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KVM Reviews

Vendor: KVM
4.0 out of 5
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What is KVM?

KVM stands for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, which is an open-source virtualization technology that is embedded in Linux. KVM allows users to seamlessly transform their Linux system into a hypervisor that, in turn, will enable a host machine to run numerous, isolated virtual environments or virtual machines (VMs).

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KVM is the #4 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give KVM an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. KVM is most commonly compared to Proxmox VE: KVM vs Proxmox VE. KVM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 55% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
KVM
March 2025
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KVM mindshare

As of March 2025, the mindshare of KVM in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 10.4%, down from 12.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Server Virtualization Software

PeerAnalyst reports based on KVM reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryServer Virtualization SoftwareMar 30, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMar 30, 2025Download
ComparisonKVM vs Proxmox VEMar 30, 2025Download
ComparisonKVM vs VMware vSphereMar 30, 2025Download
ComparisonKVM vs Hyper-VMar 30, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Proxmox VE4.318.4%98%62 interviewsAdd to research
VMware vSphere4.417.8%94%454 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

KVM provides high performance and scalability with features like live VM migrations, open-source flexibility, and strong security. Users value its intuitive management interface, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with Linux. It offers ease of installation, high-density virtualization, stability, and low latency. KVM also supports multithreading, making it suitable for both embedded systems and large servers. The built-in management console facilitates VM creation and migration, and its open-source nature eliminates licensing costs.
  • "The most valuable feature of KVM is its superior real-time performance, which results in lower latency compared to alternatives like VMware and Microsoft."
  • "KVM has benefited our organization by enabling us to assess different virtualization solutions with reduced latency, which is crucial for guaranteeing the reliability and real-time performance of our communication systems."
  • "The scalability part should be better."

Room for Improvement

KVM requires improvements in ease of setup, user interface, and technical support. Integration with other platforms and enhanced management tools are needed for better usability. Improved network and storage management would be beneficial. Users express a need for better documentation and easier scalability. Enhanced performance, monitoring features, and compatibility with microservices would align KVM with industry standards. KVM's ecosystem could be more robust and user-friendly, particularly in comparison to VMware.
  • "Although KVM meets our expectations, it can be somewhat fragmented with numerous management tools available, making it difficult to determine which tool to use."
  • "Although KVM meets our expectations, it can be somewhat fragmented with numerous management tools available, making it difficult to determine which tool to use."
  • "The solution overall is just okay."

ROI

Users reported no initial financial investment in KVM while experiencing monthly savings of approximately twenty thousand dollars. They indicated time and monetary efficiencies by avoiding the need for licensing fees common with other virtualization solutions. KVM's open-source nature contributed to reduced costs, emphasizing its cost-saving benefits.

Pricing

KVM is known for being a cost-effective, open-source virtualization platform favored by enterprises. Its free nature allows users to explore without financial commitment, although paid support is available for mission-critical environments. Many organizations appreciate KVM for its affordability compared to competitors like VMware and Hyper-V. While some leverage additional services from Red Hat or Oracle, others manage costs through local subscriptions or Proxmox. Pricing challenges exist mainly in obtaining budget approvals for enterprise support.
  • "The product's pricing is above average but cheaper than that of VMware. I can't provide specific licensing costs, but we have a contract with Red Hat for client support that covers everything. There are no additional costs beyond the standard licensing fees."
  • "I use KVM for free through Proxmox, which offers a free license alternative."
  • "The tool is free."

Popular Use Cases

KVM is primarily used for virtualization, enabling the running of virtual machines, containers, and application servers across various environments. Users utilize it for server virtualization, hosting websites, testing core software, cloud-based services, and deploying secure networks. It supports virtual network functions, reduces operating expenses, and enhances maintenance and security. Industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and public safety leverage KVM for diverse applications, from mission-critical communications to container deployment within virtual environments.

