--- title: Best Virtual Machine Software canonical: https://saasranked.com/best/virtual-machine-software/ facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Best Virtual Machine Software Run another operating system in a window on your Windows PC, with snapshots, graphics and USB, without touching your main install. 12 virtual machine programs ranked by points out of 100 from 17 published rules. Method: https://saasranked.com/best/virtual-machine-software/how-we-score/ | # | Product | Points | Systems | Virtual machines | Devices | Openness and upkeep | Price | Cheapest licence for work use | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | [Oracle VirtualBox](https://saasranked.com/software/virtualbox.md) | 92 | 17/17 | 23/27 | 24/24 | 10/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 2 | [VMware Workstation Pro](https://saasranked.com/software/vmware-workstation-pro.md) | 79 | 15/17 | 14/27 | 24/24 | 8/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 3 | [NanaBox](https://saasranked.com/software/nanabox.md) | 74 | 13/17 | 9/27 | 24/24 | 10/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 4 | [Microsoft Hyper-V](https://saasranked.com/software/hyper-v.md) | 73 | 8/17 | 23/27 | 16/24 | 8/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 5 | [Windows Subsystem for Linux](https://saasranked.com/software/wsl.md) | 71 | 9/17 | 12/27 | 18/24 | 14/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 6 | [Multipass](https://saasranked.com/software/multipass.md) | 65 | 13/17 | 14/27 | 6/24 | 14/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 7 | [QEMU](https://saasranked.com/software/qemu.md) | 65 | 17/17 | 10/27 | 10/24 | 10/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 8 | [86Box](https://saasranked.com/software/86box.md) | 57 | 17/17 | 4/27 | 8/24 | 10/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 9 | [Android Emulator](https://saasranked.com/software/android-emulator.md) | 57 | 9/17 | 12/27 | 8/24 | 10/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 10 | [Vagrant](https://saasranked.com/software/vagrant.md) | 50 | 4/17 | 18/27 | 6/24 | 4/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 11 | [Windows Sandbox](https://saasranked.com/software/windows-sandbox.md) | 48 | 4/17 | 4/27 | 18/24 | 4/14 | 18/18 | $0 | | 12 | [Genymotion Desktop](https://saasranked.com/software/genymotion-desktop.md) | 43 | 9/17 | 8/27 | 12/24 | 4/14 | 10/18 | $239.99/yr | ## 1. Oracle VirtualBox Best for: People who want a free, open-source virtual machine app on Windows. VirtualBox suits anyone who wants a no-cost virtual machine app with open-source code on Windows, macOS or Linux. It lists snapshots, shared folders, nested virtualization and virtual TPM 2.0 with Secure Boot. The catch: the manual does not describe a ready-made image gallery, and the separate Extension Pack carries a personal-use licence. ## 2. VMware Workstation Pro Best for: Windows users who want a free hypervisor with snapshots and shared folders. VMware Workstation Pro is free for commercial, educational and personal use from version 17.5.2, which removes the price question. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 and Linux hosts and documents snapshots, shared folders, USB devices and three network modes. The catch: free users get community support only, and there is no macOS host version. ## 3. NanaBox Best for: Windows users who want a light Hyper-V front end with GPU and TPM options. NanaBox suits Windows users who want Hyper-V machines with TPM, Secure Boot and GPU options without paying. The source is MIT-licensed and a release landed in September 2026. The catch: it runs on Windows only, documents no snapshots, and has no security policy. ## 4. Microsoft Hyper-V Best for: Windows Pro users who want virtual machines without extra software. Hyper-V suits Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education users who want snapshots, Secure Boot, virtual TPM and nested virtualization at no extra cost. The catch: it is not available on Windows Home, only Windows guests get device sharing, and other desktop hypervisors may not run reliably beside it. ## 5. Windows Subsystem for Linux Best for: Developers who want Linux tools and distributions on a Windows PC. WSL suits developers who want Linux command-line tools, GPU access and shared Windows drives without managing a full virtual machine. It costs nothing extra and works on Windows Home. The catch: it runs Linux only, documents no snapshots with rollback, and needs a third-party tool for USB. ## 6. Multipass Best for: Developers who want quick Linux virtual machines on a Windows PC. Multipass suits developers who want a fresh Linux machine in one command, on Windows Home or Pro. It is free, open source and recently updated. The catch: it runs Linux guests only, and its docs do not describe TPM, GPU, USB or clipboard sharing. ## 7. QEMU Best for: Technical users who want a free, scriptable virtual machine tool. QEMU suits technical users who want a free, open-source virtual machine tool that also runs on macOS and Linux. It documents snapshots, an emulated TPM, bridged networking, and shared folders. The catch: it is configured with command-line options, its docs label USB passthrough experimental and list 3D graphics requirements for Linux hosts, and its download page names no ready-made image gallery. ## 8. 86Box Best for: Retro-computing fans who want to run 1980s and 1990s PC software accurately. 86Box suits people who want to run old PC operating systems and software on faithfully emulated hardware, at no cost. It emulates real hardware, so the FAQ says advanced features such as pointer integration are not possible, and the project discourages Windows XP or newer. Its documentation does not describe snapshots, USB passthrough, shared folders or a shared clipboard. ## 9. Android Emulator Best for: Android developers who need free virtual phones, tablets and TVs. Android Emulator suits developers who want Android virtual devices at no cost, with snapshots and host GPU acceleration. It runs Android only, not Windows or Linux guests, and its documentation says it has no virtual USB hardware. On Windows it relies on Microsoft's Windows Hypervisor Platform. ## 10. Vagrant Best for: Developers who want repeatable, scripted virtual machines. Vagrant suits developers who want to describe a virtual machine in a file and recreate it on demand. It costs nothing for work use under its licence. The catch: it is a front end that depends on another hypervisor, its source licence is not open source, and its last release is from August 2025. ## 11. Windows Sandbox Best for: Opening untrusted files or apps in a clean, throwaway Windows. Windows Sandbox suits people on Windows Pro or higher who want a clean, one-click Windows to try unknown files or apps. It adds no cost, shares the clipboard and folders, and supports a virtual GPU. The catch: it does not run on Windows Home, runs only Windows, and keeps nothing between sessions. ## 12. Genymotion Desktop Best for: Developers and testers who need local Android virtual devices. Genymotion Desktop suits people who need Android virtual devices on a PC, not general-purpose virtual machines. The personal edition is free, but work use needs a paid licence starting at $239.99 a year. Its network modes and clipboard sharing are documented, while snapshots, USB and shared folders are not described in its documentation. It is proprietary software.