Sign in Submit site

QuickEmu

github.com/quickemu-project/quickemu Virtualization Open-source projectOpen source

Quickemu creates and runs optimized virtual machines for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Visit QuickEmu 12 alternatives
github.com/quickemu-project/quickemu
QuickEmu homepage screenshot

About QuickEmu

Quickemu is an open-source wrapper for QEMU that creates and runs virtual machines for Windows, macOS, Linux and many other operating systems with minimal configuration. The companion tool quickget downloads the installer for a chosen operating system and writes a configuration file; quickemu then enumerates the host hardware and starts the VM with settings suited to that machine. The project began as a way to test Linux distributions quickly, with VMs and their configuration stored anywhere, such as external USB storage or a home directory, and with no elevated permissions required.

Host support covers Linux and macOS. Guest coverage includes macOS versions from Sequoia back to Mojave, Windows 10 and 11 with TPM 2.0, Windows Server 2016 to 2022, BSD systems and other non-Linux systems, with nearly 1000 operating system editions listed. Integration options include SPICE clipboard sharing, VirtIO and Samba file sharing, the QEMU Guest Agent, USB and smartcard pass-through, and SSH and network port forwarding; some options depend on host software, such as smbd for Samba sharing.

Key features

  • quickget downloads the chosen OS image and writes a VM configuration file
  • Nearly 1000 supported operating system editions, including macOS, Windows and BSDs
  • Windows 10 and 11 guests with TPM 2.0 support
  • SPICE support with host/guest clipboard sharing
  • VirtIO-webdavd, VirtIO-9p and Samba file sharing options
  • VMs can be stored anywhere and run without elevated permissions
Best for: People running Linux or macOS who want to create and run virtual machines for testing or regular use without writing exhaustive QEMU configuration.
Good for
  • Open source under the MIT license
  • No elevated permissions required to run the virtual machines
  • Automatic hardware detection instead of exhaustive configuration options
Watch out for
  • Host support is limited to Linux and macOS; Windows is covered as a guest
  • Samba file sharing requires smbd to be installed on the host
  • ARM64 guests are emulated on x86_64 hosts rather than run natively

QuickEmu at a glance

Type
Open-source project
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows
Open source
Yes · Source code
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026
open sourcelinuxmacoslinux macos

QuickEmu alternatives

Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.

All 12 alternatives

Popular in Virtualization

Well-known listings from the same topic.

All 28
WSLlearn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wslHyper-Vlearn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper…PCjs Machinespcjs.orgVirtualBoxvirtualbox.orgQEMUqemu.orgLooking Glasslooking-glass.io
Related topicsLinux AppsSystem UtilitiesLinux & Mac AppsMedia Players & ServersBrowser ExtensionsFile UtilitiesDesktop CustomizationText Editors

QuickEmu FAQ

How do I create and run a virtual machine with Quickemu?
Run quickget to download the operating system image and create a configuration file, then run quickemu --vm with that configuration file.
How can I see which operating systems are supported?
Running quickget with no arguments prints a list of all supported operating systems.
Does running a virtual machine require administrator rights?
The project states that no elevated permissions are required to run the virtual machines.
Is something wrong or out of date?

Tell us and an editor will check it.

Own this website?

Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.

Claim this listing

Listing maintained by Chris McClure and the WebIndexly editors · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · How we rank