The host computer must still support hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in the BIOS/UEFI. 2026 Update: Is VMware Workstation 17 Pro Free?

Broadcom made VMware Workstation Pro free for personal, non-commercial use. If you work across multiple personal computers, you can install the official software on each machine at no cost, allowing you to easily carry your VM files back and forth on external media. 3. Explore Native Portable Alternatives

Lightweight, supported alternatives better suited for true portability

: Compatible with the latest versions of Windows 11, various Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian), and specialized operating systems.

Use VMware Workstation Player (free for non‑commercial use) or Workstation Pro installed on each host