In the contemporary world, businesses must run diverse workloads on physical machines. However, Linux cannot run apps supported by other operating systems like macOS or Windows.
There are various third-party providers available in the market that offer virtualization software tools. When installed on Linux systems or servers, these tools enable you to create virtual machines or desktops with guest operating systems. Therefore, you can buy Linux-based machines or bare-metal servers and deploy different operating systems.
However, choosing the right virtualization tools can be challenging due to the plethora of options. Here are the best desktop virtualization providers to look for.
In this article…
Why do you need virtualization tools for Linux?
Before checking out the best virtualization providers for Linux currently, let’s understand why we need them.
1. Running Different Operating Systems
When you own a physical server/system, the host OS kernel gets bound to its resources. Therefore, you can run only those apps and workloads that are compatible with the host OS.
With virtualization, multiple virtual machines with personal operating systems can be created on a single server or system. For instance, a virtual desktop with Windows 10 OS can be on a Linux server.
2. Optimizing IT resource Utilization
When you buy a server or system, all the IT resources are allocated to a single operating system. These virtualization software solutions can divide the physical machine’s IT resources into multiple virtual machines. Moreover, you can create virtual machines with different specifications per the business requirement.
3. Cost Reduction
By optimizing resource allocation and utilization, these virtualization tools reduce costs. Businesses can run multiple Linux-incompatible applications on a physical machine, reducing the cost of investing in multiple servers or systems.
4. Ensuring Data Security
As the virtual machines run in an isolated environment from the guest OS and each other, virtualization platforms increase the security of the applications running on them. Moreover, businesses can also instantly decommission the virtual machine infected by a cyber threat.
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Top Virtualization Providers for Linux in 2025
Look at some of the best desktop virtualization providers for Linux in 2025.
1. Oracle VirtualBox
Oracle VirtualBox is open-source software that offers virtualization for host OSes like Linux, Windows, and macOS. A wide range of host OS support, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Oracle Linux, or Fedora, is available for Linux.
Oracle VirtualBox has the advantage of a large community base of over 100,000 registered users, which ensures regular updates and swift resolution of niche issues. However, being open-source software, VirtualBox does not have customer support.
Key Features:
- Works with most operating systems
- Easy to use
- Large community support
- Free of cost
2. Ace Cloud Hosting
Ace Cloud Hosting is a cloud-based virtual desktop platform that offers diverse services like Linux virtual desktop, hosted virtual desktop, Citrix managed desktop, Workspace as a Service, and more.
Its partnership with VMware, Citrix, and Crowdstrike enables them to offer best-in-class digital workspace solutions with robust security parameters.
With over a decade and a half of experience as a cloud hosting provider, Ace Cloud Hosting offers industry-specific solutions customized to your requirements.
Key Features:
- 24/7/365 Customer Support
- Enterprise-grade Security
- High-Performance Computing Desktops
- 24/7 Desktop Availability
3. OpenVZ
OpenVZ, a product of Virtuozzo, was introduced in 2006. It is a virtualization solution for creating Linux containers for application development and other use cases. These containers are completely isolated, with resources fetched from a physical machine.
OpenVZ is an open-source application designed to optimize resource allocation and performance. As OpenVZ uses the resources from the host OS, it can create agile, lightweight containers that are quick to deploy.
Key Features:
- Quick deployment
- Resource optimization
- Open source
- Linux-specific
4. Shells
Shells is an advanced virtualization application that offers high-performance virtual machines on a Linux server. It enables you to deploy and scale virtual machines instantly according to business requirements. However, Shells is a paid product, with monthly pricing starting at $8.95.
Key Features:
- Device Independent
- Easy Deployment
- Customizable
5. Red Hat Virtualization
Red Hat Virtualization is a Linux-native platform that facilitates the efficient creation of virtual servers. Its key component includes a Red Hat Virtualization Manager, which enables you to manage and provision IT resources on a single dashboard.
Another key feature of Red Hat virtualization is its integration with Ansible, which helps automate deployment and patching. Moreover, Red Hat solutions like Secure Virtualization (sVirt) provide secure and isolated virtual machines.
