VMware Fusion vs Portable Virtualbox

Struggling to choose between VMware Fusion and Portable Virtualbox? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

VMware Fusion is a Virtualization solution with tags like virtualization, hypervisor, macos, windows, linux.

It boasts features such as Run Windows, Linux, and other OS virtually alongside macOS, Seamless integration and full compatibility with macOS, 3D graphics support, Drag-and-drop file sharing between macOS and guest OS, Unity mode to run Windows apps seamlessly, Shared folders to access macOS files from guest OS and pros including Easy to set up and use, Good performance, Lots of customization options, Supports many guest OS versions, Can create snapshots to revert VMs, Integrates well with other VMware products.

On the other hand, Portable Virtualbox is a Os & Utilities product tagged with virtualization, virtual-machine, portable, open-source.

Its standout features include Runs VirtualBox virtual machines directly from a USB drive, Does not require VirtualBox to be installed on the host computer, Supports importing and exporting VMs in OVF format, Includes VirtualBox Extension Pack for added functionality, Open source and free to use, and it shines with pros like Portable and self-contained, Does not clutter host computer with VirtualBox installation, Easy to carry VMs between different computers, Good for testing software across different OS environments.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is a hypervisor that allows users to run virtual machines on Mac hardware. It enables running Windows, Linux, and other operating systems virtually alongside macOS on Apple silicon or Intel-based Macs.

Categories:
virtualization hypervisor macos windows linux

VMware Fusion Features

  1. Run Windows, Linux, and other OS virtually alongside macOS
  2. Seamless integration and full compatibility with macOS
  3. 3D graphics support
  4. Drag-and-drop file sharing between macOS and guest OS
  5. Unity mode to run Windows apps seamlessly
  6. Shared folders to access macOS files from guest OS

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Easy to set up and use

Good performance

Lots of customization options

Supports many guest OS versions

Can create snapshots to revert VMs

Integrates well with other VMware products

Cons

Requires a paid license after trial expires

Can be resource-intensive

Limited remote management capabilities

No built-in collaboration tools

Not compatible with older Macs


Portable Virtualbox

Portable Virtualbox

Portable Virtualbox is a free, open-source virtualization software that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on your Windows computer without needing to install Virtualbox. It runs directly from a USB drive for easy portability.

Categories:
virtualization virtual-machine portable open-source

Portable Virtualbox Features

  1. Runs VirtualBox virtual machines directly from a USB drive
  2. Does not require VirtualBox to be installed on the host computer
  3. Supports importing and exporting VMs in OVF format
  4. Includes VirtualBox Extension Pack for added functionality
  5. Open source and free to use

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Portable and self-contained

Does not clutter host computer with VirtualBox installation

Easy to carry VMs between different computers

Good for testing software across different OS environments

Cons

Limited feature set compared to full VirtualBox

No guest additions or shared folder support

Potential USB performance bottlenecks

Not officially supported by Oracle