Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OSBoxes VS Open Server

Compare OSBoxes VS Open Server and see what are their differences

OSBoxes logo OSBoxes

OSBoxes offers ready-to-use VMware and VirtualBox Linux/Unix guest operating systems.

Open Server logo Open Server

Open Server is an all in one portable online server platform and software that is designed particularly to facilitate web developers to build things more keenly and conveniently.
  • OSBoxes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-29
  • Open Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

OSBoxes features and specs

  • Wide Variety of Images
    OSBoxes provides a comprehensive range of virtual machine images for different operating systems such as Linux distributions and other open-source platforms, saving users time in setting up virtual machines from scratch.
  • Pre-configured Systems
    The virtual images are pre-configured, allowing users to quickly deploy and start using an operating system without dealing with initial setup procedures.
  • Free to Use
    OSBoxes offers its virtual machine images at no cost, making it accessible for both personal and educational purposes.
  • Ease of Use
    With downloadable images compatible with popular virtualization software like VirtualBox and VMware, users can easily integrate these into their existing workflows.
  • Regular Updates
    OSBoxes regularly updates its collection of images, staying current with the latest OS versions and patches, which is beneficial for security and functionality.

Possible disadvantages of OSBoxes

  • Limited Support
    Being a free resource, OSBoxes may not offer dedicated support or assistance for troubleshooting, which might be challenging for users requiring help.
  • Reliability Concerns
    As a third-party provider, there can be concerns about the trustworthiness of the images, requiring users to ensure they're using secure and verified downloads.
  • Generic Configurations
    While pre-configured, the images may not meet specific needs or optimizations, requiring further customization by the user.
  • Dependent on Third-party Software
    Users need to have or install compatible virtualization software like VirtualBox or VMware to use the images, which can be a barrier for some.

Open Server features and specs

  • Ease of Installation
    Open Server is known for its simple and straightforward installation process, allowing users to get started quickly without complex configurations.
  • Pre-configured Environment
    The software comes with a pre-configured environment that supports various technologies like PHP, MySQL, and Apache, making it ideal for developers who need a ready-to-use stack.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Open Server provides a graphical interface that is easy to navigate, allowing users to manage their server settings without deep technical knowledge.
  • Portable Version
    It offers a portable version that can be run from USB drives, enabling developers to carry their development environment anywhere.
  • Wide Range of Tools
    The server includes a variety of tools and utilities necessary for web development, enhancing productivity by bundling them in one package.

Possible disadvantages of Open Server

  • Windows-Only
    Open Server is only available for the Windows operating system, limiting its accessibility for developers using macOS or Linux.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to other server solutions like XAMPP or WAMP, Open Server has a smaller user community, which might make troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Open Server can be resource-intensive, particularly on lower-end hardware, which might impact performance during development.
  • Lack of Enterprise Features
    The server software might lack some advanced features and scalability options needed for enterprise-level applications.
  • Not Updated Frequently
    Open Server may not receive updates as frequently as other mainstream server solutions, possibly leading to outdated software components.

OSBoxes videos

Using pre-built Virtual Machines from osboxes.org

Open Server videos

No Open Server videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OSBoxes and Open Server)
Development Tools
50 50%
50% 50
Web Servers
0 0%
100% 100
Web And Application Servers
Terminal Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OSBoxes should be more popular than Open Server. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OSBoxes mentions (10)

  • Can't change keyboard layout on androidx86 - Lineage OS
    I installed a Lineage OS image from osboxes.org in QEMU, and can't set up a physical keyboard. I added the desired languages in the AOSP keyboard, but no shortcut works for me. On a pure android x86 I changed the layout with Ctrl + Space, but now it won't work. In the shortcut info, the shortcut for switching input method is Search + Space, but what is that search button? Checked Alt, Ctrl, Super -> No result. It... Source: over 2 years ago
  • If There Only Was a Simple Way To Test Software Without Installing It... Oh, There Is?
    For say, over a decade now, it is possible to have a PC within a PC. Computer as a service, is an appropriate term. For example, you could download ready-made virtual PC's from OS Boxes for a lot of Linux operating systems. Granted, though, there aren't many that boast specific applications. For example, I'd love to be able to download a "developer PC" that comes with things like MySQL Workbench, SQL Server... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • how to import strata from virtual hard disk?
    I went on https://osboxes.org and downloaded a virtual hard disk of opensuse, and when I did brl import I got. Source: about 3 years ago
  • FreeBSD Audio
    I downloaded a version of FreeBSD from osboxes.org to give it a try in VirtualBox. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Can't install OpenSUSE on Oracle VM Virtualbox Manager
    I always download from osboxes.org a premade image, then boot on an install cd and upgrade. It's the only way I've ever gotten OpenSUSE to work via VirtualBox. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Open Server mentions (1)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OSBoxes and Open Server, you can also consider the following products

XAMPP - XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server that is primarily used when locally developing web applications.

Cloudron - The Cloudron platform helps you effortlessly run web apps on your server.

Laragon - All in one web server.

Termux - Terminal emulator and Linux environment for Android

MAMP - MAMP is the abbreviation for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It is a reliable application with its four components that allows you to access the local PHP server as well as the database server (SQL).

BitNami Application Stacks - BitNami Stacks make it incredibly easy to deploy your favorite open source software.