VMware ESXi has been a fixture in the virtualization world for years – lightweight, stable, and powerful. With ESXi 8, VMware is once again bringing a host of innovations that are particularly impressive in terms of performance, security, and management. But what many people are interested in is: Can you use ESXi 8 for free? The short answer: Yes, but with limitations. Let's take a closer look.
VMware ESXi is a so-called bare-metal hypervisor. This means you install it directly on your hardware – without an underlying operating system. It allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) simultaneously on a physical server. Ideal for lab environments, test setups, or small server solutions.
Yes! VMware offers a free version of ESXi, including version 8. You can download it directly from the VMware website. All you need is a free VMware account.
The free version is officially called VMware vSphere Hypervisor – it's basically ESXi without all the bells and whistles (like vCenter).
After downloading, you'll receive a free license key, which you can enter in the web interface (Host Client) to use ESXi permanently – without it reverting to "evaluation mode" after 60 days.
The free license comes with some limitations you should be aware of:
❌ No access to vCenter You can't integrate the host into a vCenter – meaning you can't centrally manage multiple hosts.
❌ No API or vStorage APIs
This means, for example, that you can't access ESXi without vCenter. For example, many backup solutions like Veeam don't work.
This is usually sufficient for home labs.
✅ Unlimited RAM You can use as much RAM as your hardware allows.
✅ Unlimited term Unlike the trial version, the free license runs indefinitely.
The free ESXi version is ideal for:
Home labs & IT enthusiasts
Developers who want to test VMs
Small businesses with minimal virtualization needs
Educational purposes & training
However, if you need high availability, vMotion, DRS, or centralized management, there's no way around a paid license.
Using VMware ESXi 8 for free is possible – and absolutely sufficient for many. Especially if you want to learn, test, or just tinker a bit in your home lab, the free version is a real winner. Sure, it lacks the major enterprise features, but for many scenarios, you don't need them.
So: Download the ISO, install it, enter the license, and get started!
Tip: Alternatives like Proxmox or XCP-ng also offer exciting options – especially if you prefer open source. But that's a topic for another post 😉
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