17 rules in 5 groups, worth 100 points in all. They were set before any product was scored and apply the same way to all 12.
Version 1, published 9 Oct 2026
In short
Each rule is a yes-or-no fact, a list (such as the systems with an app) or a number with published thresholds, read from the vendor's own pages.
A fact the vendor does not publish earns nothing. A feature in beta or preview does not count.
The list follows the points. A tie goes to the lower price on "cheapest licence for work use", then to the name.
Desktop virtualization that runs on a Windows PC (a Windows app, a built-in Windows feature or a command-line tool). Server hypervisors and tools for Mac hosts only are left out. Features count on the free edition or the cheapest paid edition; for VirtualBox, only the base package counts, not the Extension Pack.
Systems 17 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Guest systems
The product's own documentation (manual, docs site or guides) says you can run this system as a guest, or lists it as supported. Each one earns 4 points. A guest that only runs through a different product does not count.
8
Also runs on other hosts
The same product has an official release that runs as a host on macOS or Linux, not only on Windows. Each one earns 2 points.
4
Works on Windows Home
The documentation lists Windows 10 or 11 Home as supported, or lists Windows 10 or 11 as a host with no edition limit. A product that says it needs Pro, Enterprise or Education does not earn the points.
5
Virtual machines 27 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Snapshots
You can save the state of a virtual machine and roll back to it later. The vendor may call it a snapshot or a checkpoint.
8
Virtual TPM and Secure Boot
The documentation names both a virtual TPM 2.0 chip and UEFI Secure Boot for a guest, as options you can switch on.
5
Network modes
The documentation describes the mode for a virtual machine. Host-only means a private network between the host and its guests. Each one earns 2 points.
6
Nested virtualization
The documentation says a guest can run its own virtual machines.
4
Starts from a ready-made image
The product has its own gallery or command that creates a virtual machine from a vendor-provided image, so you do not need to find an installer file first.
4
Devices 24 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
3D graphics for guests
The documentation says a guest can use accelerated 3D graphics through a virtual GPU, GPU partitioning or GPU paravirtualization.
8
USB devices in the guest
The documentation says you can attach a USB device that is plugged into the host to a running guest, in the base product without a separate paid or restricted add-on.
6
Shared folders
The documentation describes sharing a host folder with a guest, so both can read its files.
6
Shared clipboard
The documentation describes copying text between host and guest through the product's guest tools or integration services.
4
Openness and upkeep 14 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Open source
The source code of the apps is public under an open-source licence.
6
Security advisories published
The vendor or project runs a public page, feed or repository security-advisory list for this product, or the product is covered by a vendor security-update guide that names it.
4
Updated in the last 12 months
A public changelog, release page or source repository shows a new version of the product dated within 12 months of the research date.
4
Price 18 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Free edition
A free edition with no time limit that you can use at home. Trials and edition limits for businesses do not matter here.
6
Cheapest licence for work use
The cheapest edition that the licence allows you to use at work, for one person, in US dollars a year, billed yearly. A product that is free for work use counts as $0, and so does a feature built into Windows (even if it needs Windows Pro). $0 earns 12 points, $60 or less 9, $120 or less 7, $250 or less 4, $500 or less 2.