Look at the contributor graph in the public github repository. Only very few commits for October, only a single person left. No responses in public tickets from the development team. See https://github.com/VirtualBox/virtualbox/graphs/contributors
10 replies (most recent on top)
@da I just downloaded the 2026 H1 update 1. Seems to be getting regular updates. Based on comments on this site premier support is a waste of money and now there is little dev support so good luck with the regular updates.
It’s called open source because guess what you can fork it clone it do what you want with it or just fork off!
If you have an issue create a fork and run it your self. Deal with the os issues, security patches all for free
Oracle does not care much about Open Source. If this is true, paying customers should sue the heck out of it then. This still is a great product and luckily is Open Source, so one can only hope it will get a hard fork sometime from the original team.
VirtualBox is an active Oracle product for which customers can buy premier support. There are security updates and so on.
VMware Workstation Pro in contrast is abandonware, with the last update in July 2025 and no security fixes since.
So there's a significant difference. Not that the relevant management seems to care.
The product generates no revenue why would you expect them to invest anything in maintaining it? VMware workstation pro is free and has both Windows and Linux versions so there is a no cost alternative to virtualbox.
@be I use VirtualBox to test Debian installations. VB has really been a great tool for me.
Who uses this cr-p?
Cut everything and lay them off without reallocating the talent to other busiess areas. Great way ahead, getting ready for the chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Man. That will hurt a ton of places that use VBox for so much. Esp cyber shops who is for victim offender sims. IMO.
Doesn't matter. It was only virtual and not a real box.