UTM uses QEMU under the hood which adds overhead. These alternatives use Apple's Virtualization.framework directly, making them significantly lighter.
The ultimate lightweight utility for running macOS VMs. Just double-click a VM and it opens using its saved settings.
- Memory usage: ~35MB host memory + VM allocation
- UI: None - just an Open command
- Supports: Monterey through Sequoia (Apple Silicon only)
- Download: https://eclecticlight.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/vimy07.zip
Note: Vimy can only run VMs, not create them. You need Viable to create the .viable bundles first.
Creates and runs macOS VMs from IPSW images.
- Features: Up to 2 VMs, HiDPI, shared folders (macOS 13+), iCloud (macOS 15+)
- ViableS: Sandboxed version without folder/clipboard sharing (for research)
- Supports: Monterey through Sequoia (Apple Silicon only)
- Download: https://eclecticlight.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/viable1b12.zip
Claims 70% fewer resources than traditional solutions.
- Features: Full-featured with CPU/memory/storage controls, save/restore states, clipboard sharing
- Supports: macOS 12+, ARM Linux distros
- Requirements: macOS 14+, 8GB RAM (16GB recommended)
- Download: https://apps.apple.com/app/softvm-light-virtual-machine/id6748036846
- Download both Vimy and Viable
- Use Viable to create a VM:
- Download or provide a macOS IPSW image
- Configure cores, memory, display resolution
- VM is saved as a
.viablebundle
- Double-click the
.viablefile - Vimy opens it with saved settings
- Done - no menus, no preferences
If you only need Linux (not macOS VMs), Apple's own container tool runs lightweight Linux VMs:
- https://github.com/apple/container
- Uses Apple's Containerization framework
- One VM per container (better isolation than Docker)
- Sub-second startup, OCI-compatible images
- Howard Oakley's tools: https://eclecticlight.co/virtualisation-on-apple-silicon/
- Apple Container: https://github.com/apple/container