VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users

[Darin Itamura]

I saw this post on the VMware blog that VMware Workstation and Fusion were now free for even commercial users. 

VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users - VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Blog

I am looking to use VMware for commercial use.

I have looked around the downloads and do not see an option other than the Personal Use (see screenshot below).  Is there going to be another download posted just for the free use or could someone direct me to which download I am supposed to use?  Thank you!

Update 11/13/2024:

Looks like the "Personal Use" versions are now gone.  I now have access to download version 17.6.1 but my co-worker tried this version and it still asks for a commercial license or attestation for personal use.  Is this going to be updated to reflect the new terms of use? Any clarification or help would be appreciated!

[Shen88]

@Darin Itamura,
Good day!

Please note, you will have to select 'personal use' for now to avoid entering license key. However, the Broadcom teams are working on taking out this option and updated product will be shipped in a few weeks.

Also, note that the this change is applicable from 'Workstation Pro 17.5.2' and 'Fusion 13.5.2' version and onwards.

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If you find this answer right, please 'Recommend' this post.

Thank you!

Regards,
Shen
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[Darin Itamura]

Thank you for your reply Shen88! Is there somewhere that mentions that they are working on a new release or do you have direct contact with someone in Broadcom?

[Michael Hoffmann]

In my Opinion you as a Customer are in a Deadlock right now.
You cannot buy a License and you do not get a License Key.

You can only get a Software where you are forced to say that you are using it for personal use only which is not true.

This puts you in the Position that you have an unlicensed Software where you have lied about the usage.

in other Words - the full legal Risk is on your Side

I believe that the cleanest Way to solve this is to make the Software in the Broadcom Store available again and set the Price to 0$.

This Way Customers could buy it for Free and the would get a decent Invoice and a License Key

This would change the Situation on the Customer Side completely because now there is a real Contract and i know that i have aquired a Product that can be used in a comercial environment.

I have a real licensed product that has been activated with a license Key

i can prove that in a Software Audit

If you like this reply and think we should get broadcom to do that please upvote this Reply

[goldeneye_007]

Agreed. They must either provide a paper trail that an auditor can say the software was

acquired legally for free commercial use or they need to drop the verbiage regarding commercial use in the installer.

[DennisDeV]

Sounds logical and reasonable to me.

[ahsan khan]

I have a gmail account and I am not able to download any of the vm workstation. Do I need to be associated with a company to be able to use it for free.