Virtualization

19 apps

Virtualization apps run other operating systems or Linux containers on the Mac. On Apple silicon, ARM guests run at near-native speed, while x86 guests must be emulated and are much slower. Container tools run a small Linux VM in the background to host Docker or Podman containers.

UTM is a free, open source app built on QEMU and Apple's Virtualization framework, suited to Linux, macOS and ARM Windows guests. Lima runs Linux VMs with file sharing and port forwarding, Multipass launches Ubuntu VMs quickly, and Podman Desktop and Rancher Desktop are open alternatives to Docker Desktop. Docker Desktop needs a paid subscription for larger companies.

Dockerdocker.comPowerful, performs operating-system-level virtualization.Open sourceFreeBerthlyberthly.net44Native GUI for Apple's container tool, with menu bar monitoring and drag-and-drop image builds.Open sourceFreeupdated 1d agoGantrygetgantry/gantry70Docker management client for local and SSH remote hosts with built-in MCP server support for agent workflows.Open sourceFreeupdated 10d agoCocoa-WayJ-x-Z/cocoa-way1.1kWayland compositor for running Linux GUI apps without a virtual machine.Open sourceFreeupdated 1d agoGhostVMgroundwater/GhostVM664Virtualization tool for creating and managing isolated macOS virtual machine workspaces.Freeupdated 2mo agoMacVirtuenaden.coRun free and unlimited Virtual Machines on your Mac.Mockerus/mocker365Container manager built on Apple's Containerization framework.Open sourceFreeupdated 15d agoMultipassmultipass.run9.3kUbuntu VMs on demand for any workstation.Open sourceupdated todayOrbStackorbstack.devFast, light, and simple way to run Docker containers and Linux machines on macOS.FreeParallelsparallels.comPowerful, easy-to-use VM. No free upgrade for each new Mac OS.Podman Desktoppodman-desktop.io8.1kOpen-source graphical tool for managing containers and Kubernetes.Open sourceFreeupdated todayRancher Desktoprancherdesktop.io7.4kContainer management and Kubernetes on the desktop.Open sourceupdated todayLimalima-vm/lima22.1kLima launches Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing and port forwarding.Open sourceupdated todayQEMUqemu.org13.9kA free and open-source emulator and virtualizer that can perform hardware virtualization.Open sourceFreeupdated todayUTMmac.getutm.app35.9kUTM is an easy-to-use GUI for QEMU and can run ARM64, x64 and other VMs on M1 Macs.Open sourceupdated todayVagrantvagrantup.com27.2kTool for building and distributing development environments.Open sourceFreeupdated 3d agoVeertuveertu.comThe lightest VM on Mac. Responsive, sandboxed & native way to run VM on your Mac.FreeVirtual Boxvirtualbox.orgPowerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product.FreeVMware Fusionvmware.comPowerful, commercial VM developed by VMware.

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