Virtual machines allow users to run multiple operating systems—like Windows 10—on a single device. Whether it’s for development, cybersecurity testing, or learning, VM software has become a powerful tool for both professionals and students. However, with so many virtualization tools available, it’s often difficult to determine which software offers the best performance, compatibility, and ease of use specifically for running Windows 10. This raises an important question: what is the best software to create and run a Windows 10 virtual machine, and which platform strikes the right balance between performance, features, and cost? In this article, we’ll review five of the best Windows 10 virtual machine tools, evaluating them based on ease of use, hardware compatibility, and overall stability.
Part 1: VMware Workstation Player – Best Windows 10 Virtual Machine Tool for Personal Use
VMware Workstation Player is a free and highly reliable virtualization tool, perfect for home users, tech enthusiasts, and students. It allows you to easily create and run Windows 10 virtual machines with excellent performance. With a user-friendly setup and strong hardware compatibility, it’s ideal for personal use. While basic features are free, advanced functions are available in the paid Pro version
Features:
Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS guest systems
Smooth hardware acceleration
Snapshot and rollback (paid version)
Pros:
Easy installation
Great performance
Free for personal use
Cons:
Advanced features locked behind paid “Pro” version
Limited snapshot functionality in free version
Writer Experience Tip:
Booting Windows 10 inside VMware Player was impressively quick. Basic tasks like launching Chrome, opening Office apps, and minor software installation felt smooth, with very little noticeable lag.
Part 2: Oracle VirtualBox – Best Free Open-Source Windows 10 Virtual Machine Solution
Oracle VirtualBox is a fully open-source virtualization platform known for its flexibility, wide compatibility, and active community support. It allows users to create and run Windows 10 virtual machines across Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. With extensive virtual hardware options and full ISO support, it's a powerful free choice for developers and learners. Some initial setup tweaks may be needed for the best performance.
Features:
Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS)
Extensive virtual hardware options
Supports Windows 10 ISO installs and VHD imports
Pros:
Completely free
Active open-source community
Easily modifiable and scriptable
Cons:
Interface can feel dated
Setup can be tricky for beginners
Writer Experience Tip:
Some settings tweaking (like enabling 3D acceleration and allocating more video memory) significantly improved Windows 10’s performance. It handled multiple apps like Edge, Visual Studio Code, and Slack quite well after optimization.
Part 3: Microsoft Hyper-V – Built-in Windows 10 Virtual Machine Tool for Pro & Enterprise Users
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization tool available on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions. It offers deep integration with the Windows operating system, making it a stable and secure choice for running virtual machines. Hyper-V supports advanced features like live migration and checkpoints, ideal for business and IT environments. However, it’s not available on Windows 10 Home editions.
Features:
Deep integration with Windows OS
Supports live migration and checkpoints
Great for corporate environments
Pros:
Built into Windows (no extra download)
Reliable and well-maintained
Good security isolation
Cons:
Not available on Windows 10 Home
Limited support for non-Windows guest OS
Writer Experience Tip:
Setting up a Windows 10 VM in Hyper-V was seamless—just a few clicks inside the "Turn Windows Features On or Off" panel. Creation and initial boot were noticeably faster compared to third-party tools.
Part 4: Parallels Desktop – Top Windows 10 Virtual Machine Platform for macOS Users
Parallels Desktop is a leading virtualization platform designed specifically for macOS users who need to run Windows 10 applications seamlessly. It offers smooth integration between Windows and macOS through features like Coherence mode and fast switching. Optimized for Apple Silicon, it provides excellent performance and user experience. However, it’s available only for Mac users and requires a subscription.
Features:
Coherence mode blends Windows and macOS apps
Optimized for Apple Silicon
Fast switching between host and VM
Pros:
Excellent integration on Mac
Easy for beginners
Supports Retina display scaling
Cons:
macOS only
Subscription model (not free)
Writer Experience Tip:
Switching between macOS and Windows 10 was almost instantaneous. Apps like Word (Windows version) opened inside macOS as if they were native Mac apps, with zero lag or graphics distortion.
