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Citrix Hypervisor vs VMware Workstation comparison

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Citrix Hypervisor

Read 45 Citrix Hypervisor reviews
10,819 views|7,590 comparisons
80% willing to recommend
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VMware Workstation

Read 41 VMware Workstation reviews
8,061 views|5,684 comparisons
95% willing to recommend
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Buyer's Guide
Server Virtualization Software
April 2024
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Citrix Hypervisor and VMware Workstation based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Proxmox, VMware, Microsoft and others in Server Virtualization Software.
To learn more, read our detailed Server Virtualization Software Report (Updated: April 2024).
Download the complete report
768,246 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Kim Gudiksen
Good features, fair pricing, and excellent reliability
We are using it at hospitals, and it allows very quick log-ons/offs. Cards can be used to tap on and off, which is very efficient, and it allows... Read more →
Ajmal Abbas
Good features and makes deploying VMs easy but could be more robust
I'm using it for my personal use, for testing. If I want to know how things are working, then I will test it using Workstation.
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is very fast. It also works very well for physically small servers.""The solution is easy to deploy. It's very easy to understand problems and read logs.""Ability to move your virtual machines from one host to another.""We can easily migrate VMs from one host to another.""This solution allows the end users to clone, start, stop, or remotely control their VMs.""The support for this solution is phenomenal.""Citrix is easy to use and is stable.""The continued uptime of our virtual machines is good."

More Citrix Hypervisor Pros →

"Because the setup is so easy, this is a solution that can be used at a moment's notice.""VMware Workstation’s most valuable features are backup and data transfer from one server to another.""I haven't faced any inconveniences working with this solution. It is very easy to use.""The most valuable features of VMware Workstation are the speed of access and quality of upgrade. Those are the more important and pertinent aspects as far as we were concerned. Functionality and features were relevant for the customers. What a customer chose, we had to make sure that it operated.""VMware Workstation allows multiple operating systems in the same physical machine.""Great at solving connection problems.""The performance is good.""The most valuable features of the VMware Workstation solutions are the ESXi and vCenter."

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Cons
"Integration with other vendors and other applications could be improved.""The solution should be more flexible and allow for greater customization.""The interface has to be updated.""The solution would benefit from faster technical support.""The graphics user interface is pretty bad.""It can be useful to have a web management program because we have to install our client-server. We have to properly manage the host, if we had administration tools through a web interface it would be a benefit.""Overall, I can't think of a feature that is lacking. We've been pretty satisfied overall.""Assigning the order of virtual server startup is not very easy and this can be improved."

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"The dashboard can be improved.""Its price could be better.""There could be more integration with different tools.""It would be better if software updates occur automatically.""The product is outdated.""VMware Workstation’s scalability could be improved.""The price of VMware Workstation could improve.""The support can be improved."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The pricing and licensing is so important. Customers do consider the price seriously."
  • "The most valuable feature is the cost; it is a free product."
  • "To subscribe to the paid version with support, it is approximately $6,000 per year."
  • "There are free and paid versions. The free version is limited in features but not by time limit. The paid version has more features."
  • "While it is free for small networks, the pricing is high if your network grows past a certain size."
  • "We migrated from VMware to XenCenter to cut costs."
  • "This solution is open source, it's free."
  • "Citrix is a good low-cost alternative to VMware, so if budgeting is an issue then I would recommend it."

    • More Citrix Hypervisor Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The pricing is a bit steep in my opinion for testing and there are other options."
  • "Licensing costs are paid on a yearly basis."
  • "The licensing costs are cheap. I pay approximately $100 per year."
  • "The cost differs depending on the customer's requirement."
  • "VMware Workstation has a high price than competitors in the market."
  • "With a VDI solution, there is always extra cost running a VDI solution but it's not for cost purposes anymore. In the beginning, it was to save money on hardware but at the moment it's other aspects that are more important why you should use a VDI solution."
  • "Licensing fees are paid on an annual basis."
  • "The price of the solution per workstation is approximately 200 Francs annually. We pay a total of 800 francs. Everything is included in the price such as the support."

