If a software product seems too expensive, it's worth asking whether you need all its features. Often, free alternatives like VirtualBox or KVM will do exactly what you need without any legal or security worries.
| Your Need | Best Legal Solution | |-----------|---------------------| | Basic personal VM | VMware Workstation Player (free) | | Learning VMware for career | VMUG Advantage ($200/year) | | Student project | VirtualBox or academic license | | Business production | Purchase Pro license | | Home server lab | Proxmox or ESXi Free | vmware license key free download
If you need a permanent free solution: