VMware Fusion Pro pros and cons

Name: VMware Fusion Pro
Brand: Broadcom
Rating: 4.4 (9 reviews)

Vendor: Broadcom

4.4 out of 5

9 reviews
100% willing to recommend

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Pros & Cons summary

VMware Fusion Pro enables Windows VMs on Mac and connects to Windows ESXi infrastructure with backend VMware hooks. It offers versatile operations, simplifies custom VM creation, and rapidly launches new OS installations. Snapshot handling and backup options are limited, making cleanup and integration challenging. The complex installation process and high licensing costs require attention. Uploading to ESXi is easy, but the reverse lacks functionality, prompting optimization needs for tech buyers.

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

VMware Fusion Pro's most valuable feature is the ability to run Windows VMs on a Mac.

The Pro version allows connection to Windows ESXi infrastructure, enhancing backend integration capabilities.

It is known for its high stability and reliability.

The versatility of VMware Fusion Pro offers significant value.

VMware Fusion Pro is invaluable for swiftly launching new operating systems.

CONS

Snapshot management needs improvement, particularly when moving machines across devices.

Backup functionality for virtual machines is reliant on Windows backups rather than integrated VMware features.

The process for pulling data from ESXi to Fusion is difficult compared to uploading to ESXi.

Installation could be simplified and licensing costs reduced.

VMware Fusion Pro has registration issues with macOS, causing repeated notifications about background installations.

VMware Fusion Pro Pros review quotes

reviewer1330542

Network Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees

Nov 26, 2020

The whole point of it is to run Windows VMs on a Mac. This is the most valuable feature. There is snapshotting, but we don't really use that. The Pro version allows me to actually attach to the Windows ESXi infrastructure at the backend, and I'm able to create a session that I can attach to the VMware hooks at the backend, so one is running a VM, and the whole operating system is running on the actual Mac. The other one is literally a frontend to the VMs that are running in the infrastructure at the backend. These are the two main features I use.

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reviewer1738311

Cybersecurity Student at a university with 5,001-10,000 employees

Feb 23, 2022

The most value that it provides is that it is versatile.

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Amit Negi

Information Technology Officer at Loesche GmbH

May 29, 2023

It is a highly stable solution.

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Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

December 2025

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IhorPetruk

Head of System Software Division at Bunch Craft Group

Sep 12, 2023

The product is easy to use and has a simple user interface.

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Christian Kyony

Senior Security Engineer at DRS

Jun 3, 2024

The most important feature of VMware Fusion is that it helps me rapidly launch a new OS.

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Reviewer836542

Chief Technology Officer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees

Nov 29, 2024

VMware Fusion Pro offers simplicity of use and stability.

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Bruce Lundberg

Linux HPC Systems Administrator at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Dec 18, 2024

The primary advantage of VMware Fusion Pro is its simplicity in creating custom virtual machines.

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VMware Fusion Pro Cons review quotes

reviewer1330542

Network Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees

Nov 26, 2020

The way they handle snapshotting can be improved. One time, I moved a machine from one to another, and I tried to pull it up on the second machine, but it didn't work. This was because I had not cleaned up the snapshot before I deleted it and moved it across. So, when I tried to pull it up, it wouldn't let me bring it up. The backups for the VMs themselves can also be improved. I pretty much have to rely on Windows backups and not something on VMware. That's where it needs improvement. I am able to upload from my Fusion into the ESXi easily. I'm able to spin something up on Fusion and push it into the big arena, but the reverse is not as easy, that is, trying to pull something down from that. I would love to have a functionality where I could pull something from the VMware infrastructure into Fusion, but I'm not sure if I can take something from ESXi and pull it into Fusion.

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reviewer1738311

Cybersecurity Student at a university with 5,001-10,000 employees

Feb 23, 2022

I would like to see newer and updated cloud functions.

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Amit Negi

Information Technology Officer at Loesche GmbH

May 29, 2023

Its installation process could be simpler.

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Buyer's Guide

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

December 2025

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Find out what your peers are saying about Broadcom, Parallels, Omnissa and others in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Updated: December 2025.

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881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

IhorPetruk

Head of System Software Division at Bunch Craft Group

Sep 12, 2023

VMware Fusion's licensing cost needs improvement.

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Christian Kyony

Senior Security Engineer at DRS

Jun 3, 2024

Additionally, enhancing the API interactions could improve the ability to manage VS and deploy various kinds of guests.

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Reviewer836542

Chief Technology Officer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees

Nov 29, 2024

Fusion is not meant to be scalable as it runs on desktops and laptops.

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Bruce Lundberg

Linux HPC Systems Administrator at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Dec 18, 2024

The only issue I've experienced with VMware Fusion Pro is that it doesn't register correctly with the main macOS system, causing repeated notifications about background installations. This is a minor inconvenience.

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