VMware allows anyone to download and use a fully featured version of ESXi 8 for a 60-day trial period.
The free edition of VMware ESXi 8.0, formerly discontinued in February 2024, has been reinstated by Broadcom starting with the release of ESXi 8.0 Update 3e vmware esxi 8 license key free link
If you are looking for a reliable, enterprise-grade free hypervisor to learn, the reintroduction of ESXi 8.0 U3e makes it the best choice in 2026 for building a home lab. If you'd like, I can: VMware allows anyone to download and use a
Reviews from VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi FREE IS BACK - NO ... note that the software no longer starts in a 60-day evaluation mode with all features unlocked; it installs directly into the restricted "Free" mode. note that the software no longer starts in
This is great news for developers, students, IT professionals, and homelab enthusiasts who need a robust, enterprise‑grade hypervisor without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. But it is not without serious caveats.
Broadcom makes available the VMware vSphere Hypervisor version 8, an entry-level hypervisor that you can download free of charge from the Broadcom Support portal. However, it comes with significant feature limitations and is intended for non‑production use only (home labs, development, testing). Production environments require a paid vSphere license.
Because the free version of ESXi is gone, many users are migrating to alternative Type-1 hypervisors. These platforms are completely free, open-source, and highly capable: