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VMware Workstation VS Portable Virtualbox

Compare VMware Workstation VS Portable Virtualbox and see what are their differences

VMware Workstation logo VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation is a multiple operating system handler to easily evaluate the any other type of new operating systems.

Portable Virtualbox logo Portable Virtualbox

Portable-VirtualBox is a free and open source software tool that lets you run any operating system from a usb stick without separate installation. Installation instructions. Download and run Portable-VirtualBox_v5.
  • VMware Workstation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-22
  • Portable Virtualbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

VMware Workstation features and specs

  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    VMware Workstation supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing users to run multiple OS environments on a single physical machine.
  • Snapshot and Cloning Features
    Users can take snapshots of virtual machines for easy backups, experimentation, or rolling back changes. Cloning allows for easy duplication of VMs.
  • Advanced Networking
    Offers robust networking capabilities including support for virtual networks, NAT, and bridged configurations, giving users significant flexibility in setting up network environments.
  • High Performance
    VMware Workstation is optimized for performance, offering high-speed processing and efficient use of hardware resources.
  • Seamless Integration
    Integrates well with other VMware products, easing the migration of virtual machines between systems and cloud environments.

Possible disadvantages of VMware Workstation

  • High Cost
    The software can be expensive, especially for the Pro version, which may not be cost-effective for individual users or small businesses.
  • Resource Intensive
    Requires substantial hardware resources, including significant CPU and memory usage, which can be a limitation for users with older or less powerful systems.
  • Learning Curve
    The advanced features and capabilities may demand a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and effort to master.
  • Limited Mac OS Support
    While VMware has Fusion for Mac, VMware Workstation is primarily designed for Windows and Linux, which may not be ideal for Mac users.
  • Dependency on Physical Hardware
    Performance and capabilities are dependent on the underlying physical hardware, making it necessary to have high-spec machines for optimal performance.

Portable Virtualbox features and specs

  • Portability
    Portable VirtualBox allows you to run virtual machines from a USB stick or other removable media, making it easy to carry your virtual working environment with you.
  • No Installation Required
    The portable version doesn't require installation on the host machine, which is useful for users who donโ€™t have administrative privileges or do not want to modify the host system.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Portable VirtualBox can be used on multiple operating systems, allowing for greater flexibility in where and how you use it.
  • Isolation
    Running virtual machines in a portable format ensures isolation from the host system, increasing security by reducing the risk of malware affecting the host.
  • Consistency
    Using the same virtual machine across different environments ensures a consistent working and development environment.

Possible disadvantages of Portable Virtualbox

  • Performance Overhead
    Running virtual machines from a USB stick can result in slower performance compared to running them directly from an installed version on the host system.
  • Limited USB Write Speed
    The read/write speeds of USB drives can significantly bottleneck performance, especially for I/O-intensive tasks within the virtualized environment.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    The portable version may lack some advanced features and integrations available in the fully installed version of VirtualBox.
  • Driver Issues
    Depending on the host system, there may be driver compatibility issues that can affect the functionality and stability of the portable virtual machine.
  • Data Loss Risk
    Since the virtual machine is run off removable media, there is a higher risk of data loss or corruption if the media gets damaged or disconnected improperly.

Analysis of VMware Workstation

Overall verdict

  • VMware Workstation is generally considered a good solution for users looking for a comprehensive and efficient virtualization tool. It is particularly appreciated for its stability, versatility, and extensive feature set, catering to both beginners and advanced users.

Why this product is good

  • VMware Workstation is widely regarded as a reliable and powerful virtualization tool. It allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine, making it ideal for testing, development, and running applications in various environments. It offers a wide range of features, including support for 3D graphics, multiple monitors, and seamless integration with cloud services and other VMware products. Its user-friendly interface and robust performance are consistently praised in user reviews.

Recommended for

    VMware Workstation is recommended for IT professionals, software developers, testers, and tech enthusiasts who require a reliable platform for running multiple operating systems, testing software, or developing applications in isolated environments. It's also suitable for users looking to experiment with different OS configurations without risking their primary system.

Analysis of Portable Virtualbox

Overall verdict

  • While it offers the convenience of portability, Portable VirtualBox can sometimes be less stable and have performance drawbacks compared to a fully installed version of VirtualBox. It is suitable for light to moderate virtual machine usage but may not be ideal for resource-intensive applications.

Why this product is good

  • Portable VirtualBox (vbox.me) allows users to run a complete operating system installation from a USB drive without the need for installation on the host machine. This is beneficial for those who need consistent environments across different computers or want to test different OS configurations without affecting the host system.

