Best VirtualBox Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to VirtualBox? In this comparison, we take a closer look at VirtualBox alongside similar software solutions including VirtualBox, VMware Player and Windows XP Mode.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how VirtualBox, VMware Player and Windows XP Mode stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	Supported Operating Systems	Licensing and Cost	User Interface and Ease of Use	Features and Advanced Capabilities	Technical Support and Documentation
VirtualBox	Supports a wide range of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, Solaris, and macOS.	Free and open-source software; supports personal and commercial use.	Provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface suitable for beginners.	Supports snapshots, USB device support, virtual networking, headless server mode, and regular updates.	Comprehensive documentation and community support available.
VMware Player	Supports over 200 operating systems including Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Solaris.	Free for non-commercial personal use; some features are limited compared to paid versions.	User-friendly interface designed for ease of use without requiring technical knowledge.	Limited advanced features and snapshot functionality compared to other VMware products; allows nested virtualization.	No official technical support but many online forums and tutorials exist.
Windows XP Mode	Supports Windows XP as a guest OS running on Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise editions.	Free download but requires a licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise to use.	Seamless integration with Windows 7 desktop; virtual machine accessible via Start menu.	Provides backward compatibility for older software applications with shared folders between host and virtual machine.	Official support available through Microsoft; updates provided via Windows Update.

Supported Operating Systems

VirtualBox	Supports a wide range of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, Solaris, and macOS.
VMware Player	Supports over 200 operating systems including Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Solaris.
Windows XP Mode	Supports Windows XP as a guest OS running on Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise editions.

Licensing and Cost

VirtualBox	Free and open-source software; supports personal and commercial use.
VMware Player	Free for non-commercial personal use; some features are limited compared to paid versions.
Windows XP Mode	Free download but requires a licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise to use.

User Interface and Ease of Use

VirtualBox	Provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface suitable for beginners.
VMware Player	User-friendly interface designed for ease of use without requiring technical knowledge.
Windows XP Mode	Seamless integration with Windows 7 desktop; virtual machine accessible via Start menu.

Features and Advanced Capabilities

VirtualBox	Supports snapshots, USB device support, virtual networking, headless server mode, and regular updates.
VMware Player	Limited advanced features and snapshot functionality compared to other VMware products; allows nested virtualization.
Windows XP Mode	Provides backward compatibility for older software applications with shared folders between host and virtual machine.

Technical Support and Documentation

VirtualBox	Comprehensive documentation and community support available.
VMware Player	No official technical support but many online forums and tutorials exist.
Windows XP Mode	Official support available through Microsoft; updates provided via Windows Update.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how VirtualBox stacks up against VirtualBox, VMware Player and Windows XP Mode in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License
VirtualBox		Shareware
VMware Player	577.1MB	Freeware
Windows XP Mode		Freeware

Size

VirtualBox
VMware Player	577.1MB
Windows XP Mode

License

VirtualBox	Shareware
VMware Player	Freeware
Windows XP Mode	Freeware

Rating

VirtualBox
VMware Player
Windows XP Mode

Popularity

VirtualBox
VMware Player
Windows XP Mode