Good news for tech-savvy home users and virtualization enthusiasts: Broadcom has announced that VMware Fusion Pro 13 and VMware Workstation Pro are now available free of charge for personal use! This move comes as a welcome surprise amidst a series of sweeping changes at VMware, from licensing shifts to layoffs, following Broadcom’s acquisition of the company last year. Although Broadcom ended the free version of VMware’s vSphere Hypervisor/ESXi earlier this year, it’s offering Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro as a solid alternative for those who want powerful virtualization tools at home.
For those who haven’t tried Fusion Pro or Workstation Pro, these applications offer a more polished experience compared to other free virtualization options like VirtualBox. VMware’s software is also easy to learn and widely supported, making it a popular choice among users who run virtual machines for retrocomputing or testing purposes. The fact that VMware’s VMDK format is commonly used means that sharing and redistributing virtual machines is often easier with these tools than with some indie or open-source alternatives.
However, today’s announcement may be less exciting for business users who rely on VMware’s perpetual licenses. As part of Broadcom’s ongoing shift to a subscription-only model, VMware is phasing out perpetually licensed versions of Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro, offering support for existing licenses only until they reach their designated End of Life (EOL) and End of General Support dates. This transition to subscriptions is part of a broader strategy to streamline VMware’s product line, simplifying it down to fewer SKUs and maximizing revenue. For businesses, a Desktop Hypervisor app subscription will cost $120 annually.
The only real distinction between the free personal and the paid business versions is a “personal use only” disclaimer in the home version—otherwise, both versions are functionally identical. That said, businesses may need to think twice about upgrading as VMware edges away from standalone software sales.
Broadcom’s licensing changes don’t stop there. In light of Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro going free-to-use for home users, VMware will discontinue its Workstation Player and Fusion Player apps. Previously, these player apps allowed users to run existing virtual machines but had limited functionality for creating new ones. With this shift, Workstation Player will become a component of Workstation Pro, and users of Fusion Player can transition to Fusion Pro by updating to version 13.5.2 or later and deleting the Fusion Player license key. Those moving from Workstation Player to Workstation Pro will need to download and install the new software separately.
For anyone ready to give Fusion Pro or Workstation Pro a whirl, a quick sign-up for a Broadcom account is all that’s required. Once registered, you can download Fusion Pro here and Workstation Pro here. This free access may not resolve every concern among VMware’s business customers, but it’s a solid win for home users who now have access to these professional-grade virtualization tools without the price tag.