Service and Support

KVM primarily relies on community support, with forums and online resources. Users highlight mixed experiences; some find it adequate for basic operations, while others note limited support without paid options like Red Hat. Companies often depend on internal expertise or third-party vendors for assistance. Certain users report no need for support due to stable functionality, contrasting with those who face challenges compared to systems like VMware, especially for Windows environments.

Deployment

KVM's initial setup can be straightforward for those familiar with Linux, leveraging online resources and command-line skills. Some find the process easy and quick, taking minutes to a few hours, while others encounter challenges, especially with networking and high availability setups. Experienced users appreciate its simplicity, but it may seem complex for beginners. The setup time varies based on familiarity with Linux and the specific deployment environment.

Scalability

KVM exhibits strong scalability, particularly due to its integration with the Linux kernel. Many have utilized it effectively across diverse environments, handling numerous users and servers. However, some note challenges with certain scalability aspects compared to VMware. Scaling requires technical proficiency. Many businesses experience scalability without issues, leveraging features like easy resource adjustments and CEPH storage. Scalability ratings vary, generally indicating high satisfaction, though some prefer additional capabilities.

Stability

KVM demonstrates strong stability, with many users reporting no crashes or stability issues. Some note minor instability when integrating new hardware. Users rate its stability highly, often between 8 and 10 out of 10. Its open-source nature contributes to secure and reliable deployments. A few users experience occasional problems due to incorrect commands but maintain that it runs smoothly on capable hardware, emphasizing its resilience under frequent use.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our KVM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Government
7%
University
6%
Educational Organization
6%
Media Company
4%
Retailer
3%
Healthcare Company
3%
Construction Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Non Profit
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Transportation Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Performing Arts
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Leisure / Travel Company
1%

Compare KVM with alternative products

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Learn more about KVM

KVM is part of Linux. Users with Linux 2.6.20 or newer already have KVM. As KVM is already a component of the current Linux code, it automatically improves with every new Linux fix, feature, or upgrade. So KVM users are always current and up to date.

KVM automatically transforms Linux to a type -1 (bare-metal) hypervisor. All hypervisors need operating system components, such as a process scheduler, I/O stack, device drivers, memory manager, and more, to run a VM. KVM already has these components embedded, as it is part of the Linux kernel. Each VM is generated as a basic Linux proces,s which is maintained by the standard Linux scheduler, with dedicated hardware such as a graphics adapter, memory, disks, network card, and CPUs.

KVM Key Features:

KVM has many valuable key features. Some of its most useful features include:

  • Storage: KVM has the ability to use any storage protocol supported by Linux, including network-attached storage (NAS) and some local disks. Multipath I/O can be utilized to provide redundancy and improve storage. Disk images use thin provisioning, ensuring storage is used on demand. KVM is also able to use shared file systems, enabling VM images to be shared on multiple hosts.
  • Hardware: KVM is able to use a vast number of Linux-certified supported hardware platforms. As hardware vendors routinely contribute to kernel improvement, the most up-to-date hardware features are generally quickly added to the Linux kernel.
  • Memory: KVM effectively utilizes the memory management features of Linux, such as kernel same-page emerging and non-uniform memory access. The memory of a VM can easily be switched, supported by large volumes for improved performance, then backed by a disk file or shared.
  • Migration: KVM actively supports live migration so users have the ability to move any running VM between physical hosts with no downtime.
  • Security: KVM uses a blend of secure virtualization (SVirt) and security-enhanced Linux (SELinux) for improved VM security and isolation. SELinux determines security boundaries surrounding VMs. sVirt expands SELinux’s processes, permitting Mandatory Access Control (MAC) security to be used for guest VMs and preventing any manual labeling issues.

