--- title: QEMU canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/qemu/ category: Virtual Machine Software points: 65 rank: 7 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # QEMU Open-source machine emulator and virtualizer with Windows, macOS and Linux hosts, configured with command-line options. 65 points out of 100. #7 of 12 virtual machine programs. Vendor: QEMU project. Website: https://www.qemu.org/ - QEMU is free and released under the GNU GPL version 2 [3]. - Windows installers come from Stefan Weil, named on the download page, and the build policy supports only 64-bit Windows [2][14]. - VM snapshots save CPU state, RAM and device state, with savevm and loadvm, on qcow2 disks [5]. - Emulated TPM 2.0 works through swtpm [8]. - Version 11.1.2 was released on 28 September 2026 [1]. Verdict: QEMU suits technical users who want a free, open-source virtual machine tool that also runs on macOS and Linux [2][3]. It documents snapshots, an emulated TPM, bridged networking, and shared folders [5][6][7][8]. 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 [2][7][9][10]. Best for: Technical users who want a free, scriptable virtual machine tool. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Guest systems | Windows, Linux | 8/8 | Docs cover Windows guests (Hyper-V enlightenments) and direct Linux boot [12][13]. | | Systems | Also runs on other hosts | macOS, Linux | 4/4 | Download page lists Linux packages and macOS installs through Homebrew or MacPorts [2]; build platforms page supports both [14]. | | Systems | Works on Windows Home | Yes | 5/5 | Docs name Windows 10 and 11 as WHPX hosts with no edition limit and support recent 64-bit Windows [14][15]. | | Virtual machines | Snapshots | Yes | 8/8 | savevm and loadvm save and restore CPU state, RAM, device state and disks; needs a qcow2 disk [5]. | | Virtual machines | Virtual TPM and Secure Boot | Not published | 0/5 | Emulated TPM 2.0 is documented [8]. UEFI Secure Boot is not described on the pages read. | | Virtual machines | Network modes | Bridged | 2/6 | -netdev bridge connects a host TAP interface to a host bridge [7]. User-mode networking is described as a firewall and DHCP setup; the page never says NAT [6]. | | Virtual machines | Nested virtualization | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the system emulation introduction page [4]. | | Virtual machines | Starts from a ready-made image | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the download page [2]. | | Devices | 3D graphics for guests | Not published | 0/8 | virtio-gpu 3D acceleration is documented for Linux hosts only, so it is not counted for a Windows host [10]. | | Devices | USB devices in the guest | No | 0/6 | usb-host passthrough is labelled an experimental feature that slows QEMU, documented for Linux hosts [9]. | | Devices | Shared folders | Yes | 6/6 | The -virtfs option shares a host folder with the guest over virtio-9p [7]. | | Devices | Shared clipboard | Yes | 4/4 | The GTK display option clipboard=on enables host and guest clipboard sharing; it defaults to off [7]. | | Openness and upkeep | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | QEMU is released under the GNU General Public License, version 2 [3]. | | Openness and upkeep | Security advisories published | Not published | 0/4 | Security process page says disclosures become public but links no advisory list [11]. | | Openness and upkeep | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 4/4 | Download page lists version 11.1.2 dated 28 September 2026 [1][2]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 6/6 | Free to download under the GPL, with no edition limits listed [2][3]. | | Price | Cheapest licence for work use | $0 | 12/12 | No charge; open-source download [2][3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | QEMU | Free [2][3] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with source under the GNU GPL version 2 [3]. - Runs as a host on Windows, macOS and Linux [2]. - Full-machine snapshots with savevm, loadvm and delvm [5]. - Emulated TPM 2.0 through swtpm [8]. - Windows and Linux guests are both documented [12][13]. ## Limits - Host USB passthrough is labelled experimental and documented for Linux hosts [9]. - 3D graphics through virtio-gpu lists requirements for Linux hosts only [10]. - The download page names one individual as the source of Windows installers [2]. - The security process page links no separate advisory list; disclosures are filed as GitLab issues [11]. ## Sources 1. [QEMU](https://www.qemu.org/), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [Download QEMU](https://www.qemu.org/download/), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [QEMU licence](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/about/license.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [System Emulation: Introduction](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/introduction.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [Disk images](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/images.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [Network emulation](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/devices/net.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 7. [Invocation](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/invocation.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 8. [QEMU TPM Device](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/specs/tpm.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 9. [USB emulation](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/devices/usb.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 10. [virtio-gpu](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/devices/virtio/virtio-gpu.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 11. [Security process](https://www.qemu.org/contribute/security-process/), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 12. [Hyper-V Enlightenments](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/i386/hyperv.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 13. [Direct Linux Boot](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/linuxboot.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 14. [Supported build platforms](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/about/build-platforms.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09 15. [Windows Hypervisor Platform](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/whpx.html), QEMU project, accessed 2026-10-09