    • More VMware Workstation Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Comparison Review
    Thang Le Toan (Victory Lee)
    vSphere vs. RHEV vs. Hyper-V vs. XenServer

    What is most valuable?

    How has it helped my organization?

    We have used the following functions: 1. Hypervisor: to ensure that the virtual server provide web and email services to the company, thus providing a stable operation a with single sign-on integration of an AD server and vCenter. 2. Network and Storage: centralized data server software and user virtualization using ThinApp or installed into the Catalog on VDI, to help increase the security of its IT systems therefore saving time operating workstations. 3. VDI: help focus resource systems, build systems, and workstations with specific software for each organization within the company to ensure effective use, such as: Labs Dept. Demos for Marketing Dept. 3D web design, office applications provide access via web browsers or mobile devices. Also, we have a CRM system and helpdesk support portal to help record information and interact with customers. Additionally, customers will be directed to the support of technical assistance from experts of VMware and Microsoft. (Redhat and Citrix Xen we do not know how this will work yet). We use the standard system Helpdesk Support TOR, SOW and ISO 27005 information security for customers in order to put an automated customer feedback for the ticket or marked escalation answered to ensure support complete time appointments.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have used Virtual Machine clients for about 14 years and VDI for about 4…     Read more →
    Questions from the Community
    What do you like most about Citrix Hypervisor?
    Top Answer:Citrix is easy to use and is stable.
    Read all 32 answers   →
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Hypervisor?
    Top Answer:Citrix Hypervisor is expensive. The cloud licenses are expensive. Only Citrix is earning money off those. It's the same with VMware and Microsoft.
    Read all 24 answers   →
    What needs improvement with Citrix Hypervisor?
    Top Answer:Citrix is not investing in the virtual surroundings. Third-party tools are bad for Citrix at the moment. No good backup recovery is available. On Microsoft, we can use Veeam, which is a great product… more »
    Read all 32 answers   →
    Which VMware solution would you go with - Workstation or vSphere?
    Top Answer:VM Workstation’s setup is so easy, you can use it almost instantly, it works well with Windows and Linux. We like VM Workstation primarily to test environments to determine how well a solution will… more »
    Read all 4 answers   →
    What do you like most about VMware Workstation?
    Top Answer:The initial setup is simple and takes only five minutes to complete.
    Read all 27 answers   →
    What needs improvement with VMware Workstation?
    Top Answer:The solution’s performance is low. Also, support should be enhanced after Huiwei's acquisition. They are migrating all their clients to the new company. It takes too much time to load all the plug-ins… more »
    Read all 27 answers   →
    Ranking
    8th
    out of 21 in Server Virtualization Software
    Views
    10,819
    Comparisons
    7,590
    Reviews
    8
    Average Words per Review
    580
    Rating
    8.8
    2nd
    out of 32 in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
    Views
    8,061
    Comparisons
    5,684
    Reviews
    28
    Average Words per Review
    346
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    XenServer
    Learn More
    Citrix
    VMware
    Overview

    Citrix Hypervisor is a leading virtualization management platform optimized for application, desktop and server virtualization infrastructures. Consolidation and containment of workloads on Citrix Hypervisor enables organizations of any vertical or size to transform their business IT compute infrastructures.

    VMware Workstation is part of a suite of robust Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) tools or Desktop Hypervisors that allows users to run Kubernetes clusters, containers, and Virtual Machines (VMs). Users have the option to choose between VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Workstation Player to ensure that they get the most out of their VMware Workstation experience.

