VMware has announced that its popular desktop hypervisors, VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation, are now available for free. This change, effective November 11, 2024, opens up these powerful tools to a broader audience, including commercial, educational, and personal users.

A New Era for VMware Users

VMware’s decision to make Fusion and Workstation free is a game-changer for users who rely on virtual machines for various tasks. Whether you’re a developer, IT professional, or a tech enthusiast, you can now access these tools without any cost. This shift eliminates the need for paid subscriptions, making it easier than ever to utilize VMware’s robust virtualization capabilities.

What This Means for Current Subscribers

For those currently under a commercial contract, VMware assures that existing agreements will remain in effect until the end of their term. Users will continue to receive the full level of service and enterprise-grade support as per their contract. After the contract concludes, users can still use the products, but support ticketing for troubleshooting will no longer be available.

Features and Support

The free version of VMware Fusion and Workstation includes all the features that users have come to rely on. This means you won’t have to compromise on functionality when transitioning to the free model. Additionally, VMware provides a comprehensive support ecosystem for new users, which includes:

Looking Ahead

VMware’s commitment to innovation remains strong. The company is actively investing in new features, usability improvements, and other enhancements to ensure that Fusion and Workstation continue to meet the needs of their users. With this transition, VMware aims to foster collaboration, feedback, and growth within the user community.

Conclusion

The decision to make VMware Fusion and Workstation free for all users is a testament to VMware’s dedication to accessibility and user empowerment. This move is set to benefit a wide range of users, from individual enthusiasts to large organizations, by providing them with industry-leading virtualization tools at no cost.

For further details on this announcement and to explore additional resources related to VMware Desktop Hypervisor services, please visit our product page and FAQ. https://www.vmware.com/products/desktop-hypervisor/workstation-and-fusion

 

Paul Cobben