Player - Download Vmware Workstation

Yes, if:

No, if:

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Bottom line: The software is excellent, but the download process has become unnecessarily heavy (mandatory account). For personal use, it remains the best choice for running Windows VMs on Windows. For commercial use, do not download the free Player – purchase Workstation Pro or use Hyper-V.

Here's the official download page and related information for VMware Workstation Player (now often referred to as VMware Workstation Pro for personal use, since Broadcom simplified the free offering). download vmware workstation player

Windows:

Linux:

Verdict: Windows installation is smooth; Linux requires intermediate skill.

When you download "VMware Workstation Player," you are bound to the VMware Personal Use License. Yes, if:

What is allowed:

What is NOT allowed:

If you use it at work without a paid Pro license (or commercial Player license), you are violating the EULA. VMware has audited companies in the past.

The trap: The download page says "Free for personal use" in small text. Many users miss this and inadvertently use it commercially. No, if:

Follow these steps precisely to get the latest version (as of 2024, this is version 17.5.x).

Once the .exe file is downloaded:

You will see options for:

Click the Download button. The file is roughly 500MB to 600MB in size.

Even with the official link, users encounter issues. Here are the top three: