Even though ESXi 5.5 is EOL, Broadcom’s legacy portal often still allows downloads for free keys. You need a Broadcom support account (formerly VMware Customer Connect). Search for "VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 5.5 Free License."
If you need a powerful hypervisor for older hardware and do not want to deal with licensing headaches, is the industry favorite. Cost: 100% free and open-source. esxi 5.5 license key github
Securing VMware ESXi 5.5 in 2026: Finding Licenses & The Risks of Obsolete Infrastructure Even though ESXi 5
ESXi 5.5 is . VMware no longer patches it, sells licenses for it, or supports it. Even though ESXi 5.5 is EOL