CloudStack Reviews

Name: CloudStack
Brand: Apache
Rating: 4.0 (32 reviews)

4.0 out of 5

32 reviews
93% willing to recommend

What is CloudStack?

Apache CloudStack is open source software designed to deploy and manage large networks of virtual machines, as a highly available, highly scalable Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud computing platform.

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CloudStack is the #10 ranked solution in top Cloud Management solutions. PeerSpot users give CloudStack an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. CloudStack is most commonly compared to VMware Aria Automation: CloudStack vs VMware Aria Automation. CloudStack is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 49% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 19% of all views.

Helped 865,164 peers since 2012

Featured CloudStack reviews

Nelson Marcos

Engineer Manager at Globo.com

My teammates have complained about the upgrade. The source code had massive files that had to be merged with our own development to upgrade to the latest version of CloudStack. It was quite painful for them. CloudStack could add some cost management tools to give me some control over the costs associated with the number of users of my services.

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Wido Den Hollander

Community Ambassador at 42on

The market keeps changing, and so does technology. I think that container technology in CloudStack is an area that needs to be improved. Regarding container technology, Kubernetes is something many people want to use and something which, as of now, many are using currently. However, there is still room for improvement in Kubernetes, particularly with networking functionality and network virtualization. When it comes to what needs to be improved in CloudStack, I would say that it should stay the way it is currently. It should continue being a stable product that people can rely on since many may be inclined to follow the latest trends and hype, which is not always good for a solution's stability. It is crucial to prioritize stability, which is a key factor that companies seek. In my view, the platform could benefit from adding more metrics. More metrics would offer more insights and data on the platform's performance, utilization, and usage. Overall, I believe that having more metrics available would be highly desirable.

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Arun S .

Senior Consultant at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

The number of contributors to this solution is relatively small compared to other solutions. However, if more frequent users of CloudStack contribute to the open-source community, it will significantly enhance the overall community experience and make it more useful for everyone involved. There is room for improvement when it comes to maintenance options in CloudStack, particularly with regard to rolling maintenance for multiple Hypervisors. CloudStack does offer this option, but it has not always worked as expected. However, I believe that this largely depends on our expectations for the solution and how we want it to work. As an example, CloudStack maintains a list of Hypervisors where we can host our virtual machines, and we may need to update these Hypervisors on a regular basis, such as every month or every two weeks. Instead of having to perform manual updates, it would be helpful if there were options to automatically perform live migration and update the Hypervisors properly. While there are improvements being made in this area, I believe that there is still some work to be done. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these maintenance options depends on our specific requirements and how we expect the solution to function.

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CloudStack mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of CloudStack in the Cloud Management category stands at 4.7%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Management

PeerResearch reports based on CloudStack reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Cloud Management	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	CloudStack vs Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM)	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	CloudStack vs VMware Aria Operations	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	CloudStack vs VMware Aria Automation	Aug 18, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Aria Automation	4.0	10.6%	94%	170 interviews Add to research
VMware Aria Operations	4.1	7.4%	94%	375 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

CloudStack offers ease of use, extensive hypervisor compatibility, scalability, and robust API support. Users appreciate its advanced networking, including isolated/shared networks, NAT, VPNs, and VPCs. It's efficient for virtualization and cloud orchestration, integrating well with Kubernetes. The centralized design simplifies management and troubleshooting, and customizable features enhance user experience. With multi-zone capabilities, flexible integrations, and effective workload management, CloudStack stands out as a versatile, stable infrastructure platform widely preferred over alternatives.

"CloudStack provides an environment that is very simple to use, with built-in APIs and a web interface that supports almost all features of AWS and Azure."
"Everything in CloudStack works effectively."
"Everything in CloudStack works effectively."

Room for Improvement

CloudStack requires enhancements in upgrade processes, user interface simplicity, and integration with third-party products. Areas like virtual router functionality, stability during network disruptions, and error feedback can be refined. Users seek better support for backup, disaster recovery, and more comprehensive documentation. There's demand for improved container technology, billing solutions, and hypervisor integration. Users note limitations in regional management and network monitoring tools. Feedback emphasizes more active community participation and promotion for commercial adoption.

"CloudStack lacks a billing solution which would complete it as a full 360-degree product."
"The product could improve by embracing newer technologies like GPU virtualization."
"The product does not have an easily implementable payment gateway."

Pricing

CloudStack is an open-source solution with no inherent licensing costs under the Apache license. While the software itself is free, enterprises might incur expenses for professional technical support, training, or consulting services. Infrastructure and hosting fees are separate. Commercial support options are regarded as cost-effective, providing fair pricing for quality services. Additional costs may arise when using commercial hypervisors like VMware, or when specific features require separate licensing fees.

"CloudStack is an open-source product."
"It is a 100% open-source solution needing just an Apache license. Also, there are no hidden fees to be paid."
"The solution is open-source and free."

Popular Use Cases

CloudStack is used by entities to offer infrastructure as a service, streamlining both public and private cloud deployments across varied environments. Users implement it for centralized management of virtual machines, orchestration, and automation in data centers. Companies benefit from its open-source framework to create user-friendly portals, handle billing, and integrate with LDAP. CloudStack supports diverse use cases such as private cloud setups, virtual environments, and hybrid cloud services across multiple global locations.

Service and Support

CloudStack's assistance involves an active community offering timely interactions, although responses can depend on issue specifics. Several entities like ShapeBlue provide extra assistance, while some rely on internal skills. Commercial options vary in effectiveness, with some preferring community forums and industry expertise for resolving concerns. Users appreciate accessible forums and acknowledge the need for skilled management. Community guidance is often rated high, and third-party services are available for those seeking additional aid.

Deployment

Many users found CloudStack's initial setup straightforward, simple, and easy compared to competitors. However, some encountered challenges due to its complex nature, particularly with networking and business logic integration. While it can be completed quickly by those with experience, it may take longer for those unfamiliar. Good documentation and prior preparation can significantly reduce setup time. Compared to OpenStack, CloudStack offers a more streamlined and less complex deployment process.

Scalability

Users find CloudStack excellent in terms of scalability, easily handling infrastructure with thousands of hosts. They highlight its simple scale-out process and powerful features like availability zones. Although it may require some effort to understand, it is deemed scalable and capable of supporting growth. Some note the need for research before changes. Users rate scalability from seven to nine out of ten, appreciating its multi-tenancy and Kubernetes integration for easier expansion.

Stability

CloudStack exhibits strong stability, particularly in newer releases. Users still face occasional issues, often related to integration with secondary storage or updates to management services. Maintenance via community updates and professional support is vital. Despite encountering bugs, the community’s active role ensures regular enhancements. Impressively, it’s highly regarded for reliability, with users praising its performance and history as an Apache project. Ratings suggest high satisfaction, though some technical challenges persist.

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

Download our CloudStack Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.