VirtualBox

Name: VirtualBox
Availability: InStock
Author: Oracle

VirtualBox is a free, open source virtualization program from Oracle that lets you run entire operating systems inside virtual machines on your existing computer. Install Windows inside Linux, test Linux distributions without touching your main system, or run legacy software in an isolated environment. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux hosts.

What it does

Creating a virtual machine takes about a minute. Click New, give it a name, select the operating system type, allocate RAM and disk space, then point it at an ISO file. Start the machine and install the OS as if you were setting up a new computer. The host system and the virtual machine share hardware resources, so you need enough RAM to run both comfortably. VirtualBox supports up to 32 virtual CPUs and 256 GB of RAM per machine, though practical limits depend on your physical hardware.

Snapshots save the complete state of a virtual machine at a specific moment. Take a snapshot before installing risky software or making system changes, and restore it instantly if something goes wrong. Shared Folders make files from your host system available inside the virtual machine without network setup. USB passthrough lets the guest OS access physical USB devices plugged into the host. Network configuration supports NAT for simple internet access, Bridged mode for local network visibility, and Internal Network for communication between virtual machines without external access.

Advantages

Completely free and open source under GPLv3
Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux hosts with the same interface
Snapshots let you save and restore machine states instantly
Supports a wide range of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, BSD, and Solaris

Drawbacks

3D graphics acceleration is limited, not suitable for gaming inside VMs
Performance overhead compared to VMware Workstation, especially with disk I/O
Guest Additions required for smooth mouse integration, shared folders, and display resizing
macOS as a guest OS is technically possible but not officially supported and legally restricted to Apple hardware

Who it is for

I use VirtualBox regularly for testing software across different operating systems and for running Linux tools on a Windows machine. It is the go-to option for developers, IT students, and anyone who needs to experiment with operating systems without dedicating separate hardware. If you need better 3D performance or enterprise features, VMware Workstation Pro (now free for personal use) is the main alternative. For server virtualization at scale, look at Proxmox or Hyper-V instead. But for personal desktop virtualization at zero cost, VirtualBox does the job well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VirtualBox free?

VirtualBox is free and open source under the GPLv3 license. The Extension Pack, which adds USB 3.0 support, disk encryption, and PXE boot, is free for personal use but requires a commercial license for business use.

Is VirtualBox or VMware better?

VMware Workstation Pro generally offers better performance, especially for 3D graphics and disk intensive workloads. VirtualBox is free, open source, and runs on more host platforms. For personal use and learning, VirtualBox is the practical choice. For professional or performance critical work, VMware is worth evaluating.

Can I run macOS in VirtualBox?

It is technically possible but not officially supported by either Apple or Oracle. Apple's license restricts macOS to Apple hardware. Performance in a VirtualBox VM is poor compared to native installation. For macOS development, a real Mac or a Mac cloud service is the recommended approach.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Extension installation	Select the machine › Settings › Storage › Click Empty under Controller: IDE › Select an ISO file › OK › Start › The system installs from the ISO.
2	Virtual machine snapshot creation	Select the machine › Snapshots (icon next to Details) › Take › Enter a name › OK › You can restore the machine state to this point at any time.
3	Virtual machine creation	Machine › New › Enter a name › Select OS type (Windows/Linux/macOS) › Allocate RAM and disk › Create › Machine ready for OS installation.
4	Virtual machine network configuration	Settings › Network › Adapter 1 › Attached to: NAT (internet), Bridged (local network), or Internal Network (between machines) › OK.
5	USB redirection to virtual machine	Install Extension Pack › Settings › USB › Add a device filter › After starting the machine, the USB device is available inside.
6	Folder sharing between host and virtual machine	Settings › Shared Folders › Add › Select a folder from the host › Check Auto-mount › OK › Folder is visible inside the virtual machine.
7	Virtual machine export and import	File › Export Appliance › Select the machine › Save as .ova › Transfer to another computer › File › Import Appliance › Load the .ova file.
8	Virtual machine cloning	Prawy klik na maszyne › Clone › Full Clone (niezalezna kopia) lub Linked Clone (wspoldzieli dysk bazowy) › Clone › Gotowa kopia.
9	Headless virtual machine execution	Right-click the machine › Start › Headless Start › Machine runs in the background without a window › Access via RDP or SSH.