Reviews from Real Users

“The most helpful aspect of KVM is the fact that the interface is so minimal. It includes just what you need to set up the VMs and manage them, and it's very simple to do so. KVM, as a native virtualization solution, is a complete and fully adequate system for small businesses that need to reduce costs, and also to make maintenance easier. “ - Georges E., Business Engineer and Consultant at All-Tech

“The most valuable feature of KVM is the hypervisor environment and how we can configure it with ease. Additionally, the interface is intuitive.” Sonu S., Senior Solution Architect at Micro Focus

KVM customers

MediaWiki, Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Wikidata, Wikiversity, Commons

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KVM reviews

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BB
Chief Technology Officer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
Verified user of KVM
Nov 29, 2024
Product version discussed: NA
Low latency in mission-critical environments with different virtualization environments

Pros

"KVM has benefited our organization by enabling us to assess different virtualization solutions with reduced latency, which is crucial for guaranteeing the reliability and real-time performance of our communication systems. "

Cons

"Although KVM meets our expectations, it can be somewhat fragmented with numerous management tools available, making it difficult to determine which tool to use. "

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for KVM is our test environment. We utilize numerous servers and applications to test our core software, essential for operating mission-critical mobile networks. 

Mission-critical communication solutions support advanced push-to-talk devices, akin to 4G devices, and comply with European and US standards. We perform tests using software that runs on Linux, atop KVM. 

In production, we aim to offer these solutions to our clients, who are typically public transport companies and public safety organizations like police, fire brigades, and ambulances, as well as sectors like oil and gas and electricity companies.

How has it helped my organization?

KVM has benefited our organization by enabling us to assess different virtualization solutions with reduced latency, which is crucial for guaranteeing the reliability and real-time performance of our communication systems. This real-time capability of KVM enhances our capacity to deploy mission-critical solutions efficiently.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (665 words)
Lan Tuong - PeerSpot user
Technology and System Infrastructure Architect / Senior Technical Support at TELUS Communications Inc.
Verified user of KVM
Sep 14, 2024
Useful to manage the virtual environments

Pros

"The built-in management console, Auto KVM, is the most valuable tool for managing our virtual environments. We use it most to create and fire up new VMs or clone them for customers based on requests. "

Cons

"I think the management console has room for improvement. It could be more straightforward and user-friendly, like VMware's Console Management. This would make it easier for system admins to use and reduce training needs. "

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of KVM for us are the console, which allows us to build or clone VMs quickly, and the ability to take snapshots and recreate new VMs rapidly. That's one of the things we love about KVM.

The built-in management console, Auto KVM, is the most valuable tool for managing our virtual environments. We use it most to create and fire up new VMs or clone them for customers based on requests.

The  migration tools have worked quite well for us. We're moving from an Oracle Solaris platform for KVM logical domains, upgrading, and using KVM from Red Hat. It's slightly different but very similar to Oracle Unbreakable Linux, which is basically a clone of Red Hat. Oracle's console is easier to use than Red Hat's, though.

What needs improvement?

I think the management console has room for improvement. It could be more straightforward and user-friendly, like VMware's Console Management. This would make it easier for system admins to use and reduce training needs.

Regarding new features, we'll see when we have a chance to upgrade to a new version. We don't have any projects planned as we just upgraded to Red Hat 9.4 for some customers. Our environment is quite stable, so I don't expect any big changes until at least June next year.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Read full review (580 words)
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MP
CTO at DPD south AFrica
Verified user of KVM
Apr 5, 2024
Performs well, saves time and money, and integrates well with operating systems

Pros

"The performance is great."

Cons

"The product must provide better performance monitoring features."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for production systems. We use it a lot in the Kubernetes environment. We are investing in microservices and Kubernetes. The tool enables virtualization.

How has it helped my organization?

Our whole microservice environment runs on the solution. We have quite a few Windows environments that run on it.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (405 words)
AshutoshKumar4 - PeerSpot user
Quality Engineer at KML
Verified user of KVM
May 24, 2023
Delivers good performance because of kernel-based virtualization

Pros

"The product is really good...One can get good performance because of kernel-based virtualization. "

Cons

"We are not getting good support from KVM, and it is not that user-friendly."

