QEMU

1. VirtualBox

Oracle owns Virtual Box which is one of the best and open source virtualization tools which is very flexible with a simple interface. It enables multiple guest operating systems, one of which is Kali Linux. This is why many companies find VirtualBox appealing due to its ability to be used on several operating systems. The software is also free, in line with open-source values, and its snapshot feature allows for convenient backups and recovery of the system state. Although its operation does not necessarily outpace some of the commercial offers, VirtualBox still stands as a leading option in terms of affordability and efficacy for the consumer market....

2. VMware Workstation

A powerful virtualization application – VMware Workstation is targeted at professional users with a rich toolset. VMware developed this to offer a smooth platform where running multiple operative systems e.g. Kali Linux. True, it is expensive but its advantages are apparent in sophisticated virtualization software, snapshot options, and it supports multiple OS. The stability, as well as flexibility of the product, make it one of the most popular solutions for those users who have specialized virtualization needs or those who have the requirement for specialized environments for some activities such as testing and development....

3. Parallels Desktop (for Mac users)

Parallels Desktop is designed for Mac users to achieve an easy integration of macOS with guest operating systems such as Kali Linux. This is a virtualization solution created by Parallels which focuses on compatibility and performance and therefore, remains an appealing alternative to users in the Apple community. MacOS is a highly compatible operating system and incorporates features such as Coherence mode that makes it possible to run Windows applications on Mac, hence improving workflow efficiency. Parallels Desktop is also equipped to provide graphics-intense applications by supporting direct X and open GL. Despite it is developed only for Mac users and has a price, its features make it one of the best virtualization programs running on a Mac OS....

4. QEMU

The open-source emulator QEMU is a very flexible and portable alternative to virtualization. It is known for its flexibility – it runs on multiple architectures, systems, and host devices. The emulator developed by the QEMU project allows one to run Kali Linux in several environments. Being an open source, it is possible to change as required in the process of customization. Being portable and lightweight, the QEMU can be applied in a variety of virtualization scenarios. Its vast options may, however, result in a steeper learning curve for some users, with some units performing better compared to others depending on configurations as well as hardware specifications....

5. Hyper-V (for Windows users)

Hyper-V is the native virtualization platform for Windows and it is integrated in the latest versions of Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Microsoft and allows for running virtual machines including Kali Linux within a Windows environment. Windows users find the Hyper-V interface familiar with the provision of snapshot and cloning features for easy virtual machine management. An advantage in this case is that the functionality comes out as an inherent part of Windows, meaning no extra app installation or download is required. On the other hand, Hyper V only works in Windows environments, where its capability is dependent on guest operating systems....

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should select the most appropriate virtual machine based on your needs and the host OS you have. One can utilize Parallels Desktop which integrates well with Mac OS. Another choice is VMware Workstation which comes with many advanced attributes. The final option would be adopting Virtual Box which boasts being one of the most user-friendly virtualization solutions available today. Try out different choices until you settle on one for your workflow and the standards of ethical hacking/penetration testing that suit well for your workflow....