As of 2026, the way you download VMware Workstation has changed significantly. VMware Workstation Player was discontinued as a standalone product in May 2024 because VMware made the more powerful VMware Workstation Pro free for personal use [15, 33]. Later, in November 2024, it was made free for commercial and educational use as well [19, 29].
Are you looking to run a second operating system on your PC without the hassle of dual-booting? Whether you are a developer testing code, a student learning Linux, or an IT professional experimenting with new software, VMware Workstation Player is one of the best tools for the job. download vmware workstation player
Warning: Do not use torrents. Altering the VMware installer is a common attack vector for cryptominers. As of 2026, the way you download VMware
Follow these steps precisely to get the latest version (as of 2024, this is version 17.5.x). Speed: Nearly native on Windows host
git clone [his secret repo]
For years, VMware Workstation Player served as a lightweight tool for running single virtual machines (VMs) without the complexity of the full Pro version. However, following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the licensing model was simplified. Users no longer need to seek out a separate "Player" download; instead, downloading the full Workstation Pro suite provides all previous Player functionality plus advanced features—such as snapshots and virtual network editing—at no cost for personal use. Core Benefits and Use Cases
Linux: