VMware Workstation and Fusion Now Free for All
VMware has announced that its Fusion and Workstation Pro software are now free for both personal and commercial use. This change follows Broadcom's $61 billion acquisition of VMware in 2022, which aimed to simplify the company's product offerings. As a result, VMware has discontinued the sale of Fusion and Workstation Pro versions and will no longer offer perpetual licenses for standalone products, encouraging customers to transition to subscription-based services like Cloud Foundation or vSphere Foundation.
Some business customers have reported significant price increases since the acquisition, with one corporate customer noting a 175% rise and likening the situation to being "held for ransom." VMware has stated that existing commercial contracts will be honored with ongoing support; however, future troubleshooting will rely on community resources and online documentation.
This strategic shift reflects VMware's focus on subscription-based models and its most lucrative customers, aiming to boost annual revenue. The move to make Fusion and Workstation Pro free for all users marks a significant change in VMware's approach to its desktop virtualization products.
