VMware has announced that its Workstation and Fusion software, which creates and manages virtual machines, is now free for everyone, including commercial customers. This move comes after the company made the software free for personal use earlier this year.

The decision to make the software free is a significant one, especially considering the "Pro" versions are no longer available for purchase. This change is likely a result of Broadcom's $61 billion acquisition of VMware in 2022, which has led to a push towards subscription-based products and a simplification of the company's portfolio.

However, not all customers are celebrating this news. Some business customers have reported significant price hikes, with one unnamed corporate customer claiming a 175% increase in prices. These customers are also concerned about the difficulty of switching to alternative products, feeling "held for ransom" by VMware's new pricing strategy.

Despite these concerns, commercial contracts will remain in effect for businesses, and they will continue to receive support through the end of their contracts. However, VMware will discontinue its support ticketing for troubleshooting after that, instead directing customers to online resources.