Part 5: QEMU – Advanced Windows 10 Virtual Machine Software for Developers
QEMU is a powerful, high-performance virtualization and emulation platform favored by advanced developers and Linux users. It supports full system emulation and process-level virtualization, offering unmatched flexibility for complex setups. QEMU can run Windows 10 VMs efficiently but requires more technical knowledge to configure. It’s ideal for development, OS testing, and cross-architecture emulation.
Features:
Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) support
Emulates full system or process-level virtualization
Useful for embedded systems or OS testing
Pros:
Powerful for developers
Can run OSes on different architectures
Lightweight
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Complex CLI setup for Windows 10
Writer Experience Tip:
It took longer (~45 minutes) to properly configure and install Windows 10 in QEMU compared to VMware/VirtualBox. However, once set up, performance was excellent, especially when emulating lower-level hardware scenarios.
Part 6: Use WPS Office Inside Your Windows 10 Virtual Machine
WPS Office: A Lightweight Suite That Runs Smoothly on VMs
Once your Windows 10 virtual machine is up and running, you’ll need a lightweight, efficient office suite to stay productive without slowing down your system. WPS Office is an ideal choice, offering fast performance, a clean interface, and full compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. It includes powerful tools like Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and a built-in PDF editor—all optimized for low-resource environments like virtual machines. Plus, WPS AI features can save you time by summarizing documents or extracting key points instantly. Whether you're working inside a VM or on your main system, WPS Office helps you stay efficient and organized.
Key Features of WPS Office
Full Office Suite: Includes Writer (word processing), Spreadsheet (Excel alternative), Presentation (PowerPoint alternative), and a built-in PDF reader and editor.
Microsoft Office Compatibility: Seamlessly opens, edits, and saves .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and other Microsoft Office file formats without formatting loss.
Lightweight and Fast: Designed to run smoothly even on low-spec systems and virtual machines, using fewer resources than traditional office suites.
Cloud Integration: WPS Cloud offers online document storage, easy file sharing, and cross-device syncing, perfect for managing files across physical and virtual environments.
WPS AI Assistance: Integrated AI tools to summarize documents, rephrase content, extract key points, and assist with writing or editing tasks.
Advanced PDF Tools: Create, edit, annotate, and convert PDFs without needing a separate program.
Templates and Design Tools: Access a wide range of free templates for resumes, reports, budgets, and presentations.
Multi-Platform Availability: Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with seamless cross-platform experience.
Tabbed Interface: Manage multiple documents within a single window using tabs, improving workflow efficiency.
Secure and Private: Offers document encryption and password protection features to keep sensitive information safe.
Writer Tip:
Running WPS Office inside the Windows 10 VM was extremely smooth. Writer and Spreadsheet apps opened in under 2 seconds. The WPS AI tool helped quickly summarize lengthy test documents, saving about 20% of manual reading and editing time.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the easiest way to run a Windows 10 virtual machine?
A: VMware Workstation Player and VirtualBox are the most beginner-friendly options.
Q2: Is it legal to run Windows 10 in a virtual machine?
A: Yes, but you must have a valid Windows license.
Q3: Can I use a VM for gaming?
A: Only limited gaming is possible; VMs are not built for heavy 3D gaming, but casual games can run fine.
Summary
Running Windows 10 in a virtual machine is simple and highly effective when you choose the right tool. Whether you're setting up a VM for software testing, development, cybersecurity training, or just learning, today’s virtualization platforms make it easy for both beginners and professionals. With options like VMware Workstation Player, Oracle VirtualBox, Microsoft Hyper-V, Parallels Desktop, and QEMU, you can find the perfect balance between performance, features, and cost, no matter what your needs are.
Once your Windows 10 virtual machine is up and running, enhancing your productivity becomes the next priority—and that's where WPS Office shines. Lightweight, fast, and fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, WPS Office is the ideal productivity suite for virtual environments. Whether you’re writing documents, creating spreadsheets, preparing presentations, or editing PDFs, WPS Office runs smoothly even on limited VM resources. Its built-in AI tools and cloud syncing features make it easier than ever to stay efficient across both your physical and virtual machines.
