VMPal is a virtual machine app for Apple silicon Macs from the team behind TablePlus. It runs macOS, Windows 11, Ubuntu and Fedora side by side, downloads and installs each system for you, and includes a one-click way to give an AI agent its own machine.
The app is free to download from the VMPal website, and a perpetual license unlocks every feature. It needs a Mac with Apple silicon running macOS 26 or later. The latest build is VMPal 0.38, released on October 6, 2026, with fixes for crash issues and for a VM losing its menu bar.
VMPal Installs macOS 27, Windows 11, Ubuntu and Fedora for You
You pick macOS, Windows 11, Ubuntu or Fedora, or point VMPal at an IPSW or ISO file you already have. The app downloads the system and runs the install inside the VM’s own window, then sets up your account and VMPal Tools. macOS and Linux run on Apple’s Virtualization framework, while Windows runs on VMPal’s own engine. Every system draws on the Mac’s GPU.
- macOS 27: Comes straight from Apple and uses Metal on the Mac’s GPU. A macOS 27 VM requires the host Mac to run macOS 27 Golden Gate, and VMPal Tools install themselves for clipboard and drag and drop. On macOS 27, setup takes no clicks.
- Windows 11: Gets Retina resolution up to 5K, a TPM 2.0, USB device support, and Direct3D 11 and OpenGL 4.1 on the Mac’s GPU.
- Ubuntu and Fedora: Get OpenGL 4.1 on the Mac’s GPU, Rosetta for Intel programs and nested virtualization.
A VM’s disk is only as big as what is stored in it, and a whole VM moves to another Mac as one file. Clones use extra disk room only as they change. Snapshots work the same way, and you can save one while a VM is running and roll back in seconds.
Clipboard and files work in both directions, along with drag and drop between the Mac and every VM. Mac folders can also be accessed from Finder, Explorer and Files. Each VM runs as its own app with its own Dock icon, so a crash stops only that VM. Sound and microphone access are set per VM, and a green light shows when the mic is in use. Port forwarding reaches a web server or SSH in any VM through a port on the Mac, and Parallels VMs can be imported in a few clicks.
VMPal arrives in a Mac VM market that already has Parallels Desktop 27 and UTM 5.0.5, which added DirectX 12 support for Windows 11 in beta in September.
Built-In MCP Lets Claude Code, Codex, Grok CLI and Gemini CLI Use a VM
VMPal puts a lot of weight on AI agents. On a Mac, an agent can stop for Accessibility, Screen Recording, app access and password prompts, and some prompts cannot be clicked by the agent. Inside a VM, VMPal gives the agent its own keyboard and mouse, so it can run installers, answer prompts and sign in without waiting for those permissions on the host Mac.
One click adds VMPal to Claude Code, Codex, Grok CLI or Gemini CLI through built-in MCP, either inside the VM or on your Mac. The agent can then see the screen, take control and run commands as you or as an administrator.
Agent control is opt-in for each VM. VMPal says the agent’s control stays inside the VM, keeping it separate from the Mac, its files and your screen. Apple is already planning new Full Disk Access controls for macOS as AI agents grow, and a VM gives you a separate machine to test one on today.
The built-in snapshots cover the risky part. You take a snapshot before the agent starts, and if it breaks something, the whole machine rolls back in seconds.
VMPal Costs $34.50 for One Mac During the Early Bird Window
VMPal is sold as a perpetual license with no subscription. Each license includes all features, plus one year of updates and support. After that year, the app keeps working without limits, and you can renew if you want more updates.
- Individual: $34.50 per license for 1 Mac, down from the regular price of $69
- Team: $49.50 per seat, down from $99, with a minimum of 3 seats and 1 Mac per seat
- Renewal: $59 per seat for another year of updates and support
The early bird discount is 50% off while VMPal launches, and the pricing page says it ends soon. Prices are in USD and VAT may apply. The free trial has no limits right now, but the developer says some functions will be restricted in future releases. Every license includes a 7-day money-back guarantee.
