Best Hypervisors for Windows of 2025

VirtualBox is a robust virtualization tool compatible with x86 and AMD64/Intel64 architectures, designed for both corporate and personal use. This software not only boasts an extensive array of features and high performance tailored for business clients but also stands out as the sole professional-grade option that is freely accessible as Open Source Software under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. For those looking for a comprehensive introduction, refer to the section labeled "About VirtualBox." Currently, VirtualBox operates on various host systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Solaris, while offering compatibility with a wide range of guest operating systems, such as multiple versions of Windows (from NT 4.0 to Windows 10), DOS/Windows 3.x, various Linux distributions, Solaris, OpenSolaris, OS/2, and OpenBSD. The development of VirtualBox is ongoing, with regular updates contributing to an expanding catalog of features and supported guest operating systems. Additionally, it is the result of a collaborative effort within a vibrant community, supported by a committed company, ensuring its continuous improvement and relevance in the virtualization landscape.

Many individuals engage in discussions about open source, but words alone do not create progress; we take action through coding. With CrossOver, you can seamlessly operate your Windows® applications on MacOS, Linux, or ChromeOS. If you enjoy purchasing Windows® licenses, that's perfectly fine, but for those who wish to avoid that expense, CrossOver offers a straightforward solution to run various Microsoft applications on your Mac without the cumbersome experience of a traditional Windows emulator. Have you ever experienced the sluggishness of emulators on your Mac? CrossOver stands out because it isn't an emulator; instead, it effectively translates Windows commands into Mac commands, allowing you to use Windows software as if it were natively developed for Mac. This versatile tool supports a wide array of software, including productivity applications, utility tools, and games, all accessible through a single application. For the proud users of Linux, the idea of installing a Windows OS on your sophisticated machine can feel like a betrayal. You deserve to maintain the integrity of your system without resorting to purchasing a Windows license or wasting precious resources on a virtual machine, which is why CrossOver is an ideal choice for you. It empowers you to enjoy the best of both worlds without compromising on your values or your machine's performance.

The Virtuozzo platform is designed and built as a solution for running your own cloud business. It enables cloud hosting service providers to transform their business to differentiate among competitors by offering heterogeneous infrastructure platform, full-featured DevOps PaaS, containers hosting, a wide variety of packaged clusters (like Magento, WordPress, Kubernetes, replicated SQL and NoSQL databases, etc) and auto-scalable Elastic VPS to their customers. Also, we deliver the required tools to manage the platform, support customers, and monitor ROI growth. Virtuozzo is an industry pioneer who developed the first commercially available container technology 21 years ago. Our technology is used in over one million virtual environments, and we have accumulated over 100 patents to date. Virtuozzo is a large contributor to numerous open-source projects including KVM, Docker, OpenStack, OpenVZ, CRIU and the Linux kernel. These innovations have led to us having a commanding, about 40% market share in VPS hosting globally.

QEMU serves as a versatile and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer, allowing users to operate various operating systems across different architectures. It enables execution of applications designed for other Linux or BSD systems on any supported architecture. Moreover, it supports running KVM and Xen virtual machines with performance that closely resembles native execution. Recently, features like complete guest memory dumps, pre-copy/post-copy migration, and background guest snapshots have been introduced. Additionally, there is new support for the DEVICE_UNPLUG_GUEST_ERROR to identify hotplug failures reported by guests. For macOS users with Apple Silicon CPUs, the ‘hvf’ accelerator is now available for AArch64 guest support. The M-profile MVE extension is also now integrated for the Cortex-M55 processor. Furthermore, AMD SEV guests can now measure the kernel binary during direct kernel boot without utilizing a bootloader. Enhanced compatibility has been added for vhost-user and NUMA memory options, which are now available across all supported boards. This expansion of features reflects QEMU's commitment to providing robust virtualization solutions that cater to a wide range of user needs.

Triton SmartOS merges the lightweight features of a container operating system with the advanced security, networking, and storage functionalities typical of a hardware hypervisor. It utilizes Zones, a fortified container runtime that does not rely on virtual machine hosts for its security measures. With its unique resource protection system, Triton SmartOS ensures that each container is insulated and receives an equitable distribution of input/output resources. This operating system simplifies the challenges often associated with solutions dependent on virtual machine hosts. Additionally, it provides integrated networking that allows each container to possess multiple network interfaces, granting it a complete IP stack and enabling it to function as a full peer on the network, which helps avoid port conflicts and simplifies network management. Each container is equipped with secure, isolated, and resizable filesystems, enhancing both security and flexibility. Overall, Triton SmartOS offers the speed associated with bare metal performance while also incorporating the adaptability of virtualization. This unique combination positions Triton SmartOS as an optimal choice for developers and businesses seeking efficiency and security in container management.