Recommended for

    Portable VirtualBox is recommended for developers, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts who need a portable and flexible solution for running virtual machines on different hardware without installation. It's also suitable for students and learners who want to experiment with different operating systems in a non-permanent environment.

VMware Workstation videos

VMware Workstation 10 Program Review

More videos:

  • Review - Parallels Desktop vs VMware Fusion Review | Best Mac Apps
  • Review - Intro VMware Workstation Player
  • Review - VirtualBox vs VMware Player - In-Depth Comparison on Ubuntu 18.04
  • Review - Vmware Player VS Vmware Pro VS Virtualbox
  • Review - Is VMware Workstation Player for Linux a Virtualbox Replacement?
  • Review - VMWare Fusion 11 Performance
  • Review - Parallels Desktop vs VMWare Fusion - PERFORMANCE Comparison! Who WON?

Portable Virtualbox videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VMware Workstation and Portable Virtualbox)
Cloud Computing
70 70%
30% 30
Virtualization
71 71%
29% 29
Virtual Machine Management
Office & Productivity
59 59%
41% 41

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare VMware Workstation and Portable Virtualbox

VMware Workstation Reviews

Best Alternatives of VirtualBox for Windows
Workstation Player is also capable of running restricted virtual machines, that is, machines created with VMware Workstation Pro. This makes it the ideal solution to deploy in an educational environment without incurring exorbitant hardware and software expenses. Workstation Player virtual machines are portable too, so you can transfer the entire VM file to a flash drive or...
10 Best VMware Alternatives and Similar Software
VMwareโ€™s services include virtualization, networking and security management tools, and storage, to name a few. VMware vSphere is a server virtualization tool for deploying and managing large-scale virtual machine infrastructures. VMware vSphere, often known as a virtualized data center system, allows IT departments to deploy workloads on the most cost-effective...
Best Free Virtual Machine Software in 2022 โ€“ Start Your New Career
Both these applications have similar features and user-friendliness, but the configurations are developed for their respective Operating Systems. VMware player is a free product if you are looking to use this program personally. But it lacks some of the important features to use as a complete virtual machine software compared to VirtualBox or VMware workstation. If you are...
12 Best FREE Virtual Machine (VM) Software in 2020
VMware Fusion for Mac is Virtual Machine software. This tool is known for cloud computing and virtualization software. It allows you to use multiple applications on different OS at the same time.
Source: www.guru99.com
7 VirtualBox Alternatives You Can Consider
This virtualization software gives tough competition to big names like VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation pro when it comes to simultaneously running two OS. It is advertised for running Windows on Mac because for years it was only available for Mac users. But now a Windows version is also available with support for Linux and Chrome OS as a guest operating system. It works...

Portable Virtualbox Reviews

15 Lutris Alternatives
With Portable-VirtualBox, a free and open-source program, you can start any operating system straight from a USB stick. It gives you a lot of freedom in how you use the hard drive and keeps you from filling up the disc, which is especially helpful if you are using someone else's computer. Defaults are now made automatically. It makes VirtualBox portable by extracting the...
7 VirtualBox Alternatives You Can Consider
Due to its limitation, it will not support bridged networking i.e connecting a guest OS to a network on the host system through its network adapter is not possible. Therefore, you need a virtual network adaptor in order to do that. Portable-VirtualBox is highly configurable and supports following virtual guest operating systems: Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista....
7 Best VirtualBox Alternatives You Can Use
Iโ€™m sure you can appreciate the irony in the name of this program, but this is also a very apt description of what Portable-VirtualBox is. In essence, this free and open source program is VirtualBox that you donโ€™t need to essentially install, thereby making it useful even if itโ€™s contained in a USB drive. Portable-VirtualBox works by downloading and virtually installing...
Source: beebom.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing VMware Workstation and Portable Virtualbox, you can also consider the following products

VirtualBox - VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as...

QEMU - QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that...

Proxmox VE - Proxmox is an open-source server virtualization management solution that offers the ability to manage virtual server technology with the Linux OpenVZ and KVM technology.

Parallels Desktop - Parallels Desktop 10 is a hardware and operating system virtualization program designed for the users of Mac Operating System to enjoy the most of the versions of Windows operating systems in their machine.

Kernel Virtual Machine - Kernel Virtual Machine is a highly advanced and professional level virtualization program designed for the Linux operating system based on the x 86 hardware systems.

vSphere - Get started with VMware vSphere editions, the worldโ€™s leading server virtualization platform and the best foundation for your apps, your cloud, and your business.