Multipass for Mac

What it is

Multipass is a free, lightweight utility for running Ubuntu virtual instances on macOS. It streamlines creating and controlling multiple Ubuntu environments so you can spin up isolated systems without the overhead of a full hypervisor setup.

Who should use it

Developers, testers, and sysadmins who need disposable Ubuntu environments for development, CI, or experimentation will find it especially useful. It’s suited for workflows that require frequent switching between instances or quick reproducible environments.

Core capabilities

• Tailor each instance with custom CPU, memory, disk sizes and cloud-init configuration to match project needs.
• Start, stop, and remove VMs with simple commands to manage instance lifecycles quickly.
• Run Ubuntu images in a compact, efficient way to avoid the resource cost of traditional full VM platforms.
• Move between different running instances fast, improving comparison and multi-environment testing.
• Interact through an easy command-line interface that keeps operations scriptable and automatable.

Key benefits

Because it keeps virtual machines lightweight and command-driven, Multipass reduces setup friction and helps you maintain focused, reproducible environments. Its minimal footprint makes it convenient for local development, demos, and short-lived testbeds without relying on heavier virtualization managers.

Quick command reference

• multipass list — see all instances and their states
• multipass launch — create a new Ubuntu instance from an image
• multipass shell — open a shell inside a running instance
• multipass stop — halt an instance without deleting it
• multipass delete && multipass purge — remove an instance and clean up storage

Alternatives and tips

If you need a GUI-based solution or deeper VM feature sets, consider other virtualization products. For most CLI-driven workflows where speed and simplicity matter, Multipass is a practical, cost-free option.