes, Docker, OpenStack, Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Grafana, Prometheus, and Zabbix.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High availability features
- Supports mixed environments
- Efficient container management
Cons:
- Requires technical expertise
- Complex initial configuration
Parallels is a virtualization software designed for Mac users who need to run Windows applications. It serves individuals and businesses that require cross-platform compatibility without dual-booting.
Why I picked Parallels: It’s the go-to solution for running Windows on Mac, providing an easy-to-use interface. Parallels enables you to switch between operating systems effortlessly. It offers features like Coherence Mode, which integrates Windows applications into the macOS environment. The software also supports multiple operating systems, making it versatile for various needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a shared clipboard, which lets your team copy and paste between Mac and Windows applications. Parallels also offers drag-and-drop functionality, making file management between operating systems simple. Additionally, it provides one-click tuning, optimizing performance based on your primary use.
Integrations include Microsoft Office, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and Chrome OS.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Coherence Mode for seamless use
- Supports multiple operating systems
- Easy Windows integration on Mac
Cons:
- May need technical support
- Can be resource-intensive
oVirt is an open-source virtualization management platform for businesses managing large-scale data centers. It helps deploy, monitor, and manage virtual machines efficiently.
Why I picked oVirt: It excels in data center management, offering a comprehensive set of tools for virtual infrastructure management. The platform supports advanced networking capabilities and storage management. Its web-based user interface simplifies the process of monitoring and managing virtual environments. oVirt's open-source nature allows for customization, fitting specific enterprise needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include virtual machine snapshots, live migration, and comprehensive monitoring tools. These features assist your team in maintaining operational efficiency. The platform also supports high availability for critical workloads.
Integrations include GlusterFS, Foreman, Ansible, Grafana, Kibana, Elasticsearch, OpenStack, Nagios, Zabbix, and Prometheus.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable for enterprise needs
- Scalable for large environments
- Advanced networking options
Cons:
- Complex setup process
- Requires technical expertise
UTM is a virtual machine software designed specifically for macOS users. It allows them to run different operating systems on their devices. It caters to developers and tech enthusiasts who need a versatile virtualization tool for testing and development purposes.
Why I picked UTM: It caters to macOS users, offering a user-friendly interface for running various operating systems. UTM supports various architectures, providing flexibility for different use cases. Its integration with macOS ensures smooth operation and compatibility. UTM's focus on simplicity makes it accessible to users with varying levels of expertise.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a user-friendly interface that simplifies setting up virtual machines. UTM supports multiple architectures, allowing your team to test different environments. The software also offers snapshot functionality, making saving and restoring states easy.
Integrations include QEMU, SPICE, Apple Hypervisor, VirtFS, and USB passthrough.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Snapshot functionality for easy rollback
- Supports multiple architectures
- Easy setup for macOS users
Cons:
- Can be resource-intensive
- Lacks extensive official support
OpenNebula is a cloud management platform designed for businesses looking to manage hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It helps users deploy and manage data centers and cloud infrastructures efficiently.
Why I picked OpenNebula: It excels in delivering hybrid cloud solutions, allowing you to manage both on-premise and cloud resources. OpenNebula supports many cloud providers, making it flexible for diverse environments. Its open-source design allows for customization to meet specific enterprise needs. The platform also offers features like virtual data centers and multi-tenancy, catering to complex organizational structures.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include virtual data center management, which lets your team handle multiple isolated environments. OpenNebula supports multi-tenancy, enabling you to manage various user groups separately. The platform also offers automatic scaling, ensuring efficient resource use.
Integrations include VMware vCenter, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Docker, LXD, Ansible, Terraform, Kubernetes, and Veeam.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensive cloud provider support
- Customizable for specific needs
- Supports hybrid cloud management
Cons:
- Limited official support
- Requires technical expertise
KVM is a Linux kernel-based virtualization solution ideal for businesses using Linux environments. It provides full virtualization capabilities, supporting various guest operating systems.
Why I picked KVM: It integrates seamlessly with Linux, making it a natural choice for Linux users. KVM utilizes hardware virtualization features, enhancing performance. It supports a variety of guest operating systems, offering flexibility. KVM's open-source nature allows for custom configurations to meet specific needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include live migration, which lets your team move virtual machines without downtime. KVM supports memory management, optimizing resource allocation efficiently. It also offers a strong security model through SELinux and sVirt.