Hyper-V is a virtualization solution from Microsoft that allows users to create and operate virtual machines, which are essentially software representations of physical computers. Each virtual machine functions independently, complete with its own operating system and applications. This technology provides enhanced flexibility in resource allocation, making it a cost-effective and efficient alternative to running a single operating system directly on physical hardware. Furthermore, virtual machines can be tailored with integration services that provide essential drivers and tools for optimized performance of various guest operating systems within the Hyper-V environment. Notably, Hyper-V also features Virtual Machine Connection, a remote access tool compatible with both Windows and Linux, allowing users to access the console of a virtual machine. This capability is particularly beneficial as it enables users to monitor the virtual machine's status, including before the guest operating system has fully loaded. Overall, Hyper-V enhances computing efficiency and versatility for diverse workloads.

Oracle's server virtualization offerings are engineered for high efficiency and enhanced performance, catering to both x86 and SPARC architectures while accommodating diverse workloads, including Linux, Windows, and Oracle Solaris. Beyond hypervisor-based solutions, Oracle also provides virtualization that is integrated with hardware and its operating systems, ensuring a comprehensive and finely-tuned solution for your entire computing ecosystem. This combination of flexibility and optimization makes Oracle a compelling choice for organizations looking to streamline their virtualization strategy.

VMware Workstation Pro is recognized as the leading solution for operating multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single computer running either Linux or Windows. It is a go-to tool for IT professionals, developers, and organizations involved in creating, testing, or showcasing software across various devices, platforms, or cloud environments. With VMware Workstation Pro, users can simultaneously operate multiple operating systems on their Windows or Linux systems. The software enables the creation of authentic VMs for Linux and Windows, along with other desktop, server, and tablet environments, all equipped with customizable virtual networking and the ability to simulate different network conditions. This makes it ideal for a wide range of activities, including code development, architectural planning, application testing, and product demonstrations. Moreover, users can securely connect to vSphere, ESXi, or other Workstation servers, facilitating the management and control of both virtual machines and physical hosts. A unified VMware hypervisor not only enhances productivity but also simplifies the process of transferring VMs to and from local PCs, making it a versatile tool for professionals. Overall, VMware Workstation Pro stands out as an essential resource in the toolkit of anyone needing to work within virtualized environments.

Explore a powerful bare-metal hypervisor that can be directly installed on your physical server. By providing immediate access to and management of the underlying hardware resources, VMware ESXi efficiently divides the server's capabilities to merge applications and reduce expenses. This hypervisor is recognized as the industry standard for effective architecture, exemplifying reliability, high performance, and excellent support. As IT teams face ongoing challenges to adapt to changing market demands and increased customer expectations, they also need to optimize their resources for more complex projects. Thankfully, ESXi aids in achieving a balance that promotes improved business results while also ensuring cost savings in IT operations. Its design not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers organizations to innovate without compromising their budgets.

KVM, which stands for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, serves as a comprehensive virtualization solution for Linux systems operating on x86 hardware equipped with virtualization capabilities (such as Intel VT or AMD-V). It comprises a loadable kernel module, known as kvm.ko, that underpins the essential virtualization framework, along with a processor-specific module, either kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko. By utilizing KVM, users can operate several virtual machines that run unaltered Linux or Windows operating systems. Each virtual machine is allocated its own set of virtualized hardware components, including a network interface card, storage, graphics adapter, and more. KVM is an open-source project, with its kernel component integrated into the mainline Linux kernel since version 2.6.20, while the userspace aspect has been incorporated into the mainline QEMU project starting from version 1.3. This integration enables widespread deployment and support for various virtualization applications and services.

Red Hat® Virtualization serves as an enterprise-grade platform for virtualization, adept at handling high-demand workloads and essential applications, leveraging the robust foundation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux® and KVM, with complete support from Red Hat. This solution enables the virtualization of resources, processes, and applications, establishing a reliable base for a future that embraces cloud-native and containerized technologies. It allows for the automation, management, and modernization of virtualization workloads seamlessly. Whether it's streamlining daily tasks or overseeing virtual machines within Red Hat OpenShift, Red Hat Virtualization leverages the existing Linux® expertise of your team and enhances it for upcoming business requirements. Additionally, it is built on a comprehensive ecosystem of platforms and partner solutions, integrating with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Red Hat OpenStack® Platform, and Red Hat OpenShift, which collectively enhance IT productivity and maximize return on investment while positioning your organization for future growth and innovation.