--- title: VirtualBox Reviews meta_title: 'VirtualBox Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 294 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how VirtualBox works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 294 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-06-22' parent_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # VirtualBox Reviews **Vendor:** Oracle **Category:** [Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-desktop-infrastructure-vdi) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 294 ## About VirtualBox Oracle VM VirtualBox is a free, open-source, cross-platform virtualization software that enables users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single device. Designed for IT professionals and developers, VirtualBox supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Oracle Solaris as host operating systems, making it ideal for testing, development, demonstration, and deployment across diverse platforms. Key Features and Functionality: - Cross-Platform Compatibility: VirtualBox runs on various host operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Oracle Solaris, and supports a wide range of guest operating systems. - High Performance: The software leverages the latest in chip-level support for virtualization, including support for AMD, Intel, and Apple silicon processors, to provide faster execution times for guest operating systems. - 3D Graphics Support: VirtualBox includes VBoxSVGA and VMSVGA interfaces to improve 3D graphics performance. - USB Device Support: It implements a virtual USB controller, allowing users to connect arbitrary USB devices to virtual machines without installing device-specific drivers on the host. - Disk Image Encryption: VirtualBox supports 128 or 256-bit data encryption keys, enabling transparent encryption of data stored in hard disk images using the AES algorithm. - Remote Machine Display: The VirtualBox Remote Desktop Extension (VRDE) enables high-performance remote access to running virtual machines, supporting the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with additional features like full client USB support. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: VirtualBox addresses several key challenges for its users: - Cost Reduction: By allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single device, VirtualBox reduces the need for multiple physical machines, thereby lowering hardware and operational costs. - Development Efficiency: Developers can test applications across different operating systems and versions using the same desktop environment, accelerating the development and testing process. - Simplified Software Distribution: Solution providers can distribute applications within a VirtualBox virtual machine, ensuring compatibility across various operating systems and versions without additional configuration. - Legacy Application Support: IT teams can extend the lifespan of legacy applications by running them on modern hardware through VirtualBox, avoiding the need for costly application rewrites or hardware replacements. - Secure Remote Access: VirtualBox facilitates secure access to restricted applications for remote workers by providing encrypted and isolated environments, ensuring data security and compliance without extensive rearchitecting of applications. In summary, Oracle VM VirtualBox offers a versatile and efficient solution for running multiple operating systems on a single device, enhancing development workflows, reducing costs, and providing secure, cross-platform compatibility for various IT needs. ## VirtualBox Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users appreciate the **user-friendly virtualization management** of VirtualBox, ensuring seamless integration of multiple operating systems. (4 reviews) - Users appreciate the **ease of use** of VirtualBox, enabling seamless integration and hassle-free installation of operating systems. (3 reviews) - Users value the **seamless integration of various operating systems** in VirtualBox, enhancing efficiency and user-friendliness. (2 reviews) - Users value the **end-to-end encryption** that protects their data locally before it reaches the servers. (2 reviews) - Users value the **excellent customer support** of VirtualBox, ensuring assistance for various technical needs and queries. (1 reviews) - Users value the **seamless Linux integration** of VirtualBox, appreciating its ease of use and installation. (1 reviews) - Networking (1 reviews) - Open Source (1 reviews) - OS Support (1 reviews) - Setup Ease (1 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users experience significant **performance issues** with VirtualBox, including crashes and slow operation, impacting their workflow. (3 reviews) - Users express concerns about **communication clarity** , struggling with properly sending and receiving documents in VirtualBox. (1 reviews) - Users experience **compatibility issues** with VirtualBox, facing crashes and limited support for ISO files during testing. (1 reviews) - Users experience **lag due to limited resources** , as VirtualBox consumes excessive RAM from their Windows machines. (1 reviews) - Users find **network issues** can complicate setup, varying by version with NAT, bridged, and internal-adaptor options. (1 reviews) ## VirtualBox Reviews ### 1. VirtualBox: Free, Open-Source, and Great for Cross-Platform Testing **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Collen H. | Network Technician, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 24, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** Cross‑platform support VirtualBox works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris, which makes it straightforward to test or run different environments without needing separate hardware. Free and open‑source Compared with many other virtualization tools, VirtualBox is completely free. That makes it a solid option for students, professionals, and community projects, especially when there aren’t budget resources available. