VMware’s Workstation virtual machine is now free for home users

Virtual machines, simulated PCs with their own operating systems running within another computer’s software, are super freakin’ cool. (That’s a technical term, I’m a professional technology writer.) But they’re not easy to set up, especially if you’re a newbie. They just got a lot easier, because VMware made its popular Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro VM software free for personal use.

Most users who are looking for a free solution to running a virtual copy of Windows, Linux, or any other operating system on a PC typically go with Oracle’s VirtualBox, which is open-source and powerful, but not especially user-friendly. As a professional product with decades of development and support, VMware Workstation is far more accessible.

Workstation Pro can be downloaded here, Fusion Pro here. Workstation is for installation on Windows and Linux, Fusion for Mac, and both can be used to run more or less any modern operating system virtually.

As BleepingComputer notes, this shift in direction follows Broadcomm’s somewhat tumultuous acquisition of VMware last year. VMware’s Workstation Player and Fusion Player software are being discontinued as a result of this change. (The Player programs are the equivalent of Adobe Reader versus Acrobat, they allow you to open VMware virtual machines but not make changes or access all features.)

VMware’s post on the switch to a free model notes that anyone who uses the software for commercial purposes will need to buy a license key and enter it during the setup process. Most professional customers have a licensing deal set up with Broadcomm, but individual commercial users will need to subscribe for $120 a year. Don’t get caught using a free personal license in a commercial environment or you’ll no doubt be handed a big bill in return.

Full disclosure: The writer’s father is an employee of VMware, but was not contacted for this article.