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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Infrastructure as a Service
  4. Virtualization Platform
  5. VMware Fusion vs VirtualBox

VMware Fusion vs VirtualBox

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

VirtualBox
VirtualBox
Stacks31.1K
Followers25.6K
Votes1.1K
VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion
Stacks84
Followers70
Votes0

VMware Fusion vs VirtualBox: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare two popular virtualization software tools: VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Both of these tools allow users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine, but they have some key differences that set them apart from each other.

1. Installation and Configuration: VMware Fusion is known for its straightforward installation process, with an easy-to-use wizard that guides users through the setup. On the other hand, VirtualBox may require some advanced technical knowledge to properly configure, making it less beginner-friendly.

2. Operating System Compatibility: While both VMware Fusion and VirtualBox support a wide range of operating systems, VMware Fusion offers better compatibility with macOS, as it is specifically designed for Mac users. VirtualBox, on the other hand, can be used on various platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris.

3. Performance and Resource Usage: VMware Fusion is known for its advanced optimization techniques, which often provide faster performance and better resource management. VirtualBox, while still capable of running virtual machines efficiently, may not offer the same level of performance when compared to VMware Fusion, particularly for resource-intensive tasks.

4. Virtual Machine Management: VMware Fusion offers a more user-friendly interface for managing virtual machines, providing features like snapshots, automated installations, and seamless integration with the host system. VirtualBox, while offering similar functionalities, may require more manual configurations and settings adjustments to accomplish similar tasks.

5. Hardware Support: VMware Fusion typically provides better hardware support, allowing users to utilize USB 3.0 devices, multiple monitors, and 3D graphics acceleration within the virtual machines seamlessly. VirtualBox, while capable of supporting some hardware devices, may require additional setup and configuration to achieve the same level of compatibility.

6. Pricing and Licensing: VirtualBox is an open-source software tool, meaning it is free to download and use, even for commercial purposes. On the other hand, VMware Fusion is a commercial product with different licensing options, including a trial version and paid licenses with additional features, such as advanced networking and support.

In summary, VMware Fusion offers a more user-friendly installation and configuration process, better compatibility with macOS, higher performance and resource management, improved virtual machine management features, superior hardware support, but it comes with a cost. On the other hand, VirtualBox is free to use, supports multiple platforms, offers decent performance, but may require more technical expertise for configuration and lacks some advanced features.

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Detailed Comparison

VirtualBox
VirtualBox
VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.

It 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. It is simple enough for home users and powerful enough for IT professionals, developers and businesses.

Portability;No hardware virtualization required;Guest Additions: shared folders, seamless windows, 3D virtualization;Great hardware support;Multigeneration branched snapshots;VM groups;Clean architecture; unprecedented modularity;Remote machine display
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Statistics
Stacks
31.1K
Stacks
84
Followers
25.6K
Followers
70
Votes
1.1K
Votes
0
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 358
    Free
  • 231
    Easy
  • 169
    Default for vagrant
  • 110
    Fast
  • 73
    Starts quickly
No community feedback yet

What are some alternatives to VirtualBox, VMware Fusion?

Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE

It is a complete open-source platform for all-inclusive enterprise virtualization that tightly integrates KVM hypervisor and LXC containers, software-defined storage and networking functionality on a single platform, and easily manages high availability clusters and disaster recovery tools with the built-in web management interface.

VMware vSphere

VMware vSphere

vSphere is the world’s leading server virtualization platform. Run fewer servers and reduce capital and operating costs using VMware vSphere to build a cloud computing infrastructure.

KVM

KVM

KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V).

Qemu

Qemu

When used as a machine emulator, it can run OSes and programs made for one machine (e.g. an ARM board) on a different machine (e.g. your own PC). By using dynamic translation, it achieves very good performance. When used as a virtualizer, it achieves near native performance by executing the guest code directly on the host CPU. it supports virtualization when executing under the Xen hypervisor or using the KVM kernel module in Linux. When using KVM, it can virtualize x86, server and embedded PowerPC, 64-bit POWER, S390, 32-bit and 64-bit ARM, and MIPS guests.

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and MacOS applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence.

Parallels

Parallels

It is an application and desktop virtualization software vendor that offers management and delivery platforms for Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows desktop deployments.

Xen

Xen

It is a hypervisor using a microkernel design, providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently. It was developed by the Linux Foundation and is supported by Intel.

VMware vSAN

VMware vSAN

It is enterprise-class, storage virtualization software that, when combined with vSphere, allows you to manage compute and storage with a single platform. You can reduce the cost and complexity of traditional storage and take the easiest path to hyperconverged infrastructure and hybrid cloud. Evolve to an integrated hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution with vSAN to improve business agility, all while speeding operations and lowering costs.

Oracle VM Server

Oracle VM Server

It is a zero license cost server virtualization and management solution that makes enterprise applications easier to deploy, manage, and support. Backed worldwide by affordable enterprise-quality support for both Oracle and non-Oracle environments, it reduces operations and support costs while increasing IT efficiency and agility.

Virtuozzo

Virtuozzo

It is an operating system-level server virtualization solution designed to centralize server management and consolidate workloads, which reduces overhead by reducing the number of physical servers required. Organizations use it for server consolidation, disaster recovery, and server workload agility.

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