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** Performance limitations In my experience, VirtualBox can run slower than alternatives like VMware or Hyper‑V, particularly when you’re running resource‑intensive guest operating systems. Graphics & hardware support Its 3D acceleration and GPU passthrough options are fairly limited, which makes it a less suitable choice for gaming or other graphics‑heavy workloads. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** Hardware independence VirtualBox solves the problem of needing multiple physical machines just to run different operating systems. It lets me test Windows, Linux, or even legacy systems on a single computer, which saves both money and space. Safe experimentation Snapshots and rollbacks reduce the risk of breaking anything while trying new software or changing configurations. I can experiment more freely, knowing I can revert quickly if something goes wrong. ### 2. Easy, Free Virtualization for Running Multiple OS on One Machine **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prajwal G. | Jr. Network Engineer, Computer & Network Security, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 25, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** VirtualBox is easy to set up and works well for running multiple operating systems on a single machine. I like that it is free, open-source, and supports a wide range of guest OS options. It is especially useful for learning, testing, and lab environments without needing additional hardware. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** Performance can sometimes feel slower compared to other virtualization tools, especially with graphics-intensive workloads. The user interface feels a bit outdated, and configuring advanced networking or USB passthrough can be confusing for beginners. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** VirtualBox solves the problem of safely testing and running multiple operating systems on a single machine. It allows me to experiment with different environments, tools, and configurations without affecting my main system. This is especially useful for learning, testing, and troubleshooting, as it reduces risk and saves time and hardware costs. ### 3. Cost-Effective Virtualization, Seamlessly Runs Linux **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** yash p. | Cybersecurity Trainee, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 05, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** I use VirtualBox for running Kali Linux tasks, and it solves all my problems by running software smoothly without taking much space, allowing me to use it effortlessly. I like everything about VirtualBox. My Kali Linux system works well with it, and I appreciate the feature where it lets us use multiple operating systems in VirtualBox. The initial setup is easy, as it just requires using an ISO file to set up any Linux distribution. It fits well with my company of 50 employees and previously, we switched from VMware to VirtualBox due to cost considerations. I give VirtualBox a recommendation score of 10. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** All Good **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** VirtualBox lets me run Kali Linux tasks smoothly, using less space than others. It allows multiple OS installations with easy setup using an ISO file, and replaced VMware due to cost. Everything works well, especially for my 50-employee company. ### 4. Versatile and Reliable, but the UI Feels Dated **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sam P. | Cyber Security Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** The best part is the versatility. VirtualBox handles a wide range of guest OSes, integrates well with snapshots and shared folders, and performs reliably for development and testing. The pricing is unbeatable, and while support is mostly community‑driven, it’s active enough to solve most issues. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** The UI is functional but dated. It works, but it hasn’t really evolved, and some settings feel buried or unintuitive. A cleaner, more modern interface would make a big difference. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** It solves the problem of running multiple operating systems for development and testing. Snapshots, shared folders, and cross‑platform support make it useful for trying out configurations or reproducing issues. The benefit is a flexible, low‑cost virtualisation setup that works well enough for most non‑production tasks. ### 5. VirtualBox: Simple Setup and Smooth Daily Use with Advanced Options **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 19, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** VirtualBox is top-notch when it comes to setup and day-to-day use, especially compared to other competitors I’ve tried. It keeps the overall experience simple and straightforward, while still giving me the option to dive into more advanced configurations when I need them. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** VirtualBox seems to have issues with graphics, especially when running graphics-heavy apps. I’ve also noticed that using it can sometimes cause spikes in resource usage and CPU load. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** VirtualBox has been helping me tremendously as I learn new operating systems and practice different skills, all while keeping me from doing any real “damage” to my main setup and network. ### 6. Effortless VM Setup That Just Works **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nathan C. | Offensive Security Consultant , Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 29, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** The ease of set up for any of my virtual machines. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** It sometimes has issues with the copy and paste functions from host to guest and vice versa. