OpenStack
OpenStack manages compute, storage, and networking for VMs, bare metal, and containers through APIs or a dashboard. It runs at very large scale under the OpenInfra Foundation, but it is complex to deploy.
Alternatives / VMware
2 open-source alternatives
2 Best Open Source VMware Alternatives in 2026
Looking for an open source VMware alternative? We compared 2 open source private cloud platforms by license and operations. OpenStack runs at very large scale, and Cozystack builds a cloud on Kubernetes. Neither has VMware's vSphere polish or ecosystem.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
Best VMware alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| OpenStack | Mature private cloud at scale | Apache-2.0 |
| Cozystack | Cloud on bare-metal Kubernetes | Apache-2.0 |
How we chose these VMware alternatives
We looked for open-source platforms that run virtual machines and private clouds on your hardware. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and deployment model in its repository. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Cozystack
Cozystack turns bare-metal servers into a cloud with a REST API for Kubernetes clusters, databases, VMs, and load balancers, installed by PXE or ISO with built-in monitoring.
Important: migration
Neither tool is a drop-in for vSphere, so migrating existing VMware workloads needs planning and conversion tools.
License details
OpenStack and Cozystack are Apache-2.0.
Maintenance status
Both had commits within days of this update.
Why look for a VMware alternative?
VMware is proprietary and changed its licensing and pricing after the Broadcom acquisition, which pushed many customers to look elsewhere. Open-source platforms avoid licensing fees but require strong infrastructure skills.
openstack.org
OpenStack is an Apache-2.0 platform that pools compute, storage, and networking for virtual machines, bare metal, and containers, managed through APIs or a dashboard. It runs at large scale and is backed by the OpenInfra Foundation, but it is complex to deploy and operate.
6.1K1.6KApache-2.0Self-hosted
Pricing: Free and open source; commercial distributions exist.
- Proven at very large scale
- Broad service catalog
- Strong foundation and community
- Complex to deploy and run
- Different APIs from AWS
cozystack.io
Cozystack is an Apache-2.0 platform built on Kubernetes that turns bare-metal servers into a cloud with a REST API for Kubernetes clusters, databases, virtual machines, and load balancers. It installs by PXE or ISO and includes built-in monitoring.
2.4K215Apache-2.0Self-hosted
Pricing: Free and open source.
- API-first on Kubernetes
- Managed databases and VMs
- Built-in monitoring
- Requires Kubernetes knowledge
- Much smaller than AWS's service catalog
Compare VMware alternatives
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenStack | Private cloud | Apache-2.0 | Yes | Large organizations |
| Cozystack | Private cloud | Apache-2.0 | Yes | Kubernetes teams |
Which one should you choose?
Want a proven large-scale platform
OpenStack supports VMs, bare metal, and containers under Apache-2.0.
Already run Kubernetes
Cozystack offers VMs, databases, and load balancers through a Kubernetes-based API.