Key Features:
- Open source
- KVM-based
- Ansible integration
6. Gnome Boxes
Gnome Boxes is an efficient virtualization platform built specifically to work on the Linux operating system. It is a front end for Qemu and KVM.
However, the most distinguishing feature of Gnome Boxes is its easy-to-use interface that enables end-users to create new machines and navigate conveniently. Gnome recommends a minimum specification of 8GB of memory and 20 GB of storage.
Key Features:
- Data Sharing between VMs and a physical machine
- Advanced interface
7. VMware Workstation
VMware is among the most prominent hypervisor software for Linux, Windows, and macOS operating systems. You can easily connect VMware Workstation to another proprietary software, vSphere, and manage the VMs.
One of the distinguishing features of VMware Workstation is its versatility, making it a preferred choice for developers, website owners, or researchers.
The 2025 release includes enhanced Wayland support, improved GPU passthrough, and deep integration with cloud-based workflows. It also supports DirectX 20 and OpenGL 3.3, enabling GPU acceleration for high performance.
Key Features:
- 3D Graphics Performance
- Free for personal use
- Networking Support
8. Proxmox VE
Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform that enterprises prefer. It also offers on-demand scalability and storage options so your business gets the required resources as it grows.
Proxmox VE offers solutions for both VM and container deployments. Its web-based interface makes it easy to deploy and manage virtual machines. Proxmox’s extensive community and customer support ensure frequent upgrades and efficient resolution.
Key Features:
- Open Source
- KVM and LXC-based
- Web-based Interface
- Central management and clustering
9. Xen
XenProject Hypervisor is an open-source virtualization solution with a global community designed by the XenProject. It supports multiple guest OSes like Windows, Linux, or FreeBSD.
XenProject offers a bare-metal hypervisor that does not require any host OS. Therefore, it can be run in any environment.
Key Features:
- Paravirtualization
- Type-1 Hypervisor
- Free to use
10. QEMU with KVM
QEMU is a Linux-supported emulator and virtual machine platform. It is an open-source tool that offers flexible options to emulate the user mode and a virtual machine.
Combined with KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), QEMU offers hardware acceleration for high performance to run multiple virtual machines.
Key Features:
- Native performance
- Open Source
11. oVirt
A versatile, open-source virtualization management platform, oVirt is used to manage the large-scale deployment of virtual machines. It’s built on top of KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) (for virtualization) and libvirt for VM management.
Developed by Red Hat and backed by a strong community, oVirt brings new-age features to Linux users without the cost of proprietary tools.
Key Features:
- Open Source
- Large Community
- High Availability
Choosing the Best Linux Desktop Virtualization Providers
Now that you know the best Linux virtualization providers in the market, the next step is to choose the best one for your business. However, as all virtualization platforms have pros and cons, deciding can be quite tricky.
Here are some factors you can weigh before making a decision.
1. Cost Efficiency
Some virtualization platforms are open-source solutions. On the other hand, some platforms are paid. However, the vital thing to consider is whether the platform you opt for fulfills your requirements. If a free solution does not offer you good performance and features, there is no point in using it.
2. Support
Before choosing a provider, check if they offer reliable support. Also, check if customer support is included in the pricing plan or is an additional cost. Moreover, the provider should have a large community eager to improve the product and fix issues.
3. Features
Check all features and capabilities of a virtualization platform before selection. It is recommended to take the free trial (if provided) of the shortlisted tools and check all features, such as interface, management tools, and more.
4. Versatility
The virtualization tools must support various guest operating systems, like Windows, macOS, CentOS, Fedora, and more. This will help you run multiple workloads simultaneously on a single physical machine.
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Conclusion
These were some of the best virtualization tools, and the factors you need to consider before choosing one. Everyone has pros and cons, but you must analyze each, considering your business requirements. If you don’t want the hassle of installing these tools or maintaining the physical machine, you can try Ace Cloud Hosting’s Desktop as a Service.
With Ace Cloud Hosting’s DaaS, you get fully managed Linux virtual desktops on your remote devices without the hassles of deployment or upgrades.
Start your 7-day free trial of Linux Virtual Desktop and experience secure, high-performance computing from the cloud.
