Both let you run Windows, Linux and other systems in a virtual machine on your own computer, and both can now be used without paying for personal work. VirtualBox is Oracle's open source hypervisor under the GPL, with Arm support on Mac and Windows hosts in its 7.x releases. VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro were made free for all users and bring 3D graphics, Windows 11 on Apple silicon and vSphere connections. The catch to watch is VirtualBox's Extension Pack, which needs a paid licence for commercial use.
Desktop virtualization changed a lot when VMware dropped its charges, so I re-read the VirtualBox home page and licensing FAQ and VMware's Workstation and Fusion pages and blog archive to see where each one stands now.
VirtualBox and VMware side by side
| VirtualBox | VMware Workstation and Fusion | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Oracle, as a community effort | VMware |
| Licence | GPL v3 base package | Free for all users, per VMware's blog |
| Host systems | x86_64, plus macOS/Arm from 7.1 and Windows/Arm from 7.2 | Workstation for Windows and Linux, Fusion for Mac |
| Windows 11 on Apple silicon | Via its macOS/Arm build | Built in, with a Get Windows feature |
| 3D graphics | Not highlighted on the pages I read | DirectX 11 and OpenGL in virtual machines |
| Enterprise link | Standalone | Connects to vSphere |
| Extension Pack | Free for personal and educational use only | No separate pack |
The VirtualBox licence catch businesses miss
VirtualBox itself is open source. Its licensing FAQ says the base package is under the GNU General Public License version 3. But the VirtualBox Extension Pack is a separate download under the Personal Use and Educational License, and the FAQ says it's free only for personal and educational use; most commercial uses need a licence bought from Oracle. Personal use is defined narrowly, as one host computer used for noncommercial purposes.
So if your team installs VirtualBox at work and adds the Extension Pack for its extra features, that's a licensing question to check with Oracle, not a free download. VMware's desktop apps don't have that split: the VMware blog archive carries a post titled VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users.
What VirtualBox does well
VirtualBox describes itself as a general-purpose full virtualization tool for laptops, desktops, servers and embedded use, for personal and enterprise use. It's a community effort backed by Oracle, with frequent 7.2 maintenance releases listed on its home page, the latest in October. Version 7.1 added macOS on Arm hosts and 7.2 added Windows on Arm, so it now runs on Apple silicon Macs and Arm laptops as well as standard PCs.
What VMware's desktop apps add
VMware says Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro use the same hypervisor technology that powers vSphere. Fusion Pro supports Windows 11 on the latest Macs with Apple silicon, including a built-in Get Windows feature, and both apps support DirectX 11 and OpenGL graphics, snapshots you can roll back to, and containers and Kubernetes clusters with VM-level isolation. You can also connect to a vSphere environment, which suits IT teams who manage servers on VMware.
Pick by what you need
- Want an open source tool you can inspect and modify? VirtualBox.
- Running Windows 11 on an Apple silicon Mac? VMware Fusion's built-in setup is simpler.
- Need smooth 3D graphics inside the virtual machine? VMware lists DirectX 11 support.
- Using VirtualBox at work with the Extension Pack? Check Oracle's commercial licence first.
- Already manage servers on vSphere? Workstation and Fusion connect to it.
Virtual machines are a handy sandbox for opening risky files, which ties in with my tips on staying safe from cybersecurity threats, and if you're deciding between local and remote machines, read what cloud hosting offers a business.
My advice on VirtualBox or VMware
For most business users I'd now start with VMware Workstation or Fusion, because they're free for all users, handle Windows 11 on Apple silicon smoothly and avoid the Extension Pack licensing question. Choose VirtualBox when you want open source software, need to run on a mix of hosts, or only use the base package. Whichever you install, keep snapshots before big changes so you can roll back in seconds.
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Frequently asked questions
Is VirtualBox free for business use?
The VirtualBox base package is open source under GPL v3. The Extension Pack is free only for personal and educational use; commercial use needs a licence from Oracle.
Is VMware Workstation free now?
Yes. The VMware blog archive includes the post VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users.
Does VirtualBox run on Apple silicon Macs?
Yes. VirtualBox 7.1 added support for macOS on Arm hosts, and 7.2 added Windows on Arm hosts.
Can I run Windows 11 on a Mac with VMware?
Yes. VMware says Fusion Pro supports Windows 11 on Macs with Apple silicon and includes a built-in Get Windows feature.
Does VMware Workstation run on Linux?
Yes. VMware describes Workstation Pro as its desktop hypervisor app for Windows and Linux PCs, while Fusion Pro is the Mac version.
