Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is a virtualization infrastructure for the Linux kernel that turns it into a hypervisor. It was merged into the Linux kernel mainline in kernel version 2.6.20.
License: Open Source
Xen is a hypervisor that offers strong isolation and supports a wide variety of guest operating systems, making it suitable for enterprise environments requiring high performance and security. KVM, being part of the Linux kernel, offers easier management and better integration with Linux systems, making it more suited for environments heavily reliant on Linux.