No-subscription VM for Mac
Virtual machines for Mac that do not need a subscription
You have four real choices on Apple Silicon: VMware Fusion Pro (free), UTM (free, or a paid App Store build), Parallels Desktop Standard (a perpetual licence) and Kyvenza ($49 once). They differ in what “no subscription” covers: price, updates, accounts and which version you keep. This page lays out each licence as plainly as we can.
Four ways to avoid a subscription
VMware Fusion Pro: free
Free for commercial, educational and personal use since Broadcom’s November 2024 announcement, from Fusion 13.5.2 onward. No licence key, but you need a Broadcom Support Portal account and must complete a trade-compliance form to download it.
UTM: free, or pay once on the App Store
The download from the UTM website is free and open source. The Mac App Store version has the same features, adds automatic updates and funds development, and is a one-time purchase. Expect to configure more settings yourself.
Parallels Desktop Standard: perpetual licence
Parallels sells Standard either as an annual subscription or as a one-time perpetual licence, which lets you keep using the purchased version indefinitely. Pro and Business are subscription-only. Check parallels.com for the current price.
Kyvenza: $49 once, with a fallback licence
One payment covers 12 months of updates. After that the versions released inside your window keep working forever, validated offline with no server check. Renewing updates costs $19 a year and is optional. No account, and a 7-day full-feature trial first.
Kyvenza vs Parallels Desktop Standard (perpetual)
These are the two paid pay-once options. Both avoid a recurring fee; they differ in scope, accounts and how updates work. Prices change, so confirm Parallels’ current figure on their site.
| Feature | Kyvenza | Parallels Desktop Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 one-time | One-time price listed on parallels.com |
| What you keep | Every version released within your 12-month update window, forever | The version you bought, indefinitely |
| Optional extras | $19 to extend updates by a year | Pro and Business tiers are subscription-only |
| Account required | No, and the trial needs no card | Yes |
| Windows 11 ARM | Yes, built-in engine with TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot | Yes, the solution Microsoft lists as authorized |
| 3D acceleration and USB in Windows guests | No | Yes |
| macOS and ARM Linux guests | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in MCP server for AI agents | Yes, 15 tools | Not that we are aware of |
What Kyvenza supports today
A short, honest list — so you know what to expect before you download.
Supported today
- Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5)
- Windows 11 on ARM (bring your own Microsoft image and licence)
- Ubuntu ARM (LTS releases)
- Debian ARM
- Fedora ARM
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later as host
- Native Apple Virtualization framework backend
Not supported yet
- GPU / 3D acceleration in Windows guests
- USB passthrough and microphone input in Windows guests
- x86 / Intel guest operating systems
- Nested virtualization
- GPU passthrough
We list what we cannot deliver today so you can plan accordingly.
How it works
Try the free options first
If you only need a Linux or Windows ARM guest now and then, Fusion Pro or UTM may be all you ever need. There is no reason to pay for something a free tool already does for you.
Pay once if you want a polished tool
Parallels Standard is the choice for Windows with graphics. Kyvenza is the choice for macOS and ARM Linux with a simple Mac interface, a built-in MCP server and no account.
Read the update terms before you buy
A perpetual licence keeps your version running but may not include future major versions. Kyvenza includes 12 months of updates, then keeps those versions working with an optional $19 renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Parallels Desktop Standard offers a perpetual licence, and Kyvenza costs $49 once with 12 months of updates. UTM’s Mac App Store build is also a one-time purchase. VMware Fusion Pro and the UTM website download are free.
Own the tool, skip the renewal
Download Kyvenza and run your real workload for 7 days. $49 once if it fits, nothing if it does not.
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