A few days ago, VMware has announced that its popular desktop hypervisor products, VMware Fusion (for macOS) and VMware Workstation (for Windows and Linux), are now completely free for all users. This change applies to both personal and commercial use.
This decision aims to make VMware's desktop hypervisors more accessible to a wider audience and will enable the company to gather valuable insights from a broader user base to further improve its products.
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What does this mean for existing customers?
For those currently subscribed to Workstation Pro or Fusion Pro:
- Your existing contract will remain in effect until its expiry date.
- You will continue to receive full service and enterprise-grade support as outlined in your contract.
- After your contract ends, you can continue using the product but will no longer have access to support ticketing for troubleshooting.
All users will have access to:
- The full range of features previously available in the paid versions.
- A comprehensive ecosystem of online resources, including documentation, user guides, and community forums.
What about support for new free users?
VMware is providing a robust support system for new users of the free versions:
- Community Access: Connect with a growing community of users to exchange insights and solutions. Dedicated forums are available for both Workstation and Fusion.
- Extensive Product Documentation: Detailed documentation is provided to help users maximise the use of the tools.
- Knowledge Base Articles: A rich library of articles covers a wide range of topics, from troubleshooting to advanced features.
Why is VMware making this change?
While VMware hasn't explicitly stated the reasons for this shift, it's likely that the company is aiming to:
- Expand its user base and gather valuable insights from a broader range of users.
- Focus on its core business of selling virtualisation technology for large-scale IT infrastructure. This is where the majority of VMware's revenue comes from, along with associated technical support contracts.
Is VMware abandoning Workstation and Fusion?
No. VMware has explicitly stated that it will continue to invest in new features, usability improvements, and other enhancements for both products.
The move to a free model is more likely a strategic decision to focus on different revenue streams while still maintaining the popularity and relevance of these desktop hypervisor tools.
Where can I download the free versions?
To download VMware Workstation Pro for Linux, you need to:
- Sign up for a Broadcom account.
- Sign in to the support page to access the download link.
- Download the Linux version, which comes as a .bundle file.
- Give the file permission to run.
- Launch the installer from a terminal.
After installation, you can launch the app from the app launcher and start using it.
What are the alternatives?
While VMware Workstation and Fusion are now free, there are other open-source virtual machine software options available:
Each of these options caters to a variety of use cases and offers its own set of features and advantages.
