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As virtualization enthusiasts and professionals, many of us rely on home labs to test new features, prepare for certifications, and deepen our VMware expertise. Since Broadcom acquired VMware, licensing has undergone significant changes, impacting how we access evaluation and not-for-resale (NFR) licenses. The popular EvalExperience program, which provided easy 365-day licenses through VMUG Advantage, ended in 2024.
In 2025, VMUG Advantage remains an option for VMware licenses, particularly for vExperts, who can access key benefits like home lab licenses at basically no cost (beyond some certification effort). Let’s break down what VMUG Advantage offers today and how vExperts can leverage it for “free” VMware licenses:
What is VMUG Advantage?
VMUG (VMware User Group) is a global community for VMware users, and VMUG Advantage is its premium membership tier. It’s designed to help members connect, learn, and access exclusive resources. In 2025, a subscription costs around $200/year (check the official site for current pricing)
Key benefits include:
- Certification Discounts: $125 off any VMware certification exam (one voucher per year)—a big help since exams can cost $250+.
- Event Discounts: $100 off VMware Explore passes and 30% off VMUG Connect registration.
- Training Discounts: 25% off courses from partners like New Horizons and EnterOne.
- Exclusive Content: Webinars, technical deep dives, and AI-powered support tools.
The standout feature for many, though, is access to VMware home lab licenses.
VMware Home Lab Licensing in 2025: The New Pathway
Gone are the days of automatic EvalExperience access. Now, to obtain personal-use (non-production) VMware licenses through VMUG Advantage, you must:
- Hold an active VMUG Advantage membership.
- Pass a relevant VMware Certified Professional (VCP) exam:
- VCP-VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation): Unlocks 3-year licenses for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) with 128 cores, plus bonuses like vDefend Firewall (128 cores) and Avi Load Balancer (12 service units).
- VCP-VVF (likely referring to vSphere/vSAN focused): Can unlock 1-year vSphere Standard Edition (32 cores).
These licenses are requested via the Broadcom Certification License Portal after passing the exam and linking your accounts. They’re renewable (up to 3 years total for VCF) as long as your membership stays active and you complete any required refreshers.
Note: These are strictly for personal learning, testing, and certification prep and not production or work use. Also, products like VMware Fusion and Workstation Pro are now free for personal use, so no subscription is needed for them.
The vExpert Advantage: A Path to Essentially Free Licenses
If you’re a vExpert, this is where things get exciting. The VMware vExpert program recognizes community contributors (bloggers, speakers, social media influencers, user group leaders, etc.) with some exclusive perks.
In 2025, vExpert benefits include:
- Complimentary 1-year VMUG Advantage subscription (usually ~$200 value).
- Direct eligibility for 3-year VCF (or VVF) home lab licenses, once you pass the corresponding VCP-VCF/VCP-VVF exam.
- Additional discounts: Often 50% off certification exams.
- Networking, private webinars, beta access, and more.
In practice, this means vExperts can access premium home lab licenses without paying for VMUG Advantage membership. You still need to pass the VCP exam (using your discounts to reduce costs), but the overall barrier is much lower than for non-vExperts.
Many vExperts report requesting licenses quickly after certification, making this one of the best remaining ways to run a robust VMware home lab without commercial pricing.
How to Become a vExpert
If you’re active in the community – writing blogs (like this one!), presenting at VMUG meetings, sharing on social media, or contributing to forums, then you might qualify. Applications typically open annually (check vexpert.vmware.com for the latest cycle). It’s competitive but rewarding, and approval grants the above benefits for a year (renewable with continued contributions).
Final Thoughts
VMUG Advantage in 2025 isn’t as “plug-and-play” as the old EvalExperience days, with the added certification requirement reflecting Broadcom’s focus on validated skills. However, it’s still valuable for discounts, community, and training—and for vExperts, it’s arguably the best route to free, long-term home lab access to VCF and related products.
If you’re serious about VMware virtualization, consider joining VMUG Advantage or aiming for vExpert status. Your home lab (and career) will thank you.
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