Azure Virtual Desktop Reviews

Name: Azure Virtual Desktop
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.2 (9 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

9 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Azure Virtual Desktop?

Azure Virtual Desktop enables remote work by allowing employees to access their desktops and applications from anywhere, centralizing management, ensuring data security, and supporting collaboration.

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Azure Virtual Desktop is the #8 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions. PeerSpot users give Azure Virtual Desktop an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Azure Virtual Desktop is most commonly compared to VMware Workstation: Azure Virtual Desktop vs VMware Workstation. Azure Virtual Desktop is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 72% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 50% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Azure Virtual Desktop

July 2025

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Helped 863,776 peers since 2012

Featured Azure Virtual Desktop reviews

Makarand-Shrikhande

Sr. Architect at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech

The use cases include providing application access to users through Azure Virtual Desktop using MSIX App Attach or remote app, enabling remote users like BPO or contact center resources to connect and work on applications, and allowing vendors to access specific applications securely without a…

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Peter West

Director at Pesaro IT

Originally, I used Azure Virtual Desktop for disaster recovery, and then I also used it for remote working options. Those are the main aspects of it The ability to spin up virtual machines quickly and speedily in Azure has been really valuable. I could make value with using the virtual desktop…

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AndrewTaylor1

Freelance Cloud Architect/Consultant at AndrewSTaylor.com Ltd

The scalability is probably the most valuable feature since I can quickly add or remove machines or increase or decrease the size depending on resources to manage the cost better. It is a useful way of accessing my more complicated applications without having to install them on every device, especially when I have people working from home.

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PeerResearch reports based on Azure Virtual Desktop reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)	Jul 29, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Virtual Desktop vs VMware Workstation	Jul 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Virtual Desktop vs VMware Fusion Pro	Jul 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Virtual Desktop vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	Jul 29, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Workstation	4.4	15.4%	93%	56 interviews Add to research
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	4.2	12.1%	92%	126 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Scalability and flexibility are key features, enabling quick provisioning and scaling based on demand. Users value integration with Microsoft 365 and Teams for collaboration. Cost-effectiveness is heightened by use of existing licenses. Security is reinforced with MFA and Azure Active Directory integration. The ability to access desktops from various locations without physical infrastructure is advantageous, reducing device procurement and shipping efforts. Azure's single control plane simplifies global management.

"The integration of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams within Azure Virtual Desktop helps customers enhance collaboration because it works seamlessly."
"Azure Virtual Desktop enables anyone connecting to Microsoft to use MFA (multi-factor authentication), totally secured to connect and has end-to-end encryption through tunnel encryption."
"The best feature is scalability, as it can be used from anywhere."

Room for Improvement

Azure Virtual Desktop faces challenges with cost predictability and lacks built-in internet proxy and filtering. The scalability, particularly on the desktop side, needs enhancement, as well as improved uptime and intelligent scaling. Users desire smoother OS upgrade transitions. Application delivery remains tedious, requiring more efficient solutions. Integration with Microsoft 365 is limited, and while scaling features are in preview, there's room for further cost optimization and resource management improvements.

"The initial setup of Azure Virtual Desktop overall is complex. The complexities I've noticed are with application optimizations, and it can get complex by meeting customers' security requirements."
"The main issue is the response time, which needs improvement to be faster."
"The delivery of applications is a tedious process."

Pricing

Azure Virtual Desktop pricing is based on usage with flexible options like monthly, one-year, or three-year reserved instances. Plural users find it competitive, offering significant cost savings compared to other cloud providers due to Microsoft's licensing benefits. Costs vary by user requirements, with opportunities for resource optimization and auto-scaling. Enterprise users note reasonable expenses when managing high user numbers but mention currency exchange challenges in some regions.

