Oracle VM VirtualBox Reviews

Name: Oracle VM VirtualBox
Brand: Oracle
Rating: 4.1 (63 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

63 reviews
91% willing to recommend

3,672 followers

What is Oracle VM VirtualBox?

Oracle VM VirtualBox is a robust AMD64/Intel64 and x86 next-generation virtualization solution that functions well for home use and is also powerful enough to handle the needs of a busy enterprise organization. This professional solution is open source and provides super-fast high performance in addition to many outstanding value-added features. VirtualBox functions effectively on Windows, macOS, Solaris, Linux, and more. Users can benefit from VirtualBox's dedication to continually developing the product and providing continual progressive updates and releases. The solution is supported by a trusted dedicated professional community and is backed by Oracle, which guarantees that the product is able to consistently meet and exceed quality controls and protocols at all times.

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Oracle VM VirtualBox is the #6 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give Oracle VM VirtualBox an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 63 most recent Oracle VM VirtualBox reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.0. Oracle VM VirtualBox is most commonly compared to Proxmox VE: Oracle VM VirtualBox vs Proxmox VE. Oracle VM VirtualBox is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 56% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.

Helped 816,660 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Tomasz Pietas

ICT Manager at LPEC

The functionality and productivity are very good. I can test and roll back features in my work. It's a big platform. It's very useful. I like that it has a snapshot feature. The virtual network is great. There are a lot of features. It has everything I need. The product is free to use. It's easy to set up.

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Said Mokhtari

IT Manager at TGR

The solution needs support for the USB 3. The solution needs to improve the methods used for starting and stopping the machine. The product needs to make dramatic changes to the guest machines. For example, they need to improve changing the disks, and the resources used and to make the back and forth transfer to other platforms like Nutanix, VMware, or Microsoft.

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Said Mokhtari

IT Manager at TGR

To make changes, you need to use the command lines. You need to use them to change the volume or extend or re-sync the volume. We've tried to do so using the web manager and it's not working well. Basically, the GUI and command-line interface need improvement. We'd like the command line to manage the VDI disk.

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Oracle VM VirtualBox mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Oracle VM VirtualBox in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 9.3%, down from 11.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Virtualization Software

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 21, 2024

Valuable Features

Oracle VM VirtualBox excels in being free and user-friendly, offering compatibility across multiple operating systems. It provides excellent performance, easy setup, and supports Remote Desktop Protocol. Users value features like virtual machine and disc cloning, snapshot capabilities, and bidirectional file sharing. Its flexibility in running different platforms, open-source nature for modifications, and command-line management impress users. It is adaptable from personal laptops to medium-sized servers and integrates well with various systems.

"The product is very easy to use."
"Compatible with almost any operating system"
"The product’s most valuable feature is the ability to manage multiple operating systems through one application."

Room for Improvement

Oracle VM VirtualBox lacks a seamless file transfer feature between host and VM. Users experience complexities with networking, high memory usage, and challenging initial setups. It lacks enterprise features like high availability and integration with other virtualization systems. The interface could improve for user-friendliness, and stability concerns persist. Users desire enhanced graphics support, hardware compatibility, and better remote access options. The need for simplified automation and improved documentation is evident.

"The tool has some stability issues."
"The interface should be easier to comprehend"
"They could improve the graphics functionality of the product."

ROI

Using Oracle VM VirtualBox, users experience a significant ROI by deploying multiple PeopleSoft images and virtualizing servers, leading to reduced costs. Personal licensing allows usage on fewer machines, saving resources equivalent to five computers. It streamlines processes, simplifies deployment, and supports documentation access, contributing to a beneficial ROI. This virtualization tool notably decreases server needs and licensing expenses, with investments yielding quick returns and saving initial outlays within months, earning high satisfaction ratings.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Oracle VM VirtualBox appealing due to its open-source, cost-effective nature, offering a free version suitable for many needs. While there are bulk licensing options available, the free version satisfies users without extensive license requirements. Some users note pricing is flexible but highlight that commercial use involves costs. Compared to competitors, VirtualBox presents a cost advantage, although some still express concerns over enterprise pricing. Many value its straightforward setup and easy operation.

