Tech riderRev. 30 Sept 2026
- 1Runs onLinux, self-hosted
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3Host platformsLinux
- 4Nested virtualizationYes
4 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: linux-kvm.org
Overview
KVM is ranked #5 of 26 in virtual machine software on Specifiction. It runs on Linux, Self-hosted. There is a free plan.
KVM plans and pricing
All plansKVM open-source software Free Linux host · requires Intel VT or AMD-V virtualization extensions linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
Compared on virtual machine software
- Free plan
- Yeslinux-kvm.org
- Host platforms
- Linuxlinux-kvm.org
- Nested virtualization
- Yeslinux-kvm.org
Facts
- Guest architecture
- bothlinux-kvm.org · 20 Sept 2026
- VM snapshots
- Yeslinux-kvm.org · 20 Sept 2026
- GPU acceleration
- Yeslinux-kvm.org · 20 Sept 2026
- Virtualization
- KVM is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware with Intel VT or AMD-V extensions.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Guest systems
- KVM can run multiple virtual machines with unmodified Linux or Windows images.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Virtual hardware
- Each virtual machine has private virtualized hardware including a network card, disk and graphics adapter.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Open source
- KVM is open-source software; its kernel component is in mainline Linux and its userspace component is in mainline QEMU.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Key features
- The documented feature list includes live migration, nested guests, CPU hotplug, PCI hotplug, virtio devices and device assignment.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Production status
- KVM is included in the mainline Linux kernel and is described as stable and fast for most workloads.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Migration support
- KVM status documentation lists live migration of 32-bit and 64-bit guests between hosts.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Distribution support
- Major community and enterprise Linux distributions provide KVM kernel modules and userspace, with distribution support available.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Downloads
- Linux distributions usually package the KVM kernel modules and userspace tools, and Windows guest drivers are available separately.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Processor coverage
- The processor support page documents virtualization support for Intel, AMD, ARM, PowerPC and 64-bit S390 systems.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Integration
- KVM userspace code is developed in the QEMU mainline repository, and KVM feature documentation references QEMU, libvirt, OpenStack and oVirt as upper layers.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Security model
- VMchannel requirements specify that communication should pose no threat to the host and allow use by an unprivileged user.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Testing
- The kvm-unit-tests project provides small guest operating systems for KVM and virtual-hardware functional testing.linux-kvm.org · 30 Sept 2026
Best KVM alternatives
See all 20 All accessCh 01 Proxmox VE Free planAndroidAPI from €10/mo9.1 All accessCh 02 Oracle VirtualBox LinuxMac 8.3 All accessCh 03 VMware Workstation Pro Free planLinuxself-hosted Free to start8.2 All accessCh 04 QEMU Free planLinuxMac Free to start8.2 All accessCh 06 Parallels Desktop LinuxMac 7.8 All accessCh 07 Xen Project Hypervisor Free planLinuxself-hosted Free to start7.7
Where it ranks on Specifiction
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Sources
- linux-kvm.org/page/Main_Page· checked 20 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Main_Page· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/KVM_Features· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Status· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Getting_the_kvm_kernel_modules· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Downloads· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Processor_support· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/Code· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/VMchannel_Requirements· checked 30 Sept 2026
- linux-kvm.org/page/KVM-unit-tests· checked 30 Sept 2026