VMware ESXi Reviews

Name: VMware ESXi
Brand: VMware
Rating: 4.2 (31 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

31 reviews
96% willing to recommend

What is VMware ESXi?

VMware ESXi serves as a hypervisor enabling virtualization by transforming physical servers into virtual infrastructures, supporting efficient server management, development, and production environments.

Get the VMware ESXi Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE, Hyper-V and more!

VMware ESXi is the #8 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give VMware ESXi an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. VMware ESXi is most commonly compared to Proxmox VE: VMware ESXi vs Proxmox VE. VMware ESXi is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 54% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a manufacturing company, accounting for 17% of all views.

Helped 859,579 peers since 2012

Featured VMware ESXi reviews

Syed Ali Waqas

Head IT at Burraq Cyber Security Solutions

I recommend new users download and evaluate the free version from VMware's website. Once satisfied, they should purchase the professional version for a smooth and secure IT infrastructure. The professional version is cost-effective, allowing one to create multiple servers on a single server. I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

Read full review

Fozia Nurye

IT Officer at Bank of Abyssinia

I use VMware ESXi to virtualize our servers. I use it as a hypervisor for our physical servers. It helps me virtualize our infrastructure as we have both Linux and Windows environments for my production All the features of VMware ESXi are very beneficial, particularly for virtualizing our…

Read full review

Amar Sorro

Team Lead Virtualization at Hybrid Tech

ESXi is a virtualization platform that allows multiple applications to run on the same physical hardware, reducing costs significantly by transforming physical servers into virtual environments. It is known for its stability and reliability, allowing seamless task execution by running directly on the hardware processor. Additionally, ESXi's integration with VMware vCenter offers centralized management. Features like high availability ensure VM migration to another host in case of host failure.

Read full review

VMware ESXi mindshare

As of July 2025, the mindshare of VMware ESXi in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 1.1%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Virtualization Software

PeerResearch reports based on VMware ESXi reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Server Virtualization Software	Jul 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	VMware ESXi vs Proxmox VE	Jul 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	VMware ESXi vs VMware vSphere	Jul 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	VMware ESXi vs Hyper-V	Jul 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Proxmox VE	4.3	17.5%	98%	62 interviews Add to research
Hyper-V	4.0	14.1%	86%	143 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

VMware ESXi excels in high availability, resource optimization, and seamless VM migration with vMotion. It efficiently consolidates multiple servers, supports integration with third-party applications, and provides reliable performance. ESXi is user-friendly, lightweight, and offers advanced management through vCenter. Its resource scheduling, disaster recovery features, and extensive virtualization capabilities reduce costs and enhance stability. The robust networking integration, including virtual network switches and failover options, optimizes server resource management, ensuring efficiency and reliability.

"All the features of VMware ESXi are very beneficial, particularly for virtualizing our infrastructure."
"For enterprises seeking scalable and robust solutions, VMware ESXi is highly recommended."
"ESXi's integration with VMware vCenter offers centralized management."

Room for Improvement

VMware ESXi is noted for its high cost, especially since Broadcom's acquisition. Its licensing model has become complex and unfavorable for smaller users. Users seek improvements in technical support response times and a more efficient setup and patching process. Enhancements in scalability and user interface, along with simplified management and recovery features, are desired. A streamlined integration for updates and better horizontal scalability might also enhance user satisfaction.

"Pricing is a major issue with VMware ESXi as it is becoming more expensive."
"The cost of VMware ESXi is very high, especially after the acquisition by Broadcom, which led to price increases. Improving the cost structure would be beneficial."
"The cost of VMware ESXi is very high, especially after the acquisition by Broadcom, which led to price increases."

ROI

Customers experienced savings in money and time with VMware ESXi by avoiding hardware purchases for new applications. Although workload management is easier and less time-consuming compared to Hyper-V, cost concerns persist, with some users considering alternatives for better cost-effectiveness. Efficiency increased significantly, but the price rose, with some reporting three-year costs now applicable for just one year. While ESXi is deemed cost-effective by some, others focus on leveraging technology for financial benefits.