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** Having to install multiple operating systems on a single device. ### 7. Effortless OS Integration, But Stability Issues Persist **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** shailesh s. | we developer, Computer Software, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 26, 2025 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** I love how VirtualBox is very easy to use, making the integration of various operating systems seamless and straightforward. Its user-friendliness allows me to install different operating systems efficiently. I particularly appreciate the virtualization and bridge system features, which facilitate easy internet connectivity without any problems. Additionally, setting up VirtualBox is incredibly simple; I just follow the installation wizard, which makes the process hassle-free and accessible even for those who may not be tech-savvy. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** I encounter frequent crashes with VirtualBox, which disrupts my work and can be quite frustrating. Additionally, there are times when VirtualBox does not support ISO files for certain operating systems, which limits my options when testing different environments. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use VirtualBox to install, test, and experience different operating systems on a single device, which supports my academic needs. It's easy to use, integrates seamlessly, and connects to the internet efficiently, allowing me to run multiple OSs like Linux on my Windows laptop. ### 8. Free, Clean, and Powerful VirtualBox **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Food & Beverages | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 13, 2026 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** Great for testing out new opersting systems and managing multiple virtual machines for testing and learning purpose. And best thing is that its completely free. The UI is also simple and clean but very functional. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** Theres nothing I dislike about VirtualBox so far. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** Running multiple virtual environments on single hardware. ### 9. A must-have regardless of platform you are on **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Marc G. | Administrateur de Systèmes, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 28, 2025 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** My review is solely based on it's Linux integration. Oracle-Virtualbox is free, easy to find, download and install, has few requirements. Once that is done : you simply need to locate and download the distro of your choice. With basic hardware and networking knowledge you can then set it up. Also the copy + paste between the VM and the host OS is a big plus. I do use other virtualization tools, but for home and training it's a must-have : I've been using it for several years now. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** The networking, depending on the versions can be a bit more complicated to setup - with the : NAT, bridged, internal-adaptor. **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** If I need to put together an OS to test and not damage my workstation : then to train or learn it's indispensable. ### 10. Effortless and Instantly Accessible—A True Time Saver **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Medical Practice | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2025 **What do you like best about VirtualBox?** Enjoy the ease of use and the fact that it is readily accessible for use immediately. **What do you dislike about VirtualBox?** Nothing so far, it has been such a help! **What problems is VirtualBox solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sometimes the program causes my system to refresh before I can continue using it. Can be quite frustrating. ## VirtualBox Discussions - [How easy is it to install VirtualBox and what is it used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/10403-que-ta-facil-es-instalar-virtual-box-y-para-que-nos-sirve) - 2 comments, 1 upvote - [How do I create a virtual machine in VirtualBox?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-create-a-virtual-machine-in-virtualbox) - 2 comments - [Is VirtualBox free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-virtualbox-free) - 2 comments - [What is VirtualBox software virtualization?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-virtualbox-software-virtualization) - 1 comment - [How does virtual box work?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-virtual-box-work) - 1 comment - [View VirtualBox pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews/virtualbox-review-12975882?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-06-22+22%3A21%3A09+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=09aa16ad-6831-4e6a-b25b-a060359b34dc&secure%5Btoken%5D=98c608f76376904cc8cc50e9b999cc8cffbfcd3e58446989884d95a6cd468690&format=llm_user) ## VirtualBox Integrations - [Google Workspace](https://www.g2.com/products/google-workspace/reviews) - [Vagrant](https://www.g2.com/products/vagrant/reviews) - [Windows 11](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-11/reviews) ## VirtualBox Features **Functionality** - Desktop Virtualization - Application Virtualization **Performance** - Scalability - Portability - Data Recovery **Desktop Management** - Desktop Provisioning - Image Management - Load Balancing **Functionality** - OS Integration - Resource Saving - Performance Management - Security **Support** - Multi-Device Portability **Agentic AI - Server Virtualization** - Autonomous Task Execution - Multi-step Planning - Cross-system Integration - Adaptive Learning - Proactive Assistance - Decision Making **Security** - Two-Factor Authentication - Single Sign-On (SSO) - Encryption - Access Controls and Permissions ## Top VirtualBox Alternatives - [Citrix DaaS](https://www.g2.com/products/citrix-citrix-daas/reviews) - 4.1/5.0 (520 reviews) - [VMware vSphere](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-vsphere/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (746 reviews) - [VMware Workstation Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-workstation-pro/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (136 reviews)