Kitsmith / Utilities / Oracle VirtualBox
Oracle VirtualBox
Free (base app, GPLv3); Extension Pack free for personal/educational use, paid Oracle license required for commercial use · Open source
Price checked at source August 28, 2026.
A free, open-source virtualization tool backed by Oracle, running natively on Apple Silicon since version 7.1 — the long-running default for anyone who wants a no-cost hypervisor.
Our take
The free, cross-platform veteran of this category — GPLv3-licensed and millions of users deep, per Oracle’s own site. One real nuance: the base app is fully free and open source, but the separate Extension Pack (USB 3.0, disk encryption, and a few other extras) is free only for personal or educational use — commercial use requires a paid Oracle license.
- Price
- Free (base app, GPLv3); Extension Pack free for personal/educational use, paid Oracle license required for commercial use
- License
- Open source
- Get it via
- Homebrew · Direct
- Developer
- Oracle
Do you use Oracle VirtualBox?
Who made this
Are you Oracle? Claim this profile to add a photo, a bio, and links — or ask us to remove it.
What it does
Apple Silicon support
Runs natively on macOS/Arm as of version 7.1, alongside its long-standing x86_64 support, per the developer.
Broad guest OS support
Runs Windows, Linux, Solaris, and other x86_64 operating systems as guests.
Oracle-backed open source
Developed as a community effort backed by Oracle, with public contribution guidelines and an active forum.
The deal
- Base package: free, open source (GPLv3)
- Extension Pack: free for personal/educational use (Oracle PUEL); paid Enterprise license required for commercial use
- No trial period for commercial Extension Pack use — Oracle discontinued its 30-day evaluation
Worth knowing: The VirtualBox base package is GPLv3 and fully free, but the separate Extension Pack (needed for some USB and disk-encryption features) is only free for personal or educational use under Oracle’s own license — commercial or organizational use requires a paid Extension Pack Enterprise license, per Oracle’s Licensing FAQ.
Oracle VirtualBox — questions people ask
Is VirtualBox really free?
The base application is free and open source under the GPLv3. A separate Extension Pack (extra USB support, disk encryption) is free for personal/educational use only — commercial use needs a paid Oracle license.
Does VirtualBox run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, as of version 7.1, in addition to its longer-standing x86_64 (Intel Mac) support, per the developer.
Who makes VirtualBox?
Oracle, building on the open-source VirtualBox project.
Is Oracle VirtualBox free?
Yes — Oracle VirtualBox is free.
Does Oracle VirtualBox work alongside a notch app like Alcove?
Yes — Oracle VirtualBox lives in the screen, so it runs happily alongside any Dynamic Island hub or notch app.
Where can I download Oracle VirtualBox?
Oracle VirtualBox is available via Homebrew, Direct.
Is Oracle VirtualBox open source?
Yes — Oracle VirtualBox is open source.
Reviews
No public ratings yet. Reader reviews are coming to Kitsmith soon.
Listing hand-verified August 28, 2026 from the developer's site and public sources.
How Oracle VirtualBox compares
Also in virtualization
UTM
Free (direct download); $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store — identical app, funds development + auto-updates)A free, open-source virtual machine app built specifically for Apple platforms — runs Windows, Linux, and even extra macOS guests, using Apple’s own virtualization framework or QEMU.
Parallels Desktop
From $54.99/yr (Standard, discounted from $99.99), or $219.99 one-time (current version only, no guaranteed future-OS compatibility); Pro $65.99/yr (subscription only); Business $97.49/yr per seat; Enterprise customThe flagship, Microsoft-authorized way to run Windows on a Mac — including Windows 11 on Apple Silicon — from the company that’s been building Mac virtualization since 2006.
Multipass
FreeA command-line tool from Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) that spins up disposable Ubuntu VMs in seconds — built for developers simulating cloud servers locally, not a general-purpose desktop VM app.
VMTek
7-day free trial; one-time in-app purchase to unlock the full version (price not listed in static page content — check the App Store listing)A native-feeling Mac virtualization app from a small indie developer, using Apple’s own Virtualization framework for VM performance rather than emulation.