"The tool is not as expensive as other products."
"Available for free use"
"Oracle should consider reducing the cost of the product."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Oracle VM VirtualBox for enterprise deployment, testing new technologies, and training programs. It is used to run Windows on Linux servers, manage virtual machines, and support ERP systems and websites. It aids in developing, testing, and deploying solutions across various platforms such as Windows and Linux. It facilitates experimentation with operating systems, virtualized environments, and simulation of configurations. It is also employed for legacy software, client operations, and creating virtual operating systems.

Service and Support

Users find customer service and technical support for Oracle VM VirtualBox to be moderate, with many not needing to contact support due to extensive online resources and an active community. Some rate technical support highly and appreciate the documentation provided. Experienced users can often resolve issues independently. However, there have been comments about slow response times when issues require Oracle's direct intervention. Community support is valued for its thoroughness and helpfulness.

Deployment

Oracle VM VirtualBox's setup process is frequently described as straightforward and simple. Users highlight the ease of installation, often noting it takes just minutes. Even those with minimal experience find it accessible. Some mention challenges with network configurations but emphasize that documentation aids in resolving these issues. The setup is praised for being intuitive, particularly for those familiar with virtualization, and users appreciate the efficiency and clarity Oracle VM VirtualBox offers during initial setup.

Scalability

Oracle VM VirtualBox is considered scalable by many users, aligning well with various demands. Some have not needed extensive scaling, while others report successful scaling for their operations. There are mentions of memory limitations impacting scalability when running multiple virtual machines on a single platform. Some users rate its scalability highly, though it requires adjustments and is not as effective for desktop environments. Users appreciate its capacity while noting potential areas for hardware dependency.

Stability

Oracle VM VirtualBox is generally considered stable, with users experiencing minimal issues. Reports mention occasional glitches, such as VMs failing to start, system hangs, or requiring restarts. While some note instability with older versions or specific configurations like phpVirtualBox, many believe VirtualBox performs reliably for most tasks. Stability improvements have been observed over time, with some attributing rare crashes or slowdowns to specific circumstances like hibernation, high resource allocation, or specific usage patterns.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Oracle VM VirtualBox Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

University

Government

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Retailer

Media Company

Healthcare Company

Hospitality Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Logistics Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Consumer Goods Company

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Learn more about Oracle VM VirtualBox

Oracle VM VirtualBox Features

Oracle VM Virtual Box provides many value-added features. Some of these features include:

Consolidation: Oracle VM VirtualBox makes it easy for users to seamlessly run numerous virtual machines on a small number of hosts and will also facilitate comprehensive balancing of the loads between VMs. This helps to minimize and consolidate the hardware needed throughout the organization.
Diagnostics: VirtualBox provides excellent testing and disaster recovery. Users can use the virtual hard disk like a container. This container can be copied, frozen, backed up, or transported between hosts. Using the virtual machines (VMs), users can easily test multi-node network services for any networking, software configuration, or operating system issues.
Snapshots: Using snapshots, users are able to save or freeze a specific state of a VM and choose to revert back to the protected state if/when they desire. Users are able to make changes or experiment within the computing space. Should a problem arise, users can revert back to the selected snapshot; this makes the need for frequent backups and restores unnecessary.
Flexibility: The solution makes it easy to run different operating systems (OSes) at the same time. Users can run software designed for one OS on another OS. For example, users can easily run Windows on a MAC and not have to perform a reboot. As users can configure the kinds of virtual hardware to be presented with each OS, there is greater flexibility on which OS can be selected, and users can even choose older OSes or ones that are not currently supported by the original OS.
Cost-effective: Virtualization with Oracle VM VirtualBox enables users to considerably minimize overall costs by reducing the amount of hardware needed and the associated expenses of running the physical machines throughout an organization. This tremendous cost savings results in ROI being achieved in a very short period of time.

Reviews from Real Users

“Oracle VM VirtualBox is easy to use and does not require much training. It uses fewer resources. Teams using new operating system releases can quickly test and implement. This would make the development of new software releases faster and easier. It also helps users to write the program, test, and support it on multiple platforms. It has a good community as it is open-source.” - Satishbabu G., Oracle ACE

“It is easy to use and does not require complex knowledge. It uses less resources, which is a requirement as it is used to onboard hardware with very little resources available.” - A PeerSpot user who is an IT Architect - AI at CGI