I’m using a Mac/MacBook and want to run Windows 10 or 11 without paying for expensive virtualization software. I’ve looked into some tools, but I’m not sure which ones are reliable, secure, or offer decent performance.
Ideally, I’m looking for a free solution—either an emulator or virtual machine—that works well on macOS (especially on M1/M2 chips).
Hey, I’ve been using UTM for a while now, and it’s by far the best free option for Apple Silicon Macs. It’s a free and open-source virtual machine app that supports Windows, Linux, and a few other OSes. It’s built on QEMU, so it runs on both M1 and M2 chips, and the setup works pretty smoothly.
Experience Insight: I used it to run Windows 11 ARM on my M2 MacBook. Performance was solid for light development and testing, though it does take a little time to set up. But if you’re looking for something free, UTM is a great choice. I’d definitely recommend it if you want to run Windows without spending a dime.
VirtualBox is another solid option, though it’s better for Intel-based Macs. It’s a free VM tool from Oracle that’s been around for years. However, VirtualBox support for Apple Silicon is still unofficial and a bit limited.
Experience Insight: On my older Intel MacBook, running Windows 10 via VirtualBox was a breeze, but if you’re on an M1/M2 chip, I’d hold off on this one unless Oracle drops native support. By the way, for my cross-browser testing needs, I typically rely on LambdaTest—it gives me access to Windows browsers without the hassle of running a local VM.
Alternatively, if you just need to test how things run on Windows (like websites or browser compatibility), LambdaTest is a fantastic cloud-based solution. It’s a free-to-start, browser-based platform that lets you test on real Windows 10 and 11 machines without installing any virtual machine on your Mac.
Experience Insight: I use LambdaTest regularly for testing things like Edge or older versions of IE for regression testing. It’s so convenient, especially since it saves me the trouble of maintaining a local VM. Plus, it’s lighter on the MacBook’s resources, which is always a win!