VMware has made a significant shift in its pricing model for its desktop hypervisors, VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation. Effective immediately, both products will be available for free for all users, including those in commercial, educational, and personal sectors. This announcement marks the end of VMware’s paid subscription model for these tools, which have long been popular for running virtual machines and experimenting with different operating systems across Windows, Linux, and macOS devices. Previously, VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro were available at no cost for personal use, and now, this extended free access includes all users.
This change comes as part of VMware’s ongoing transformation under Broadcom, which acquired the company last year. Broadcom has stated that users of the free versions will now enjoy the same features that were once limited to the paid Pro versions. The decision to move to a free model for both VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation is seen as a way to democratize access to powerful virtualization tools and support a wide range of use cases, from students and hobbyists to small businesses and large enterprises.
However, there are a few notable caveats. While the free versions of VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation will include all the same features as the paid products, Broadcom will no longer offer support ticketing for troubleshooting. Users will still receive updates and improvements to the software, with Broadcom promising continued development, new features, and usability enhancements. The company emphasized its commitment to stability and performance, with regular updates and high standards for reliability.
For commercial users with existing contracts, Broadcom assures that these agreements will remain in effect until their terms end. During this period, they will continue to receive enterprise-grade support as per the original agreements. Despite the cessation of perpetual licensing and the discontinuation of the free vSphere Hypervisor offering, VMware’s decision to make its desktop virtualization tools freely available is seen as a strategic move to expand accessibility and maintain momentum in the growing virtualization market.
Reference:
