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Compare VMware ESXi and VirtualBox 
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At a Glance
Market Segments
Mid-Market (47.1% of reviews)
Small-Business (43.1% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
VMware ESXi
Star Rating
(18)4.7 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (47.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VMware ESXiVirtualBox
Star Rating
(286)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (43.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VirtualBoxSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- Users report that VirtualBox excels in desktop virtualization with a score of 9.3, making it a preferred choice for small businesses looking for a cost-effective solution. In contrast, VMware ESXi, while strong in performance management, does not focus as heavily on desktop virtualization.
- Reviewers mention that VMware ESXi offers superior scalability with a score of 9.5, which is particularly beneficial for mid-market companies that require robust infrastructure. VirtualBox, with a score of 8.2, may not meet the same scalability needs for larger deployments.
- G2 users highlight that VMware ESXi shines in security features, scoring 9.5, with strong encryption and access controls. Users on G2 note that VirtualBox's security features, while decent, lag behind with a score of 8.1, particularly in areas like two-factor authentication.
- Reviewers say that VMware ESXi provides a better quality of support, scoring 9.2, which is crucial for businesses that rely on timely assistance. In comparison, VirtualBox's support quality is rated lower at 7.9, leading to potential frustrations for users needing help.
- Users report that the ease of setup for VMware ESXi is rated at 9.2, making it a smoother experience for IT teams. VirtualBox, while still user-friendly with a score of 9.0, may require more configuration for optimal performance.
- Reviewers mention that VirtualBox is favored for its multi-device portability with a score of 8.9, allowing users to run virtual machines across different operating systems easily. VMware ESXi, while strong in performance, does not emphasize this feature as much, which may limit flexibility for some users.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
VMware ESXi
No pricing availableVirtualBox
No pricing availableFree Trial
VMware ESXi
No trial information availableVirtualBox
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
9.5
17
9.1
249
Ease of Use
8.9
17
9.0
254
Ease of Setup
9.3
17
9.0
74
Ease of Admin
9.0
14
8.4
68
Quality of Support
9.1
16
7.9
184
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.6
14
8.3
51
Product Direction (% positive)
7.3
17
8.7
246
Features by Category
Functionality
Not enough data
9.2
34
Not enough data
8.3
29
Desktop Management
Not enough data
9.1
31
Not enough data
8.8
32
Not enough data
7.3
24
Support
Not enough data
9.0
27
Security
Not enough data
7.4
17
Not enough data
7.5
19
Not enough data
7.9
26
Not enough data
8.7
27
Performance
9.4
15
8.2
13
8.9
15
8.5
13
8.7
15
7.1
11
Functionality
9.3
14
9.0
12
9.0
14
8.3
12
9.0
14
7.7
13
9.3
14
8.1
12
Agentic AI - Server Virtualization
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
VMware ESXi and VirtualBox are categorized as Server Virtualization
Unique Categories
VMware ESXi has no unique categories
VirtualBox is categorized as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
VMware ESXi
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
VirtualBox
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
41.2%
Telecommunications
11.8%
Food Production
11.8%
Accounting
11.8%
Manufacturing
5.9%
Other
17.6%
Information Technology and Services
23.0%
Computer Software
22.3%
Computer & Network Security
7.4%
Telecommunications
4.9%
Internet
4.6%
Other
37.8%
Alternatives
Discussions
VMware ESXi has no discussions with answers
How easy is it to install VirtualBox and what is it used for?
2 Comments
ED
It is relatively easy to install, you just need to run its installer and follow the quick installation steps. It helps us to simulate different operating...Read more
How do I create a virtual machine in VirtualBox?
2 Comments
KK
Install Virtual Box on virtual box site.
after installation click on #New option
then get a name what types of os you want to install like Centos
then...Read more
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