Popular Use Cases

Azure Virtual Desktop is used for accessing resources across machines, disaster recovery, secure remote work, providing app access via MSIX App Attach, and accommodating remote users. It supports vendor and contractor access, enables multi-user sessions, allows internal use, and maintains private workspace accessibility. Teams use it for publishing services and designing team infrastructure. It aids developers by offering dedicated and shared instances for development environments.

Service and Support

Azure Virtual Desktop's customer service and support are generally satisfactory, with some suggesting improvement. Efficiency is noted in urgent situations, offering quick response times and collaboration with vendors to resolve issues. Feedback indicates that while support personnel are competent, the ticketing process can sometimes involve redundant troubleshooting steps. Ratings vary from five to eight out of ten, reflecting different user experiences. Despite occasional complexity, responses are timely and effective for involved cases.

Deployment

Azure Virtual Desktop's initial setup is generally straightforward. It involves using the Microsoft Azure portal to configure host pools, workgroups, and session hosts. Microsoft's documentation and tools like Terraform scripts and Nerdio Enterprise Manager aid automation. Ease of setup varies, taking beginners a few days and experienced users a few hours. Some industries, particularly financial, may face more complexities compared to others. In simpler environments, setup is as quick as 15 minutes.

Scalability

Azure Virtual Desktop offers scalable service for businesses of various sizes, from small to large enterprises, with high adaptability for increasing demand. Users praise its straightforward scaling capabilities, especially when business growth requires enhanced server performance. Some enhance scalability with additional tools. The platform allows cost-effective resource management through its pay-as-you-go model. Scalability is highly rated, although some find it less natural for specific regions without enhancements.

Stability

Azure Virtual Desktop shows strong reliability, especially when set up correctly across regions. Users find it stable, often rating it highly in reliability. Planning the environment carefully is key to avoiding issues. A consistently steady experience is reported, and many appreciate its easy maintenance post initial setup, despite the complexity at the beginning. Identifying errors is streamlined through Azure services, which is essential for sectors like banking where performance and availability are crucial.

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

Download our Azure Virtual Desktop Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

50%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Financial Services Firm

University

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

Transportation Company

Media Company

Performing Arts

Real Estate/Law Firm

Educational Organization

Wholesaler/Distributor

Retailer

Hospitality Company

Logistics Company

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Learn more about Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop is essential for remote work, offering centralized management of desktops, a secure environment for accessing sensitive data, and facilitating collaboration. It reduces hardware costs, supports scalability, and simplifies IT tasks. The platform is scalable, integrates with Microsoft 365, and provides robust security features. Fast deployment, efficient management tools, reliable remote access capabilities, and cost-effective pricing make it versatile for diverse requirements. However, users report slow performance during peak hours, connectivity issues, difficulty managing virtual machines, high scaling costs, a complicated setup process, and compatibility issues with specialized software.

What are the most important features of Azure Virtual Desktop?

Scalability: Adjust resources seamlessly to match demand.
Microsoft 365 Integration: Enhance productivity with deep integration.
Security Features: Protect sensitive data with robust security measures.
Fast Deployment: Quickly set up and deploy virtual desktops.
Efficient Management Tools: Streamline IT tasks with advanced management tools.
Reliable Remote Access: Consistent performance for remote access.
Cost-Effective Pricing: Competitive pricing that suits different needs.
Azure Services Integration: Leverage existing Azure infrastructure.

What benefits and ROI should users expect?

Cost Reduction: Minimize hardware and operational expenses.
Enhanced Productivity: Boost productivity with seamless integration.
Security Assurance: Ensure data safety with advanced security features.
Operational Efficiency: Simplify IT operations and management tasks.
Scalable Resources: Easily scale resources based on requirements.
Flexible Accessibility: Access desktops and applications from anywhere.

Azure Virtual Desktop is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and education. Finance companies use it to securely access sensitive financial data remotely. Healthcare providers use it to offer secure access to patient records and applications, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. Educational institutions leverage it for virtual classrooms, enabling students and faculty to access resources and collaborate from various locations.