Is there a free VMWare Player for Mac?

Question

There is a free player for vmware on windows, is there a free version as well for mac? If not, any other free alternatives?

score 39 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

39

Already asked at superuser (Credits to the OP). I post the answer here again - slightly modified:

There is no version of VMware Player for OS X. Instead, VMware sells a Mac version of their product called VMware Fusion. You may use it as trial version 30 days for free

If you don't want to purchase VMware Fusion, you can:

Use Boot Camp to some other OS. The OS itself should run fine.
Use Boot Camp and run vmplayer from the other OS. (Untested since I do not have a OS/X host)
Use VirtualBox. VirtualBox can use virtual hard disks in VMware's VMDK format (like so).

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community

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answered Jun 14 '15 at 09:09

klanomath

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The answer is outdated. Fusion Player 12 is available now: https://blogs.vmware.com/teamfusion/2020/09/fusion-12-now-available.html – kartlad Nov 25 '20 at 09:27

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 17 '20 at 22:41

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From September 2020 there is free VMWare Fusion Player 12 for macOS (VMware Fusion Blog: Fusion 12: Now Available!):

Fusion Player offers a Personal Use License, available for free with a valid MyVMware account. Home users, Open Source contributors, students, and anyone else can use Fusion Player Free for Non-Commercial activity.

You can register and download it from this VMWare page

answered Nov 17 '20 at 22:41

Aivar Paalberg

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this activity seems ceased now... for mac. – Sinri Edogawa Dec 16 '20 at 17:04
Can you be more specific - what do you mean? – Aivar Paalberg Dec 16 '20 at 21:08
It works. I just downloaded and installed it and ran an existed VM. Note: I had to create an account on VMWare site to be able to download the Fusion app, and get a personal licence key for free – Roman May 07 '21 at 06:42

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 13 '18 at 12:21

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There is also Parallels Desktop for Mac. Years ago I just received a license as a developer, and until now I did not find in any other hypervisor such an integration

answered Sep 13 '18 at 12:21

gbiondo

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Parallels is not free – mmmmmm Sep 13 '18 at 12:30
Just like VMWare fusion isn't. – gbiondo Sep 13 '18 at 12:58
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I don't understand the down vote. Giving you a +1 for a good attempt at tackling an old question. Oh, and welcome to Ask Different. – Allan Sep 13 '18 at 14:06
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@gbiondo VMWare Workstation for Windows does have a free viewer that can run VMs so it is a valid question as to how run a VM for free under MacOS – mmmmmm Sep 13 '18 at 17:05
@Mark: this topic was for Mac, anyways... – gbiondo Sep 14 '18 at 09:29
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@gbiondo The question is On Windows there is free player for VMWare is there a free version ons MacOS – mmmmmm Sep 14 '18 at 09:56
@Mark the question is poorly worded, but the title makes it clear. Notice that the OP didn't place the verb in a question position for windows, but it did for MacOS. It reads "given that there is a free player for vmware on windows, is there a free version as well for mac? – Riccardo Galli Sep 24 '18 at 16:48
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The question and title is very clear - i there a free player for VMWare, Parallels is not free so does not answer the question – mmmmmm Sep 24 '18 at 18:39

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 24 '18 at 06:44

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There Is Wine Or Playonmac There Are Free Like Virtualbox

answered Oct 24 '18 at 06:44

The Pro

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Yes but not the same. They are not virtual machines – mmmmmm Oct 24 '18 at 08:05

Is there a free VMWare Player for Mac?

4 Answers4