Best Virtualization Software

Compare the Top Virtualization Software as of May 2025

What is Virtualization Software?

Virtualization software enables the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs) that emulate physical computers. By abstracting the underlying hardware, it allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine, improving resource utilization and flexibility. Virtualization provides an isolated environment for applications, increasing security and stability by preventing conflicts between different software systems. It also simplifies the management of IT infrastructure, as virtual machines can be easily created, cloned, and moved between different hosts. This technology is crucial for businesses looking to scale their operations, optimize resource usage, and improve disaster recovery processes. Compare and read user reviews of the best Virtualization software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

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    Virtuozzo

    Virtuozzo

    Virtuozzo

    Virtuozzo, is a global leader in alternative cloud enablement, providing unique, purpose-built software which enables infrastructure and platform solutions to over 600 service providers around the world. Performance, flexibility, and ease of use define the product line up. Our partners can quickly, cost effectively and profitably create alternative private, public, hybrid or multi-clouds, rivalling those from major cloud providers, but with greater ROI, and customization. Service providers and enterprises can choose between various products and capabilities, using software defined networking, storage and powerful compute management and monitoring. Virtuozzo’s primary products allow for the rapid construction of virtual private servers (VPS), IaaS, PaaS, Storage-as-a-Service, Kubernetes-as-a-Service, WordPress-as-a-Service and Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS).
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    Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Whether you need to run Windows programs that don’t have Mac versions, or you are making the switch from PC to Mac and need to transfer your data, Parallels Desktop has you covered. Develop & test across multiple OSes in a virtual machine for Mac. Access Microsoft Office for Windows and Internet Explorer. Fast—run Windows apps without slowing down your Mac. Quickly move files, apps and more from a PC to a Mac. Use Windows side-by-side with macOS (no restarting required) on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini or Mac Pro. Share files and folders, copy and paste images and text & drag and drop files between Mac and Windows applications. Parallels Desktop automatically detects what you need to get started so you are up and going within minutes! If you need Windows, you’ll be prompted to Download and Install Windows 10 OR Choose your existing Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, or Boot Camp installation.
    Starting Price: $99.99 per year
  • 3
    QEMU

    QEMU

    QEMU

    QEMU is a generic and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer. Run operating systems for any machine, on any supported architecture. Run programs for another Linux/BSD target, on any supported architecture. Run KVM and Xen virtual machines with near-native performance. Guest memory dumps are now fully supported, along with pre-copy/post-copy migration and background guest snapshots. Support for nw DEVICE_UNPLUG_GUEST_ERROR to detect guest-reported hotplug failures. macOS hosts with Apple Silicon CPUs now support ‘hvf’ accelerator for AArch64 guests. M-profile MVE extension is now supported for Cortex-M55. AMD SEV guests now support measurement of kernel binary when doing direct kernel boot (not using a bootloader). Support for vhost-user and numa mem options across all boards.
  • 4
    VMware Workstation Pro
    VMware Workstation Pro is the industry standard for running multiple operating systems as virtual machines (VMs) on a single Linux or Windows PC. IT professionals, developers and businesses who build, test or demo software for any device, platform or cloud rely on Workstation Pro. VMware Workstation Pro allows you to run multiple operating systems at once on the same Windows or Linux PC. Create real Linux and Windows VMs and other desktop, server, and tablet environments, complete with configurable virtual networking and network condition simulation, for use in code development, solution architecting, application testing, product demonstrations and more. Securely connect with vSphere, ESXi or other Workstation servers to launch, control and manage both virtual machines (VMs) and physical hosts. A common VMware hypervisor maximizes productivity and enables easy transfer of VMs to and from your local PC.
  • 5
    KVM

    KVM

    Red Hat

    KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V). It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.ko, that provides the core virtualization infrastructure and a processor specific module, kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko. Using KVM, one can run multiple virtual machines running unmodified Linux or Windows images. Each virtual machine has private virtualized hardware: a network card, disk, graphics adapter, etc. KVM is open source software. The kernel component of KVM is included in mainline Linux, as of 2.6.20. The userspace component of KVM is included in mainline QEMU, as of 1.3.
  • 6
    Red Hat Virtualization
    Red Hat® Virtualization is an enterprise virtualization platform that supports key virtualization workloads including resource-intensive and critical applications, built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux® and KVM and fully supported by Red Hat. Virtualize your resources, processes, and applications with a stable foundation for a cloud-native and containerized future. Automate, manage, and modernize your virtualization workloads. Whether automating daily operations or managing your VMs in Red Hat OpenShift, Red Hat Virtualization uses the Linux® skills your team knows and will build upon for future business needs. Built on an ecosystem of platform and partner solutions and integrated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Red Hat OpenStack® Platform, and Red Hat OpenShift to improve overall IT productivity and drive a higher return on investment.
  • 7
    VMware Fusion Pro
    VMware Fusion gives Mac users the power to run Windows on Mac along with hundreds of other operating systems side by side with Mac applications, without rebooting. Fusion is simple enough for home users and powerful enough for IT professionals, developers and businesses. Running Windows on Mac is only the beginning. VMware Fusion lets you choose from hundreds of supported operating systems, from lesser-known Linux distributions to the latest Windows 10 release, to run side by side with the latest macOS release. Fusion makes it simple to test nearly any OS and app on a Mac. Build and test apps in a sandbox while securely sharing local source files and folders. Fusion Pro now includes a RESTful API to integrate with modern development tools like Docker, Vagrant, Ansible, Chef, and others to fit the power of VMware into today’s Agile and DevOps-oriented production pipelines.
  • 8
    CrossOver

    CrossOver

    CodeWeavers

    Lots of people talk about open source. Talk is cheap. We code. Run your Windows® app on MacOS, Linux, or ChromeOS. CrossOver Mac® Do you like buying Windows® licenses? You do? Great. You do you. For the rest of humanity, CrossOver is the easiest way to run many Microsoft applications on your Mac without a clunky Windows emulator. (Seriously, have you tried emulators? Do you like how they run on your Mac?) CrossOver works differently. It's not an emulator. It does the work of translating Windows commands into Mac commands so that you can run Windows software as if it were designed native to Mac. CrossOver works with all kinds of software - productivity software, utility programs, and games - all with one application. CrossOver Linux® You are the noble of the noblest running Linux. You don't want the despair of running a Windows OS on your finely minted machine. You don't want to sell your soul for a Windows license or squander away your hard drive shekels running a virtual machine
    Starting Price: $59.95
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