Side by side
crosvm vs KVM
Both stand on hypervisor software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source AndroidAPILinux+2
crosvm provides a broad set of guest devices and host hypervisor options, with sandboxing built into its design. Linux users need a sufficiently recent KVM-capable kernel, and some documented features remain experimental.
Visit crosvm Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted
KVM offers Linux-hosted virtualization with a broad set of documented VM features and integration options. Check that the host has the required processor extensions before choosing it.
Visit KVMThe facts
| crosvm | KVM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | Android, API, Linux, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | chromium.googlesource.com | linux-kvm.org |
| On hypervisor software | #1 of 26 | #2 of 26 |
crosvm: what it does well
- Each virtual device has a Minijail sandbox by default.
- Supports x86_64, aarch64, and riscv64.
- Includes a broad set of virtio devices.
- crosvm_control provides programmatic interaction.
What to know first
- Linux hosts need kernel 4.14 or newer with KVM.
- Some devices have additional host requirements.
- Snapshotting and several devices are experimental.
KVM: what it does well
- Free and open-source software.
- Runs unmodified Linux and Windows guest images.
- Supports live migration between hosts.
- Includes snapshots, nested virtualization and GPU acceleration.
- Available through major community and enterprise Linux distributions.
What to know first
- Linux host requires Intel VT or AMD-V extensions.
- Windows guest drivers are available separately.