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.

Feature	VMware Fusion	Portable Virtualbox
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Virtualization	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

VMware Fusion

Description: 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.

Portable Virtualbox

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

VMware Fusion Features

• 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

Portable Virtualbox Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

VMware Fusion

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

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

Pricing Comparison

VMware Fusion

• Subscription-Based

Portable Virtualbox

• Free
• Open Source