UTM Virtual Machines
Turing Software, LLC
UTM is a full-featured system emulator and virtual machine host for macOS (and iOS). Based on QEMU, it allows you to run Windows, Linux, and more on your Mac with near-native performance through virtualization, and also emulate other CPU architectures. It's designed with a user-friendly interface, making powerful virtualization accessible without needing to use complex command-line arguments.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Free and Open Source (Direct Download Version)
- Easy-to-use interface compared to raw QEMU
- Supports virtualization and emulation of various operating systems and architectures
- Good performance, especially for ARM64 VMs on Apple Silicon
- macOS native design and integration
Top Dislikes
- Mac App Store version is paid
- Performance in emulation mode can be limited on Apple Silicon
- Some users reported occasional glitches or issues with specific guest OS features
- Initial setup can be complex for users unfamiliar with virtualization
Popular Comments
GhostLearner - Mac App Store User
2025-01-17
Best $10 I have seent. I don't think I have ever been as satisfied with an Apple Store purchase… EVER. Not thoroughly tested, I expect a few rough edges, but hey, virtualize on a Mac for $10. Dang.
vdrandom - Mac App Store User
2023-02-02
A bit pricy for what it is. This is a gui for QEMU - an opensource vm software. The gui itself is pretty good, but keep in mind that QEMU is free and opensource, and can be installed on macos and controlled via cli.
pucklord - Reddit User
3 months ago
I never give UTM a chance until today it is an amazing app really worth buying just wash if they can support more windows like vista and 98. I been using parallel desktop since 2014 and price wise, I think UTM is a better choice for those who're looking to use windows for light work.
BinaryGrind - Reddit User
2 years ago
Virtualization on M1/M2 Macs is a mess. UTM, Parallels and VMware fusion are the prime options.
eiiot - Hacker News User
2023-08-31
UTM has been a solid hypervisor for me for the past 2 years, and it's received several great functionality and feature improvements over that time too. But perhaps my favourite aspect of UTM is that it stands for Universal Turing Machine (arguably the best name ever for a virtualization product).
vintagedave - Hacker News User
2023-08-31
* Integration tools like copy/paste between VM and host, or file sharing, didn't work. * Graphics constantly glitched, often going to a grey screen. There seemed no way to recover, and I had to force restart the VM.
Detailed Review
UTM Virtual Machines is a powerful and versatile virtualization solution designed specifically for macOS. It leverages the robust QEMU emulator under the hood, providing users with the ability to run a wide array of operating systems, including Windows, Linux distributions like Ubuntu, and even macOS itself, within a virtualized environment. UTM stands out by offering both virtualization for near-native performance when running ARM-based guest OSes on Apple Silicon Macs, and emulation for running different CPU architectures, such as Intel-based systems on Apple Silicon. This makes it possible to run older operating systems or software not natively compatible with the host Mac.
UTM is available in two forms: a free, open-source version downloadable from its website, and a paid version on the Mac App Store. The Mac App Store version is priced at $9.99 and offers the convenience of automatic updates, serving as a way to support the developers, as both versions are functionally identical. The application is designed to integrate seamlessly with macOS, offering a user-friendly graphical interface that simplifies the often complex process of setting up and managing virtual machines in QEMU.
Standout Features
- Versatile Virtualization and Emulation: UTM supports both virtualization and emulation, allowing users to run a broad spectrum of operating systems and architectures on their Mac. It supports over 30 processors.
- Optimized for Apple Silicon: It's engineered to take advantage of Apple's Hypervisor framework, enabling near-native performance for ARM64 operating systems on Apple Silicon Macs.
- User-Friendly Interface: UTM provides a Mac-native GUI, abstracting away the complexities of QEMU command-line configurations and making virtualization accessible to users without deep technical knowledge.
- Secure and Sandboxed Environment: Utilizing macOS Sandbox, UTM ensures that virtual machines are isolated, protecting the host system from potential malware or instability within the guest OS.
- Free and Open Source Option: The availability of a free, open-source version provides accessibility for all users, while the paid Mac App Store version offers a convenient way to support development and receive automatic updates.
- macOS Guest Virtualization: UTM supports virtualizing macOS (version 12 or higher) on Apple Silicon Macs, useful for development and testing purposes.
Conclusion
UTM Virtual Machines is an excellent choice for Mac users needing virtualization capabilities. It balances powerful features with a user-friendly design, making it suitable for both developers and general users who need to run different operating systems on their Macs. While the Mac App Store version comes with a small price tag, the free version available directly from the website offers the full functionality of UTM, making it a highly attractive option compared to more expensive commercial alternatives like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, especially for users who are comfortable with manual updates and appreciate open-source software. For users seeking a robust, free, and macOS-centric virtualization solution, UTM is highly recommended.