Integrations include OpenStack, CloudStack, Virt-manager, libvirt, oVirt, Proxmox, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, and Terraform.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High performance with hardware support
- Supports multiple guest OS
- Strong Linux compatibility
Cons:
- Limited official support
- Complex setup and configuration
Other Virtual Machine Software
Here are some additional virtual machine software options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- XenServer
For enterprise environments
- QEMU
For hardware emulation
- Google Compute Engine
For global infrastructure
- VMware Horizon
For desktop and app virtualization
- Microsoft Hyper-V
For Windows server environments
- VMware Fusion
For Mac and Windows compatibility
- Oracle
For cross-platform support
- Azure Virtual Machines
For cloud scalability
Virtual Machine Software Selection Criteria
When selecting the best virtual machine software to include in this list, I considered everyday buyer needs and pain points like compatibility with existing systems and efficient resource management. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these everyday use cases:
- Run multiple operating systems
- Isolate environments for testing
- Allocate system resources efficiently
- Create and manage virtual networks
- Support for snapshots and backups
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Integration with cloud services
- Advanced security features
- Support for high-performance computing
- Automated scaling capabilities
- Customizable virtual machine templates
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Clear and concise navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Customizable dashboards
- Accessibility of features
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Comprehensive documentation
- Access to webinars and tutorials
- Supportive community forums
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple support channels
- Responsiveness to inquiries
- Quality of technical support
- Availability of a knowledge base
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Range of pricing plans
- Flexibility in billing options
- Features included in each plan
- Customer discounts or promotions
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Consistency of positive feedback
- Commonly reported issues
- Praise for specific features
- Feedback on customer support
- General satisfaction with value
How to Choose Virtual Machine Software
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
| Scalability | Ensure the solution can grow with your team’s needs. Look for options that support more users or larger workloads without requiring a complete overhaul. |
| Integrations | Check compatibility with your existing tools. Seamless integration with cloud services, management platforms, and other software can boost productivity. |
| Customizability | Consider how much you can tailor the software to fit your specific workflows. Custom templates and settings can save time and reduce errors. |
| Ease of Use | Evaluate the user interface and navigation. Choose software that minimizes your team's learning curve, ensuring quick adoption and efficiency. |
| Budget | Align the pricing with your financial constraints. Look for flexible plans or discounts that fit your budget without sacrificing essential features. |
| Security Safeguards | Prioritize solutions with strong security measures. Ensure they offer encryption, access controls, and compliance with relevant regulations. |
| Performance | Assess the software's ability to handle demanding tasks. High-performance options will support complex applications and high workloads effectively. |
| Support | Evaluate the quality and availability of customer support. Reliable support can be critical when encountering technical issues or needing quick assistance. |
Trends in Virtual Machine Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different virtual machine software vendors.
Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- Container Integration: Containers are becoming a key part of virtualization environments, offering faster deployment and scalability. Vendors like Virtuozzo are integrating container management to enhance developers' flexibility.
- Edge Computing Support: As edge computing grows, virtual machine software adapts to support distributed workloads. This trend helps businesses process data closer to the source, improving efficiency.
- Enhanced Security Features: With cyber threats rising, enhanced security features like encryption and isolated environments are in demand. Tools like Xen Project focus on security to protect virtual machines from vulnerabilities.
- Cloud-Native Capabilities: More virtual machine software is designed to operate efficiently in cloud environments. Solutions that support hybrid and multi-cloud strategies are particularly sought after by businesses aiming for agility.
- Resource Optimization: Vendors prioritize resource management to reduce costs and improve performance. Features like automated scaling and dynamic resource allocation are becoming standard to ensure optimal use of infrastructure.
What Is Virtual Machine Software?
Virtual machine software allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. IT professionals, developers, and tech enthusiasts use these tools to test applications, manage resources, and improve efficiency.
Features like isolation, resource allocation, and snapshot capabilities help test environments, optimize infrastructure, and ensure data protection. Overall, these tools provide flexibility and control over computing environments.
Features of Virtual Machine Software
When selecting virtual machine software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Isolation: Provides separate environments for testing and development without affecting the host system.
- Resource allocation: Allows efficient CPU, memory, and storage distribution to optimize performance.
- Snapshot capabilities: Enables saving and restoring virtual machine states, which is useful for backup and recovery.
- High availability: Ensures continuous operation of critical applications by minimizing downtime.
- Multi-OS support: Lets users run multiple operating systems on a single machine, enhancing flexibility.
- Security features: Offers encryption and access controls to protect virtual machines from vulnerabilities.
- Live migration: Facilitates moving virtual machines between hosts without downtime, maintaining uptime.
- Container integration: Supports running containerized applications alongside virtual machines for greater versatility.
- Virtual network editor: Allows configuration of complex network setups to simulate real-world environments.
- Performance monitoring: Provides tools to track system health and performance, aiding in resource management.
