Cloud Hypervisor
Cloud Hypervisor is a free, open-source virtual machine monitor written in Rust for modern cloud workloads.
What Cloud Hypervisor is
Cloud Hypervisor is a free, open-source virtual machine monitor written in Rust for modern cloud workloads. It runs on Linux hosts using x86-64 or AArch64 architectures and supports modern Linux and Windows guests. Its design uses minimal hardware emulation, with support for paravirtualized devices and physical device passthrough. Operators can manage virtual machine lifecycles through a REST API or command-line interface, with D-Bus available as an option. The monitor supports snapshots, nested virtualization, and live migration between hosts without interrupting virtual machines; migration data can be encrypted with mutual TLS. The maker says direct kernel boot reaches userspace in less than 100 ms. Kata Containers supports it for secure containerized workloads. Linux hosts need kernel 4.11 or later for the required KVM functionality, while kernel 5.6 is recommended for adequate performance. Packages for some popular Linux distributions are available through the Open Build Service. The project is governed openly as part of the Linux Foundation and directs users to GitHub discussions or Slack for help.
Good
- Supports Linux and Windows guest systems
- Offers snapshots, nested virtualization, and live migration
- Migration data can use mutual TLS encryption
- Available free as open-source software
Watch out
- Requires Linux kernel 4.11 or later
- Kernel 5.6 is recommended for adequate performance
Who it suits
Cloud Hypervisor suits operators building cloud workloads on Linux hosts who need virtual machine control through an API or command line. It may also fit Kata Containers users running containerized workloads.
Verdict
Cloud Hypervisor combines VM lifecycle controls with device passthrough and live migration in a free, open-source monitor. Check the host kernel requirement before adopting it.
Plans and prices
From Cloud Hypervisor's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Hypervisor | Free | Open-source VMM; no commercial plan or usage limits stated on the pages reviewed |
The facts
Each one read from Cloud Hypervisor's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Boot performance
- The maker says direct kernel boot reaches userspace in less than 100 ms.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution packages
- Packages for some popular Linux distributions are available through the Open Build Service.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Governance
- The project says it is governed openly as part of the Linux Foundation and supported by multiple organizations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Guest architecture
- bothchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Guest operating systems
- It supports modern Linux and Windows guests.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Host architectures
- It runs on x86-64 and AArch64 hosts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Kata Containers supports Cloud Hypervisor for running secure containerized workloads.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Management interface
- bothchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Migration
- It supports live migration of VMs between hosts without interruption.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Migration encryption
- The v53.0 release notes say live migration data can be encrypted using mutual TLS.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Nested virtualization
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Security
- The project cites Rust implementation and minimal emulated devices as ways to avoid common security issues.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to GitHub discussions or Slack for help, GitHub issues for bug reports, and a mailing list for broader discussions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- VM control
- Operators can control VM lifecycles through a REST API, command-line interface, or optional D-Bus API.checked 7 Oct 2026
- VM snapshots
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- What it does
- Cloud Hypervisor is an open-source Virtual Machine Monitor written in Rust for modern cloud workloads, with minimal hardware emulation.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Devices
- It supports paravirtualized devices and physical device passthrough.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Host platforms
- Linuxchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Linux host requirement
- The documented minimum host kernel is 4.11 for required KVM functionality, with 5.6 recommended for adequate performance.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
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UTM
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