Guide: Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac
VirtualBox is a great piece of virtualization software from Oracle. It’s free, easy to use, and brings the potential of virtual machines to the home. It is used in businesses, but the free version is mostly used with home to host different operating systems within your Windows installation. VirtualBox isn’t the only show in town, though. These are the best VirtualBox alternatives for Windows I think. Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual computer in a software environment. VirtualBox creates a standalone shell that fools the guest operating system for running on special hardware. That way you can use as many virtual machines as you want without affecting your core operating system.
The best VirtualBox alternatives
One thing that helps to know when it comes to virtual machines is host and guest. The guest refers to the operating system installed within a VM, while the host refers to the computer on which you install that VM. So if you install VirtualBox on a Windows computer and install Ubuntu Linux, Windows will be the host and Ubuntu the guest. Virtual machines are also often referred to as VM to make things a little more confusing.
VMware Workstation player
VMware Workstation Player is a professional level virtualization product owned by VMWare. The company performs many of the busiest enterprise virtual machine operations, and VMware Workstation Player is a very capable product. It does everything that VirtualBox does, such as allowing multiple guest installations, managing multiple operating system types, and working with portable installations. However, it costs money. Depending on what’s on offer, it will cost between $ 100 and $ 150 for a full license. You get excellent support and the ability to work with almost any type of system and environment. There is a free version for it home usage worth checking out.
Windows virtual PC
Despite being made by Microsoft, Windows Virtual PC is actually quite good. What it does it does well and runs natively within Windows. However, it is limited to running Windows VM only, so it is only useful for testing previous or newer versions of Windows or for using a sterile installation for security reasons. The interface is a bit like Windows Media Player and the installation is very simple. Designed for Windows 7 and not updated much since then, it still works in Windows 10. It’s not the most powerful offering or the most flexible, but if you stay within Windows and just want to play some games, Windows Virtual PC should do the trick. trick.
QEMU
QEMU is free and open source and works with most host and guest operating systems. The name apparently stands for Quick Emulator and is alive up to his name. QEMU is available for Linux, MacOS and Windows hosts and works with the same guest operating system. It’s a simple installation and fairly easy to set up up. Once done, you have full control over your VM. The downside to QEMU is that it is not as easy to use as these other VirtualBox alternatives for Windows. There is documentation and help to get, but there is more to figuring out than these other applications. Just once up and active, it is one of the most powerful non-Enterprise VM applications out there.
Parallels
Parallels was originally designed to allow Windows guests to work within macOS hosts. That expanded to all host operating systems and should now run on any Intel computer. I didn’t find this as intuitive to use as VirtualBox or VMWare, but it makes short work of installing guest OS. It is easy to set up up also what is always good. Parallels is not free and costs $ 79.99 for one home license or $ 99.99 for a Pro license. That is a significant expense for the home user, but if you love your VM and want to take it further, or want maximum compatibility with macOS hosts, this could be the product you are looking for.
XenServer
XenServer might be a bit much for the average home user, but if you’re learning about VMs for work or want to develop your workplace skills, XenServer comes second in terms of power and ubiquity. It’s free for that home use and open source and is very powerful indeed. The downside to that is that there is quite a learning curve. In terms of usability, there is a lot of documentation out there, but a lot will be scribbled and configured until you get everything just right. Then you use one of the most popular enterprise level virtualization suites out there. Those are five of the best VirtualBox alternatives for Windows I think. Each has different strengths and weaknesses and each has something different to offer. Do you have any other ideas on what to use instead of VirtualBox? Tell us below if you do!
Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac: benefits
Faq
Final note
I hope you like the guide Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends. For our visitors: If you have any queries regards the Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac, then please ask us through the comment section below or directly contact us. Education: This guide or tutorial is just for educational purposes. Misinformation: If you want to correct any misinformation about the guide “Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac”, then kindly contact us. Want to add an alternate method: If anyone wants to add more methods to the guide Best VirtualBox Alternatives for Windows and mac, then kindly contact us. Our Contact: Kindly use our contact page regards any help. You may also use our social and accounts by following us on Whatsapp, Facebook, and Twitter for your questions. We always love to help you. We answer your questions within 24-48 hours (Weekend off). Channel: If you want the latest software updates and discussion about any software in your pocket, then here is our Telegram channel.