GNOME Boxes as a Linux alternative to VMware Workstation
Updated
Our verdict
GNOME Boxes can replace VMware Workstation for users who need quick, simple VM creation and basic features like snapshots and networking. It works well for developers, students, and casual users who run a few VMs and prefer a GNOME‑centric interface. However, power users who rely on advanced networking, fine‑tuned performance, or macOS guests will find Boxes lacking. For most everyday virtualization tasks on Linux, Boxes is a solid, free alternative.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 50.0
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both use QEMU/libvirt as the underlying hypervisor
- Both support creating VMs from ISO images
- Both offer snapshot functionality
- Both can run multiple guest OSes (Windows, Linux, macOS)
- Both provide NAT and bridged networking options
What is different
- Boxes has a simplified UI and lacks advanced networking configuration (no custom port forwarding or host‑only networks)
- Boxes does not support macOS guest licensing or GPU passthrough
- Boxes’ snapshot feature is basic and cannot be edited or reordered
- Boxes lacks performance tuning options such as CPU pinning or memory ballooning
- Boxes does not provide a command‑line tool equivalent to VMware Workstation’s CLI
Opening your VMware Workstation files
Boxes can import raw disk images and .qcow2 files, but it does not natively open VMware Workstation’s .vmx/.vmdk bundles. Converting a .vmdk to .qcow2 with qemu-img is required before importing. Exporting from Boxes to a format usable by VMware Workstation is not supported; you would need to create a new VM in VMware and attach the disk image manually.
Switching from VMware Workstation to GNOME Boxes, step by step
- Export the VM’s disk image from VMware Workstation using "Export" or copy the .vmdk file.
- Convert the .vmdk to .qcow2 with qemu-img: qemu-img convert -f vmdk -O qcow2 source.vmdk target.qcow2.
- Create a new VM in GNOME Boxes and choose "Use an existing disk image" pointing to target.qcow2.
- Adjust memory and CPU settings in Boxes to match the original VM.
- If the VM uses a custom network, configure it in the host’s libvirt network settings, then attach it to the Boxes VM.
- Test the VM; if issues arise, tweak the conversion options or reinstall drivers inside the guest.
Key features of GNOME Boxes
- Uses libvirt/QEMU backend
- Simple drag‑and‑drop VM creation
- Automatic guest OS detection
- Snapshot support (basic)
- Remote host access via SSH
- Integration with GNOME Shell
- Supports ISO, disk image, or network install
How to install GNOME Boxes on Linux
sudo apt install gnome-boxessudo apt install gnome-boxessudo dnf install gnome-boxessudo pacman -S gnome-boxessudo zypper install gnome-boxesFrequently asked questions
Can I run macOS VMs in GNOME Boxes?
No. Boxes does not support macOS guests due to licensing and technical restrictions. Use VMware or a dedicated macOS virtualization solution if you need macOS.
Does GNOME Boxes support advanced networking like host‑only or port forwarding?
No. Boxes offers only basic NAT and bridged networking. For advanced setups, use virsh or the libvirt GUI tools.
Will my existing VMware snapshots work in GNOME Boxes?
No. Boxes only understands its own snapshot format. You must convert the VM to a new format and recreate snapshots within Boxes.
2 other alternatives to VMware Workstation
Virtual Machine ManagerVirtual Machine Manager is a graphical front‑end for libvirt that lets you create, run, and monitor KVM, Xen…Open sourceFreeFlatpakVirtual Machine Manager vs VMware Workstation