saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

virtual machine program · Microsoft

Microsoft Hyper-V

Virtualization built into Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education, with no separate download.

73/100

#4 of 12 virtual machine programs
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

Hyper-V suits Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education users who want snapshots, Secure Boot, virtual TPM and nested virtualization at no extra cost1,2,3. The catch: it is not available on Windows Home, only Windows guests get device sharing, and other desktop hypervisors may not run reliably beside it2,5.

Best for: Windows Pro users who want virtual machines without extra software.

Where the points come from

Systems8 of 17
Virtual machines23 of 27
Devices16 of 24
Openness and upkeep8 of 14
Price18 of 18

Systems 8 of 17 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Guest systemsWindows, LinuxOverview says guests include many versions of Windows, Linux and FreeBSD1.8 / 8
Also runs on other hostsNoneDocumented as built into Windows and Windows Server only1.0 / 4
Works on Windows HomeNoInstall guide says the Hyper-V role can't be installed on Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home2.0 / 5

Virtual machines 23 of 27 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
SnapshotsYesOverview says you can snapshot virtual machines before changes and roll back1.8 / 8
Virtual TPM and Secure BootYesOverview says Generation 2 virtual machines have UEFI firmware, Secure Boot and virtual TPM 2.0 support1.5 / 5
Network modesNAT, Bridged, Host-onlyNAT runs through an internal switch4; external switches reach the physical network4,8; internal switches link the host and virtual machines8.6 / 6
Nested virtualizationYesNested virtualization lets a guest virtual machine install its own hypervisor and run its own guests3.4 / 4
Starts from a ready-made imageNot publishedNot published on the vendor's pages6.0 / 4

Devices 16 of 24 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
3D graphics for guestsNot publishedOverview lists GPU partitioning, but the GPU partitioning guide names only Windows Server hosts and server GPUs1,9.0 / 8
USB devices in the guestYesEnhanced Session Mode shares USB devices such as flash drives with Windows virtual machines5.6 / 6
Shared foldersYesEnhanced Session Mode shares local and removable drives, including drive C, with Windows virtual machines5.6 / 6
Shared clipboardYesEnhanced Session Mode provides a shared clipboard for Windows virtual machines5.4 / 4

Openness and upkeep 8 of 14 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Open sourceNot publishedNot published on the vendor's pages1.0 / 6
Security advisories publishedYesMicrosoft's September 2026 security updates name Windows Hyper-V in five CVEs, such as CVE-2026-6955310.4 / 4
Updated in the last 12 monthsYesHyper-V ships inside Windows. Windows 11 release information lists updates dated 2026-09-22 and 2026-09-297.4 / 4

Price 18 of 18 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free editionYesIncluded with Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education at no extra hypervisor cost. Not available on Home1,2.6 / 6
Cheapest licence for work use$0Built into Windows, so $0 under our rule. It needs a Windows edition that includes it1,2.12 / 12

The rule behind each line: how we score virtual machine programs.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Hyper-V in Windows1 personIncluded with Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education1,2$0Optional Windows feature; not available on Home

Hyper-V has no separate price, but it needs a Windows edition that includes it. Windows Home does not1,2.

Strengths

  • Included with Windows, so no separate hypervisor licence cost1.
  • Generation 2 virtual machines support UEFI Secure Boot and virtual TPM 2.01.
  • Nested virtualization is documented, including WSL 2 in a nested Hyper-V VM3.
  • Enhanced Session Mode shares the clipboard, drives and USB devices with Windows guests5.

Limits

  • The Hyper-V role can't be installed on Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home2.
  • Device sharing through Enhanced Session Mode works only for Windows guests5.
  • Other virtualization apps such as VMware Workstation and VirtualBox might not start virtual machines, or run unreliably, while Hyper-V is running2.
  • Microsoft describes Hyper-V as built into Windows and Windows Server; no macOS or Linux host is described1.

Other virtual machine programs

  1. 1
    Oracle VirtualBoxPeople who want a free, open-source virtual machine app on Windows
    92/100
    $0cheapest licence for work use
  2. 2
    VMware Workstation ProWindows users who want a free hypervisor with snapshots and shared folders
    79/100
    $0cheapest licence for work use
  3. 3
    NanaBoxWindows users who want a light Hyper-V front end with GPU and TPM options
    74/100
    $0cheapest licence for work use
  4. 5
    Windows Subsystem for LinuxDevelopers who want Linux tools and distributions on a Windows PC
    71/100
    $0cheapest licence for work use

All 12 virtual machine programs

Sources

  1. Hyper-V virtualization in Windows Server and Windows, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  2. Install Hyper-V in Windows and Windows Server, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  3. What is Nested Virtualization for Hyper-V?, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  4. Create and configure a virtual switch with Hyper-V, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  5. Share devices with Hyper-V Windows virtual machines, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  6. Create a virtual machine in Hyper-V, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  7. Windows 11 - release information, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  8. Plan for Hyper-V networking in Windows Server, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  9. Partition and share GPUs with virtual machines on Hyper-V, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  10. September 2026 Security Updates, Microsoft Security Response Center. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/about · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Microsoft.