Last checked October 29, 2026
Incus
Incus runs system containers and virtual machines on Linux. It grew out of LXD. It is a good fit when you want a few machines on one host, not a vSphere-style cluster console.
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Free plan
The software is free. You run it on Linux you already have.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
You put the app on a computer you control. Setup: medium. Install it on a Linux host. It is lighter than a full cluster suite, and it is not a drop-in for vCenter.
Who it is for
For developers and small teams. It runs on Linux and a computer you control. License: Apache-2.0. It is in the Virtual machines group.
What you pay
Free plan: The software is free. You run it on Linux you already have. There is no hosted price on file. Run it yourself: Setup: medium. Install it on a Linux host. It is lighter than a full cluster suite, and it is not a drop-in for vCenter.
How to switch
Compared with VMware. Its price on file: heise, citing a Rimini Street survey published in October 2026, says vSphere 8 general support ends on October 11, 2027.
What you give up: import from ESXi and a paid support option. You only get part of: virtual machines on hardware you own, a web console for the hosts, and move a running machine to another host, and 2 more.
How close is it?
A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.
Related alternatives
- Free alternatives to VMware
- Proxmox VE: A web console for virtual machines on your own servers.
- XCP-ng: A Xen hypervisor with a separate management app.
Free apps in this group
Where we looked
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[](https://ditchly.co/software/incus)
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[](https://ditchly.co/software/incus)
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https://ditchly.co/software/incus