--- title: Multipass canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/multipass/ category: Virtual Machine Software points: 65 rank: 6 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Multipass Command-line tool that launches Ubuntu and other Linux virtual machines with a single command on Windows, macOS and Linux. 65 points out of 100. #6 of 12 virtual machine programs. Vendor: Canonical. Website: https://canonical.com/multipass - Multipass is free [14] and open source under GPL-3.0 [11]. - It supports Windows 10 or 11 Home, Pro and Enterprise, from build 1809, with the Virtual Machine Platform feature on [2]. - Guests are Linux only: the image list shows Ubuntu, Ubuntu Core, Debian and Fedora [10]. - Version 1.16.4 was released on September 8, 2026 [13]. - GitHub lists three published security advisories, two dated May 28, 2026 [12]. Verdict: Multipass suits developers who want a fresh Linux machine in one command [1], on Windows Home or Pro [2]. It is free, open source and recently updated [11][13][14]. The catch: it runs Linux guests only [10], and its docs do not describe TPM, GPU, USB or clipboard sharing [3][4][5]. Best for: Developers who want quick Linux virtual machines on a Windows PC. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Guest systems | Linux | 4/8 | The find command lists Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora images; no Windows image appears [10]. | | Systems | Also runs on other hosts | macOS, Linux | 4/4 | The install guide has macOS and Linux (snap) installs; drivers are listed for each [2][3]. | | Systems | Works on Windows Home | Yes | 5/5 | Install guide: 'Multipass supports Windows 10 or 11 on Home, Pro, and Enterprise editions' [2]. | | Virtual machines | Snapshots | Yes | 8/8 | A snapshot records an instance and can be restored; the Apple Virtualization driver lacks it [3][6]. | | Virtual machines | Virtual TPM and Secure Boot | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the driver, platform or instance pages [3][4][5]. | | Virtual machines | Network modes | Bridged | 2/6 | Extra interfaces attach to a host network, such as a bridge. NAT and host-only are not named as modes [8]. | | Virtual machines | Nested virtualization | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the driver, platform or instance pages [3][4][5]. | | Virtual machines | Starts from a ready-made image | Yes | 4/4 | multipass launch creates an instance from an image; images come from Ubuntu sources and find lists them [9][10][16]. | | Devices | 3D graphics for guests | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the driver, platform or instance pages [3][4][5]. | | Devices | USB devices in the guest | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the driver, platform or instance pages [3][4][5]. | | Devices | Shared folders | Yes | 6/6 | A mount maps a host directory into an instance; on Windows it is off until local.privileged-mounts is set to true [7][15]. | | Devices | Shared clipboard | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the driver, platform or instance pages [3][4][5]. | | Openness and upkeep | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | The repository code is under the GNU General Public License v3.0 [11]. | | Openness and upkeep | Security advisories published | Yes | 4/4 | The GitHub security tab lists three published advisories, with a security policy [12]. | | Openness and upkeep | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 4/4 | Version 1.16.4 was published on September 8, 2026 [13]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 6/6 | Canonical's install page says you can use Multipass for free; the code is GPL-3.0 and no paid edition is listed [11][14]. | | Price | Cheapest licence for work use | $0 | 12/12 | Free for any use; the install page says 'for free' and the code is GPL-3.0 [11][14]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Multipass | Free [11][14] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free under GPL-3.0, with the source on GitHub [11]. - Works on Windows 10 and 11 Home as well as Pro and Enterprise [2]. - multipass find lists ready-made Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora images to launch [10]. - Snapshots record an instance so you can restore it later [6]. - Mounts share a host folder with an instance [7]. ## Limits - No Windows guests: the image list shows Linux distributions only [10]. - On Windows, mounts are off by default, and mounts run as the SYSTEM account [7]. - The snapshot command works only on stopped instances [6]. - The docs do not describe TPM, Secure Boot, GPU, USB or clipboard sharing [3][4][5]. ## Concerns - Multipass's GitHub security page lists two high-severity advisories published May 28, 2026: a local privilege escalation and an SFTP server VM escape [12]. ## Sources 1. [Multipass: orchestrate virtual Ubuntu instances](https://canonical.com/multipass), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [How to install Multipass](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/how-to-guides/install-multipass/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [Driver](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/driver/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [Platform](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/platform/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [Instance](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/instance/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [Snapshot](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/snapshot/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 7. [Mount](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/mount/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 8. [Set up custom networking](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/how-to-guides/manage-instances/set-up-custom-networking/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 9. [Image](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/explanation/image/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 10. [find command](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/reference/command-line-interface/find/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 11. [canonical/multipass](https://github.com/canonical/multipass), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 12. [canonical/multipass security](https://github.com/canonical/multipass/security), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 13. [Multipass latest release](https://api.github.com/repos/canonical/multipass/releases/latest), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 14. [Install Multipass](https://canonical.com/multipass/install), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 15. [local.privileged-mounts](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/reference/settings/local-privileged-mounts/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09 16. [launch command](https://canonical.com/multipass/docs/latest/reference/command-line-interface/launch/), Canonical, accessed 2026-10-09