There are two different versions of desktop VMware: VMware Workstation runs on Windows and Linux, and VMware Fusion for macOS (both Intel and Apple Silicon). As these full-function versions are now freeware, Virtzilla is discontinuing its existing free offering, VMware Player, on all three host OSes.

After bundling VMware products into pricey subscriptions, Broadcom is now offering VMware Fusion and Workstation for free.

Early this year, VMware announced that Workstation was free for personal use. I was very excited about it and I wrote a few articles about it. Then, this week, VMware doubled down with this announcement and made it free for commercial use as well.

Even as Broadcom-owned VMWare makes more products free for commercial use, some customers have complained about price hikes and its current subscription push.

VMware is now free, and the paid versions are no longer available. That doesn't mean any of their functionalities will disappear.