As of , Broadcom (which acquired VMware) has made VMware Workstation Pro completely free for all users, including personal, educational, and commercial use.
However, the most important change was . Prior to version 12, VMware Player was completely free for all uses. With version 12, VMware introduced a split: VMware Player (Free) for non-commercial use, and VMware Player Pro (Paid) for commercial/enterprise use. Vmware Player 12 Key
If you are using version 12 in a business setting, you would historically enter your purchased key during installation or via Help > Enter License Key 3. Key Troubleshooting Tips Free Version Prompt: As of , Broadcom (which acquired VMware) has
Searching for a VMware Player 12 license key typically leads to outdated or unofficial community posts, as the software is now a legacy version. More importantly, recent changes by Broadcom have made newer, more powerful versions of VMware completely free, rendering old license keys for Player 12 unnecessary for most users. The Modern Alternative: VMware Workstation Pro is Free November 2024 , Broadcom announced that VMware Workstation Pro (and Fusion Pro for Mac) is now free for all users , including commercial, educational, and personal use. Broadcom Community No License Key Required With version 12, VMware introduced a split: VMware
