Multipass vs 86Box

Struggling to choose between Multipass and 86Box? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Multipass is a Development solution with tags like virtualization, ubuntu, linux, docker.

It boasts features such as Create Ubuntu VMs with a single command, CLI and GUI available, Built-in SSH access to VMs, Suspend and restart VMs while maintaining state, Share folders between host and VMs, Customizable CPU and memory allocation, VM image caching to speed up launches and pros including Simple and easy to use, Lightweight and fast VM launches, Reproducible dev environments, Native clients for Linux, macOS and Windows, Active development and maintenance.

On the other hand, 86Box is a Gaming Software product tagged with emulator, dos, windows, vintage-computing, retro-gaming.

Its standout features include Emulation of x86-based PCs from the 1980s and early 1990s, Supports emulating DOS, early Windows, classic games and apps, Modular and plugin-based design, Cycle-accurate emulation for high compatibility, Supports graphics, sound and input devices from the era, Customizable configuration of emulated hardware, Save states and snapshots, Debugging tools, and it shines with pros like High accuracy and compatibility, Active development and support, Open source and free, Allows using old software easily, Customizable to suit needs, Preserves old systems and software.

Feature	Multipass	86Box
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Gaming Software

Product Overview

Multipass

Description: Multipass is a lightweight virtual machine manager for Linux, Windows and macOS. It simplifies setting up virtual Ubuntu instances in just a few clicks, allowing developers to easily create reproducible development environments.

86Box

Description: 86Box is an open-source x86 emulator that specializes in emulating software and hardware from the 1980s and early 1990s. It supports emulating systems like DOS, early versions of Windows, and classic games and applications.

Key Features Comparison

Multipass Features

• Create Ubuntu VMs with a single command
• CLI and GUI available
• Built-in SSH access to VMs
• Suspend and restart VMs while maintaining state
• Share folders between host and VMs
• Customizable CPU and memory allocation
• VM image caching to speed up launches

86Box Features

• Emulation of x86-based PCs from the 1980s and early 1990s
• Supports emulating DOS, early Windows, classic games and apps
• Modular and plugin-based design
• Cycle-accurate emulation for high compatibility
• Supports graphics, sound and input devices from the era
• Customizable configuration of emulated hardware
• Save states and snapshots
• Debugging tools

Pros & Cons Analysis

Multipass

Pros

• Simple and easy to use
• Lightweight and fast VM launches
• Reproducible dev environments
• Native clients for Linux, macOS and Windows
• Active development and maintenance

Cons

• Only supports Ubuntu VMs currently
• Limited configuration options compared to other VM managers
• No snapshot or cloning support yet
• No built-in orchestration features

86Box

Pros

• High accuracy and compatibility
• Active development and support
• Open source and free
• Allows using old software easily
• Customizable to suit needs
• Preserves old systems and software

Cons

• Can require tinkering to work properly
• Limited support for newer systems
• Steep learning curve
• Potential stability issues
• Requires decent system resources

Pricing Comparison

Multipass

• Free
• Open Source

86Box

• Open Source
• Free