KVM
7.2#3 in server virtualization softwareFree planFree planAPILinuxSelf-hosted
VisitKVM vs QEMU
What both publish
| Fact | KVM | QEMU |
|---|---|---|
| Developer extensibility | KVM capabilities are discovered with KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION, allowing applications to detect optional functionality before using it. | The documentation covers QAPI-generated monitor commands, QMP, HMP and numerous interoperability protocols. |
| Documentation depth | Documentation spans the KVM FAQ, Linux kernel API references, QEMU documentation, distribution guides and libvirt documentation rather than one centralized help center. | Official documentation includes user, system-emulation, device, security, interoperability and developer sections, with additional wiki material. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | The kernel KVM API is exposed through file descriptors and ioctl calls for system, virtual-machine, vCPU and device control. | QEMU Machine Protocol is a JSON protocol for applications to control QEMU at machine level. |
KVM plans
- KVM open-source softwareFree
- KVM commercial supportPriced on request
QEMU plans
- QEMUFree
Pick KVM if…
KVM suits Linux users who need to run Linux or Windows virtual machines on compatible x86 hosts. It may also suit teams using QEMU, libvirt, OpenStack, or oVirt as an upper layer.
Pick QEMU if…
QEMU suits users who need whole-machine emulation, cross-architecture process execution, or disk-image utilities. It is available across several platforms, with specific Windows and macOS requirements.