oracle-vm-virtualbox-vs-vmware-workstation-pro

Oracle VM Virtualbox and VMware Workstation are both server virtualization software designed to help users run multiple instances of an operating system on a single device so they can run and manage multiple servers simultaneously. Vmware Workstation is most popular with mid-sized businesses and large enterprises, likely due to its proprietary price point. Oracle VM Virtualbox is popular with businesses of all sizes, as it’s open source nature makes it highly flexible and affordable.

Features

Oracle VM Virtualbox and VMWare workstation both include essential server virtualization features, such as support for Windows and Linux, but they also have a few unique features that set them apart from each other.

Oracle VM Virtualbox is an open source software, meaning that its source code is available for free and can be edited by a skilled team of developers. This makes Oracle VM Virtualbox highly customizable for businesses that can support developing it. In addition to Windows and Linux VM Virtualbox alse supports OS X, making it easy to fit into most IT infrastructures.

VMware Workstation offers high performance server virtualization, with high benchmarks for CPU performance. Additionally, VMware Workstation offers easy implementation, supporting the quick installation of operating systems. Lastly, VMware Workstation has many integrations with VMware software, including vCloud, which allows VMware Workstation to be used with cloud applications.

Limitations

Though Oracle VM Virtualbox and VMware workstation can both provide server virtualization features, they also have a few limitations that are important to consider.

Oracle VM Virtualbox is flexible and customizable by a skilled development team, but it isn’t as straightforward to implement as proprietary server virtualization tools. Businesses looking for a simple software that they don’t want to iterate on may prefer VMware Workstation. Additionally, Oracle VM Virtualbox doesn’t offer high performance compared to VMware Workstation, businesses looking for the highest performance virtual machines they can have should consider other options.

VMware Workstation provides high performance virtual machines, but doesn’t support OS X, instead they offer another software, VMware Fusion that enables macs to run Windows applications. Additionally, VMware Workstation isn’t open source, so businesses can’t iterate on the applications source code or access it for free.

Pricing

Oracle VM Virtualbox can be implemented for free by a skilled development team, but businesses looking for support from the vendor can purchase a perpetual license. This license costs $50.00 per user, plus an $11.00 support fee.

VMware Workstation is priced at $249.00 per user and includes one month of support. Additional support can be purchased through the vendor.