What is most valuable?

We have not explored the solution much. Once we start using the solution, we might explore much more things, like or figure out what is required to improve the solution.


What needs improvement?

We are not getting good support from KVM, and it is not that user-friendly. So the systems are stuck, and we are not getting much help online. The online support is very less. We are not getting any kind of blogs and other things. So it is difficult to check out, like, how if some problem is coming, how we can fix it out. So that is not known to us. Hence, we are planning to get into a support contract with Oracle. Also, the Linux support we will get can help us technically with our problems and difficulties because we need to configure the cluster. We are not able to configure the cluster. So, I believe we needed some technical support or help to configure the cluster. In future releases of the product, I would like to see features and improvements in the solution that can make it have a user-friendly interface, better technical support, and easy cluster configuration. Also, blogs, and technical write-ups should be there. We should get the maximum help so that we can maximize the solution's usage.

Also, some kind of help tutorials should be made available so that the new users who are trying to install it can get help.

The fact that it is not a user-friendly tool should be considered for improvement.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (700 words)
Christophe JOBARD - PeerSpot user
President at Direction GRID SAS
Verified user of KVM
May 25, 2023
While being inexpensive and scalable, the solution offers a useful functionality called hard partitioning

Pros

"The product's scalability is good...It's a very stable product."

Cons

"The main drawback in the solution is probably disaster recovery. "

What is our primary use case?

I use KVM for my data center, test environment, architecture, and integration environment.

How has it helped my organization?


*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Read full review (467 words)
XP
Eco System Building Director at SmartX
Verified user of KVM
Aug 28, 2023
Control, switch, and manage multiple PCs or servers

Pros

"There is a strong emphasis on availability, and they have numerous API interfaces for distributed storage and the solution is quite known for its openness. "

Cons

"We still occasionally build Interlaced Wireless Protection within our environment. The ecosystem entails areas, where we support agents, and release backup and security solutions. Collaboration with independent software vendors (ITOLs or ITOLED) is necessary to offer these solutions to customers. However, the scope of the ecosystem in KVM is not as extensive as that of VMware's. In contrast, VMware boasts a robust partner network, allowing for comprehensive customer solutions. On the other hand, KVM’s ecosystem is comparatively limited in comparison. I would like to see FT features in KVM."

What is our primary use case?


My clients use KVM for various purposes, for working in industries like finance, healthcare, hospitals, manufacturing (including fire-related operations), and more. They are in the process of deploying this system.

What is most valuable?

There is a strong emphasis on availability, and they have numerous API interfaces for distributed storage and the solution is quite known for its openness.       

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Read full review (403 words)
PeerSpot user
Virtualization and Cloud Solutions Architect at a university with 10,001+ employees
Verified user of KVM
Feb 4, 2023
Very easy to use, with everything built-in, even when writing command lines

Pros

"What I like most about KVM is that it's very easy to use. Everything is built-in, even when writing command lines."

Cons

"The grid interface of KVM needs improvement. It could be more beautiful, especially when compared to VMware."

What is our primary use case?

We deploy KVM in our lab. Our use case is container deployment in a virtual machine, where we create communities. We work with containers through KVM.

What is most valuable?

What I like most about KVM is that it's very easy to use. Everything is built-in, even when writing command lines.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (395 words)
Rohail Aslam - PeerSpot user
DevOps Engineer at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Verified user of KVM
Mar 25, 2024
Affordable but lacks scalability and often causes stability issues

Pros

"One of the best features of KVM is its user-friendly interface. "

Cons

" I would like to see more focus on microservices and integration with Kubernetes or OpenShift."

What is our primary use case?

We use KVM for virtualization needs across various clients, allowing us to run different operating systems and machine types, including Windows and Linux. It serves as a flexible solution for creating and managing virtual environments tailored to each client's requirements.

What is most valuable?

One of the best features of KVM is its user-friendly interface.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Implementer
Read full review (504 words)