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Instead of Multipass

Multipass alternatives

Multipass launches cloud-style virtual machines on Linux, macOS, and Windows workstations. It is free, supports both guest architectures, and offers command-line and graphical interfaces. Cloud-init metadata can create configured servers, while local workflows model AWS, Azure, Google, IBM, and Oracle deployments. Ubuntu images, host-folder sharing, snapshots, a primary instance with native filesystem integration, and Docker guidance support development and prototyping. Hypervisors vary by host: Host Compute System on Windows, Apple Virtualization on macOS, and QEMU on Linux.

  1. 1

    Proxmox VE

    by Proxmox VE
    Free plan AndroidAPILinux+3

    Enterprise server virtualization with web management — Proxmox VE combines KVM and Linux Containers with web management for VMs, clusters, and disaster recovery.

    7.7 Free plan · paid from €120/yr Visit site
  2. 2

    VMware Workstation Pro

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows

    Windows and Linux desktop virtualization — VMware Workstation Pro adds nested virtualization and GPU acceleration through a desktop interface, while Multipass supports broader host platforms.

    7.5 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    QEMU

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2

    Cross-platform emulation across CPU architectures — QEMU provides full machine and user-mode emulation plus disk-image utilities, extending beyond Multipass's Ubuntu-oriented virtual machines.

    9.2 Free plan Visit site
  4. 4

    KVM

    Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted

    Linux KVM virtualization with Windows or Linux guests — KVM offers Linux-native full virtualization with nested virtualization and GPU acceleration, whereas Multipass abstracts host-specific hypervisors.

    9.0 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Xen Project Hypervisor

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Bare-metal server and infrastructure virtualization — Xen is a type-1 bare-metal hypervisor with a small microkernel and restricted guest interface, unlike Multipass's workstation model.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    virt-manager

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Desktop management of libvirt virtual machines — virt-manager provides desktop wizards and live resource statistics for libvirt domains, primarily KVM, instead of Multipass's instance workflow.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  7. 7

    Oracle VirtualBox

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    Cross-platform x86 desktop virtualization — VirtualBox is open-source cross-platform x86 virtualization with nested virtualization and GPU acceleration, while Multipass targets cloud-style instances.

    7.7 Free plan Visit site
  8. 8

    oVirt

    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5
    8.8 Free plan Visit site
  9. 9

    OpenNebula

    by OpenNebula
    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  10. 10

    Cloud Hypervisor

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  11. 11

    Firecracker

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
    6.9 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    GNOME Boxes

    Free plan Linux
    6.8 Free plan Visit site
  13. 13

    UTM

    Free plan iPhoneMac
    6.7 Free plan Visit site
  14. 14

    HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM)

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
    6.6 Free plan Visit site
  15. 15

    Citrix XenServer

    Free trial LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
    6.2 Pricing on request · 90-day trial Visit site
  16. 16

    XCP-ng Center

    Free plan Windows
    6.2 Open source Visit site
  17. 17

    VergeOS

    by VergeOS
    Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb
    5.8 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Visit site
  18. 18

    Parallels Desktop

    by Parallels Desktop
    Paid LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 14-day trial Visit site
  19. 19

    XenServer

    by XenServer
    Free trial WindowsLinux
    5.7 Pricing on request · 90-day trial Visit site
  20. 20

    JamaicaVM

    by JamaicaVM
    Free trial LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Pricing on request Visit site
  21. 21

    Scale Computing Platform

    by Scale Computing Platform
    Paid APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
    5.6 Pricing on request Visit site
  22. 22

    IBM z/VM

    by IBM z/VM
    Paid Self-hosted
    5.3 Visit site
  23. 23

    IBM PowerVM

    by IBM PowerVM
    Paid LinuxSelf-hosted
    5.2 Pricing on request Visit site

Readers may still seek alternatives because Multipass requires operating-system-specific virtualization setup, including Virtual Machine Platform on supported Windows editions, and daemon access must be restricted to trusted users. Its image catalogue centers on Ubuntu, and its documented role focuses on workstation-based instances rather than a broader server-management platform. Compare host and guest support, management style, workload scope, virtualization architecture, snapshots, GPU or nested virtualization, and whether you need desktop, web, or command-line control before switching.

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