To test operating systems or practise server administration on your own computer you need a desktop hypervisor. This comparison of VirtualBox vs VMware Workstation vs Hyper-V (plus Mac options) helps you choose.
Before you start
- Enable hardware virtualization; see enable VT-x/AMD-V.
- Product licensing changes over time; check each vendor's current terms.
Overview
| VirtualBox | VMware Workstation / Fusion | Hyper-V | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Type 2 | Type 2 | Type 1 (under Windows) |
| Hosts | Windows, Linux, macOS | Windows, Linux (Workstation); macOS (Fusion) | Windows Pro/Enterprise/Education |
| Cost | Free (open-source base; extension pack has separate terms) | Free for personal use in recent releases; check commercial terms | Included with eligible Windows editions |
| Snapshots | Yes | Yes | Yes (checkpoints) |
| 3D/graphics | Basic | Good | Limited |
| Good for | Cross-platform labs | Polished desktop VMs | Windows-native, WSL2 coexistence |
On a Mac
- Apple silicon: run ARM64 guests. Options include Parallels Desktop (commercial), VMware Fusion, UTM (free, QEMU-based) and VirtualBox's newer ARM support.
- x86 guests on Apple silicon require emulation and are slow; see emulation vs virtualization.
On Linux
KVM with virt-manager is the natural choice: it is built in and fast; see install KVM and virt-manager.
Coexistence on Windows
When Hyper-V, WSL2 or Windows security features like Memory Integrity are active, Windows itself runs on the hypervisor. VirtualBox and VMware then run through the Windows Hypervisor Platform, which works but can be slower. Choose Hyper-V if you rely on WSL2 heavily.
Which to choose
- Free and cross-platform: VirtualBox; see VirtualBox lab VM.
- Best desktop experience on Windows/Linux: VMware Workstation.
- Windows with WSL2 and Windows guests: Hyper-V.
- Mac with Apple silicon: Parallels, Fusion or UTM.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move VMs between them?
Often via OVF/OVA export or disk conversion; see disk conversion.
Are desktop hypervisors fine for production?
No. Use a server hypervisor or a VPS for production services.
How much RAM do I need?
Enough for the host plus each running VM; 16 GB is a practical minimum for a couple of VMs.