Pricing

VMware ESXi users report mixed experiences with pricing and licensing. Many observe the solution as costlier than alternatives, particularly in developing regions. Initial costs range from $20,000 to $30,000, with recurring annual expenses between $10,000 to $20,000. The Broadcom acquisition led to licensing changes, eliminating perpetual licenses and increasing overall costs. Some users find the complex pricing model challenging, though tailored licenses can reduce costs. Subscription-based, the price fluctuates with additional feature requirements.

"The pricing is expensive, with the cost for customers ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 yearly."
"VMware ESXi is a costly solution in Africa and other developing countries."
"Broadcom recently purchased VMware, and the pricing scheme has changed. If I need any more features in the tool, I can actually purchase them."

Popular Use Cases

VMware ESXi is used primarily for server virtualization, hosting virtual machines for development and production, and consolidating physical servers into virtual environments. Organizations utilize it for stable, hardware-optimized environments supporting multiple applications on fewer physical hosts. It serves diverse needs such as software-defined data centers, virtualization management, and infrastructure applications. ESXi provides crucial functions for data center operations like high availability and resource management, facilitating IT infrastructure consolidation across varied sectors including insurance and healthcare.

Service and Support

VMware ESXi receives positive feedback for its customer service and support, with users praising quick responses and effective support. While generally responsive, some note occasional delays, especially at the initial support level. Support quality has been impacted by the Broadcom takeover, leading to increased wait times. Users value the escalation process to higher levels for quicker resolutions. Despite some challenges, many rate the support highly, with scores ranging from six to ten out of ten.

Deployment

VMware ESXi's initial setup varies in complexity, ranging from straightforward to slightly complex, often depending on prior experience with virtualization. It typically takes between 30 minutes to several hours or days, based on deployment models and customizations. Newer versions are simpler and more reliable, while outdated versions might face issues due to corrupted files. Integrations are generally easy, and comprehensive support from the vendor is available, requiring multiple teams for larger implementations.

Scalability

VMware ESXi is considered highly scalable, supporting from small setups to expansive enterprise environments. Organizations appreciate its ability to manage numerous virtual machines and nodes, with users rating scalability between seven and ten out of ten. It effectively allows for vertical scalability, facilitating easy upgrades of hardware components. While horizontal scalability may encounter limitations, users find it adaptable enough for their growing infrastructure needs. Licensing challenges may arise but users found scalability unmatched.

Stability

Many users report VMware ESXi as highly stable, rating it between eight to ten. It operates smoothly, with some noting its reliability year after year. Maintenance practices contribute to stability, ensuring minimal issues. A few experience minor downtimes or decreased stability over time, rating it around six to seven. However, most have not encountered significant stability problems, consistently rating it a nine or ten out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our VMware ESXi Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

17%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Government

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Performing Arts

Transportation Company

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Legal Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Non Tech Company

International Affairs Institute

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Retailer

University

Wellness & Fitness Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Computer Retailer

Leisure / Travel Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Recruiting/Hr Firm

Compare VMware ESXi with alternative products

Learn more about VMware ESXi

Organizations utilize VMware ESXi for its high availability and ability to host diverse workloads effectively. Known for stability and maturity, it efficiently handles server, networking, and storage demands, with integral features like vMotion and memory compression. ESXi integrates well with data center operations, allowing seamless resource allocation and virtual machine migration. Despite impressive capabilities, users encounter challenges with setup complexity, licensing costs, and technical support delays, leading some to explore different solutions.

What are the main features of VMware ESXi?

High Availability: Ensures continuous operation of virtual machines.
vMotion Capabilities: Facilitates easy virtual machine migration.
Clustering: Enhances resource management and efficiency.
Server Management: Offers efficient management with third-party integration.
Resource Optimization: Utilizes memory compression technologies.

What benefits and ROI do organizations see with VMware ESXi?

Cost Savings: Reduces expenses by consolidating servers.
User-friendliness: Offers a stable and manageable interface.
Multi-OS Support: Enables running Linux and Windows environments.
High Performance: Recognized for speed and efficiency.

Industries deploying VMware ESXi benefit in sectors requiring robust IT infrastructure, including finance, healthcare, and education. Its capability to support high availability and diverse workloads proves essential for critical applications, enhancing productivity and agility in dynamic environments.