Best VMware Tools Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to VMware Tools? In this comparison, we take a closer look at VMware Tools alongside similar software solutions including VMware Tools and VMware Workstation.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how VMware Tools and VMware Workstation stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	Primary Function	Installation and Licensing	Key Features and Capabilities
VMware Tools	A suite of utilities that enhances the performance and functionality of the guest operating system within a virtual machine on VMware platforms.	Installed inside the guest OS; free and included with VMware products; may require updates and restarts.	Provides enhanced graphics and mouse drivers, time synchronization, improved virtual hardware drivers, guest isolation, and clipboard sharing for better VM performance.
VMware Workstation	A desktop virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single physical machine.	Requires a valid purchase license; installed on the host operating system; requires substantial disk space and hardware resources.	Supports running multiple VMs simultaneously with advanced networking configurations (NAT, host-only), snapshots, USB device support, and compatibility with various VM formats.

Primary Function

VMware Tools	A suite of utilities that enhances the performance and functionality of the guest operating system within a virtual machine on VMware platforms.
VMware Workstation	A desktop virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single physical machine.

Installation and Licensing

VMware Tools	Installed inside the guest OS; free and included with VMware products; may require updates and restarts.
VMware Workstation	Requires a valid purchase license; installed on the host operating system; requires substantial disk space and hardware resources.

Key Features and Capabilities

VMware Tools	Provides enhanced graphics and mouse drivers, time synchronization, improved virtual hardware drivers, guest isolation, and clipboard sharing for better VM performance.
VMware Workstation	Supports running multiple VMs simultaneously with advanced networking configurations (NAT, host-only), snapshots, USB device support, and compatibility with various VM formats.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how VMware Tools stacks up against VMware Tools and VMware Workstation in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License	Rating	Popularity
VMware Tools		Commercial
VMware Workstation		Commercial

Size

VMware Tools
VMware Workstation

License

VMware Tools	Commercial
VMware Workstation	Commercial

Rating

VMware Tools
VMware Workstation

Popularity

VMware Tools
VMware Workstation