- Cloud computing integration: Enables deployment and management of virtual machines in cloud environments for scalability and remote access.
- GPU support: Leverages graphics processing units to accelerate workloads like 3D modeling, simulation, and machine learning in virtual machines.
- Disaster recovery support: Helps create resilient environments by backing up virtual servers and enabling quick recovery in case of system failure.
- Bare-metal deployment: Allows installation of virtualization platforms directly on physical servers for maximum performance and resource efficiency.
- Command line access: Offers CLI tools for advanced users to automate tasks and streamline VM management.
- Oracle VirtualBox compatibility: A widely used, free, open-source platform that supports various guest operating systems, including Ubuntu, Windows VM, and macOS.
- Parallels Desktop features: Ideal for Mac users needing to run Windows VMs with optimized performance and native Mac integration.
- SSD optimization: Enhances performance and VM boot times when running on solid-state drives.
- Virtual desktops: Delivers a full desktop experience to remote users through hosted virtual machines, useful for distributed teams.
- Virtualization technology support: Compatible with platforms like VMware ESXi, Oracle VirtualBox, and KVM for flexible deployment.
- Real-time operations: Enables low-latency environments and high responsiveness for time-sensitive applications.
- Support for physical-to-virtual (P2V) conversion: Facilitates the conversion of a physical computer into a virtual machine, reducing hardware dependency.
Benefits of Virtual Machine Software
Implementing virtual machine software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Cost savings: Reduces the need for physical hardware by allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single machine.
- Flexibility: Provides the ability to test different environments and applications without affecting the central system.
- Improved security: Enhances data protection through features like isolation and encryption, reducing the risk of breaches.
- Increased uptime: Ensures continuous operation with features like high availability and live migration, minimizing downtime.
- Scalability: Easily adjusts to growing workloads, allowing your team to add resources as needed without significant changes.
- Efficient resource management: Optimizes the use of CPU, memory, and storage, leading to better performance and reduced waste.
- Simplified testing and development: Offers a controlled environment for developing and testing applications, speeding up the development cycle.
Costs & Pricing of Virtual Machine Software
Selecting virtual machine software requires understanding the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes standard plans, their average prices, and typical features included in virtual machine software solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Virtual Machine Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic virtualization, limited support, and community resources. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Multiple OS support, snapshots, and basic security features. |
| Business Plan | $25-$50/user/month | Advanced security, live migration, and resource allocation tools. |
| Enterprise Plan | $50-$100/user/month | High availability, performance monitoring, and extensive integration options. |
Virtual Machine Software (FAQs)
Here are some answers to common questions about virtual machine software:
What are the limitations of virtual machine software?
Virtual machines can be slow to start and may require significant resources like memory, CPU, and storage. Hardware issues can affect performance, and licensing fees must be paid for each operating system running on a VM. These factors can make virtualization costly and resource-intensive.
How does virtual machine software work?
VM software creates a virtual environment within a computer, allowing it to run as if it were a separate machine. This virtual environment can host different operating systems, providing flexibility for testing or running applications. It operates as a file on the host computer, simulating a complete computing experience.
What are the requirements for virtual machine software?
Virtual machines need substantial hardware resources to function effectively. Typically, they require a fast processor, plenty of RAM, and large disk space. To ensure smooth operation, a processor with support for virtualization, like an Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC, is often recommended.
Resource management challenges are common in today’s tech environment. Managing multiple platforms and systems can be challenging. Virtual machine software offers a practical solution, allowing you to run various operating systems on a single physical machine—creating isolated environments for testing without additional hardware.
After extensive evaluation of virtual machine solutions, I’ve developed a comprehensive assessment of the leading options. My analysis explores the key features of each platform, helping you identify the best match for your organization’s requirements.
Coming up next is an in-depth examination of top virtual machine software, featuring a detailed analysis of capabilities, advantages, and limitations to support your decision-making process.
What is one of the biggest drawbacks of using virtual machine software?
One major drawback is the potential performance overhead, as running a virtual machine can slow down the host system. Additionally, managing multiple VMs can increase complexity, and there’s always the risk of the underlying hardware failing, which affects all VMs running on it.
What should I consider when choosing virtual machine software?
Consider factors like scalability, integration with existing systems, and the specific features you need, such as security or resource management tools. It is important to choose software that fits your team’s technical capabilities and budget while offering the flexibility and support you require.
Can virtual machine software improve security?
Virtual machines can enhance security by isolating environments and providing controlled testing spaces. This isolation helps prevent security breaches from affecting the entire system. However, additional security measures, such as encryption and access controls, must be implemented to maximize protection.
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