KVM vs UTM
KVM
linux-kvm.orgUTM
mac.getutm.appSide by side
| Figure | KVM | UTM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Spec score · Hypervisor Software | 8.6 (#4) | 8.2 (#11) |
| Spec score · Virtual machine software | 8.7 (#4) | 8.2 (#10) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes |
| Guest architecture | both | both |
| Host platforms | Linux | macOS |
| Nested virtualization | Yes | Yes |
| Processor coverage | The processor support page documents virtualization support for Intel, AMD, ARM, PowerPC and 64-bit S390 systems. | The QEMU backend supports more than 30 processor types, including x86_64, ARM64, ARM32, MIPS, PPC and RISC-V. |
| VM snapshots | Yes | Yes |
| What it does | KVM is an open-source Linux virtualization technology that lets Linux operate as a hypervisor for multiple isolated virtual machines. | UTM is a full-featured system emulator and virtual-machine host for iOS and macOS that runs Windows, Linux and other operating systems. |
Plans
KVM
- KVM open-source softwareFree
- KVM open-source softwareFree
- KVM commercial supportPriced on request
In their own words
KVM
KVM is an open-source virtualization solution for Linux hosts with Intel VT or AMD-V extensions. It runs multiple virtual machines using unmodified Linux or Windows images, each with virtualized hardware such as a network card, disk, and graphics adapter. The documented capabilities include live migration, nested guests, CPU and PCI hotplug, virtio devices, and device assignment; snapshots and GPU acceleration are also listed. KVM’s kernel component is part of mainline Linux, while its userspace component is part of mainline QEMU. Linux distributions commonly package the required modules and tools, and Windows guest drivers are available separately. Documented processor coverage includes Intel, AMD, ARM, PowerPC, and 64-bit S390 systems. KVM can be used with upper layers including QEMU, libvirt, OpenStack, and oVirt. It is available for Linux and self-hosted use, and the listed plan is free. The host must have Intel VT or AMD-V virtualization extensions.
UTM
UTM is a system emulator and virtual-machine host for macOS and iOS that can run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems. Its QEMU backend supports more than 30 processor types, including x86_64, ARM64, ARM32, MIPS, PPC, and RISC-V. On Apple Silicon, UTM uses Apple’s Hypervisor framework for ARM64 systems; Intel Macs can virtualize x86/x64, while Apple Silicon can emulate those architectures at lower performance. Apple Virtualization is also available for macOS and Linux on Apple Silicon. Virtual machines can run with a graphical display, terminal console, or headless, and support snapshots, nested virtualization, and multiple displays. The Mac app supports USB devices, bridged or shared networking, and external-drive storage; iOS supports shared directories, clipboard sharing, and port forwarding. macOS guests are limited to ARM-based Macs running macOS Monterey or later. Windows GPU acceleration is unavailable, and Linux hardware OpenGL acceleration is experimental. The GitHub version is free; the Mac App Store version costs 9.99 USD once and adds automatic updates.