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VirtualBox

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Company health

Employee growth
5% increase in the last year
Web traffic
7% decrease in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.5/5
(277)
Capterra
4.6/5
(796)
Glassdoor
3.8/5
(55086)

VirtualBox description

VirtualBox by Oracle lets you run multiple operating systems ("virtual machines") on your computer at the same time. It's like having several computers in one. This open-source software is free to use and popular for both personal and business use. It's especially useful for testing software, running older applications, or experimenting with different operating systems without affecting your main computer setup.


Who is VirtualBox best for

VirtualBox by Oracle is free, open-source software that lets you run multiple operating systems on one computer. Users love its ease of use and support for various operating systems. However, some find its performance can be slow with demanding tasks. It's ideal for individuals, IT professionals, and businesses needing a versatile virtualization solution.

  • Ideal for small to medium businesses, as well as individual users.

  • A good fit for IT, but adaptable to various sectors like education, media, and more.


VirtualBox features

Supported

VirtualBox supports up to eight virtual monitors.

Supported

VirtualBox supports running virtual Linux desktops.

Supported

VirtualBox allows creating and managing Linux virtual machines.

Supported

VirtualBox fully supports creating and managing Windows virtual machines.

Supported

VirtualBox allows running virtual Windows desktops on various host systems.

Supported

VirtualBox supports remote access to virtual desktops using the VirtualBox Remote Desktop Extension and RDP.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Strongly positive
+0.71

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.83

Reliability and Performance

Rather positive
+0.5

Ease of Implementation

Strongly positive
+0.75

VirtualBox reviews

We've summarised 1073 VirtualBox reviews (VirtualBox Capterra reviews and VirtualBox G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of VirtualBox
  • Free and open-source, making it a cost-effective solution.
  • Easy to use and set up, with a user-friendly interface.
  • Supports a wide range of guest operating systems, including older and less common ones.
  • Portable virtual machines, allowing easy transfer between systems.
  • Snapshot feature enables quick rollback to previous states.
Cons of VirtualBox
  • Performance can be slow, especially with multiple VMs or demanding tasks.
  • Resource intensive, requiring a powerful host system with sufficient RAM and CPU.
  • Occasional bugs and crashes, especially after updates.
  • Network configuration can be complex, particularly for advanced setups.
  • Limited 3D graphics acceleration and USB support.

VirtualBox pricing

The commentary is based on 108 reviews from VirtualBox Capterra reviews and VirtualBox G2 reviews.

VirtualBox is praised for being a free and open-source virtualization solution. Users highlight its cost-effectiveness, especially for personal use, testing, and development. While some mention the commercial license for the extension pack, the free version remains a popular choice for basic virtualization needs.

Users sentiment

Strongly positive
+0.71

VirtualBox alternatives

  • Logo of Azure Virtual Machines
    Azure Virtual Machines
    On-demand, scalable computing power in the cloud.
    Read more
  • Logo of Proxmox VE
    Proxmox VE
    Open-source server virtualization made easy, flexible, and powerful.
    Read more
  • Logo of Oracle VM
    Oracle VM
    Enterprise-grade server, desktop, and lightweight virtualization.
    Read more
  • Logo of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute
    Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute
    Scalable, secure cloud servers for any app, any size, any budget.
    Read more
  • Logo of Oracle Linux
    Oracle Linux
    Enterprise-grade Linux: stable, secure, and cost-effective.
    Read more
  • Logo of Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
    Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
    Effortlessly scale virtual machines, ensuring app performance matches demand.
    Read more

VirtualBox FAQ

  • What is VirtualBox and what does VirtualBox do?

    VirtualBox by Oracle is a free, open-source software that lets you run multiple operating systems (virtual machines) on a single computer. It's useful for testing software, running older applications, and experimenting with different operating systems without altering your main setup. It's popular with both individuals and businesses.

  • How does VirtualBox integrate with other tools?

    VirtualBox integrates with various development and testing tools, and supports remote access to virtual machines using RDP and its own Remote Desktop Extension. It also allows for portable virtual machines, enabling easy transfer between systems.

  • What the main competitors of VirtualBox?

    Top VirtualBox alternatives include VMware Workstation Pro, VMware Desktop Hypervisor, and Citrix DaaS. These competitors offer similar features, such as running multiple operating systems on one machine, but may differ in performance, pricing, and target user. Other options include Nerdio Manager, BVR Cloud, and Cameyo.

  • Is VirtualBox legit?

    VirtualBox is a legitimate and safe open-source virtualization software offered by Oracle. It's free to use, enjoys positive user reviews for its ease of use and broad OS support, and is popular for both personal and business applications.

  • How much does VirtualBox cost?

    VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization product. Therefore, there is no cost associated with downloading and using it. This makes it a worthwhile option for those exploring virtualization.

  • Is VirtualBox customer service good?

    VirtualBox users generally praise its ease of use and free access. However, some have reported performance issues, especially with resource-intensive tasks or multiple virtual machines running concurrently. Despite some minor drawbacks, many find it a valuable tool.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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