    Workstation Player is best used as a command line or single graphical operation. It works very well for running different operating systems using a secure cloistered sandbox on a general consumer PC. Workstation Player is an industry favorite for use in an educational environment to better expand the knowledge concerning computer systems and global information technology. Workstation Pro is created for astute IT developers and professionals. The solution provides an intuitive next-generation interface and gives users the ability to seamlessly run several virtual machines at the same time. Users can easily create clones, configure virtual networks, connect to vSphere, and more, using a crisp, visually enhanced dashboard that provides full transparency to show multiple VMs and more.

    VMware Workstation solutions rely on components in next-generation 64-bit x86 CPUs to develop robust, secure VMs that are able to utilize many different operating systems and all of their applications. VMware Workstation’s modern technology intuitively links the physical hardware devices to the virtual machine's virtual resources enabling each VM to have its own I/O devices, memory, disks, and CPU in addition to the equivalent of a standard x86 actual machine. It easily installs onto the host operating system and is able to offer comprehensive hardware support by utilizing the device support from the original host.

    VMware Workstation Benefits

    VMware Workstation has many desirable benefits. Some of those benefits include:


    • Improved overall IT processes.
    • Better, more efficient deployment outcomes.
    • Enhanced application performance.
    • Better server availability.
    • Less physical hardware and additional devices needed.
    • Cost-effective.
    • Decreased outages or downtime.
    • Faster provisioning of applications and resources.
    • Reduced power consumption.
    • Reduced Environmental Impact.



    Reviews from Real Users

    Walter G., Owner at Secacon Gygli Engineering LLC says, “The most valuable feature of the VMware Workstation is the ease of creating a development environment. When you have different ongoing developments, you often need to create a lot of different development environments. With this workstation solution, you can have a development environment for all the things you develop.” 

    Toni L., CEO at Virtual Consultants Sverige AB says, “The most valuable features of VMware Workstation are the DirectX support; you can run Microsoft Hyper-V in virtual environments, which is good for me to test different installations. Additionally, you can set up different VLANs, and overall it is a complete solution.” 


    “Having a user-friendly interfaceis important for me. I'm not a coder, even though I do a little bit of programming. Also, I don't use the command-line interface when I can avoid it. When I do have to use it, I look up what I'm supposed to type and then type it.” A PeerSpot user who is a Chief Technical Officer at a construction company.

    are Workstation is part of a suite of robust Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) tools or Desktop Hypervisors that allows users to run Kubernetes clusters, containers, and Virtual Machines (VMs). Users have the option to choose between VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Workstation Player to ensure they get the most out of their VMware Workstation experience.

    Workstation Player is best used as a command line or single graphical operation. It works very well for running different operating systems using a secure cloistered sandbox on a general consumer PC. Workstation Player is an industry favorite for use in an educational environment to better expand the knowledge concerning computer systems and global information technology. Workstation Pro is created for astute IT developers and professionals. The solution provides an intuitive next generation interface and gives users the ability to run seamlessly several virtual machines at the same time. Users can easily create clones, configure virtual networks, connect to vSphere, and more using a crisp, visually enhanced dashboard that provides full transparency to show multiple VMs and more.

    VMware Workstation solutions rely on components in next-generation 64-bit x86 CPUs to develop robust, secure VMs that are able to utilize many different operating systems and all of their applications. Vmware Workstation’s modern technology intuitively links the physical hardware devices to the virtual machine's virtual resources enabling each VM to have its own I/O devices, memory, disks, and CPU in addition to the equivalent to a standard x86 actual machine.VMware easily installs onto the host operating system and is able to offer comprehensive hardware support by utilizing the device support from the original host.

    VMware Workstation Benefits

    Vmware Workstation has many desirable benefits. Some of those benefits include:


    • Improved overall IT processes.
    • Better, more efficient deployment outcomes.
    • Enhanced application performance.
    • Better server availability.
    • Less physical hardware and additional devices needed.
    • Cost-effective.
    • Decreased outages or downtime.
    • Faster provisioning of applications and resources.
    • Reduced power consumption.
    • Reduced Environmental Impact.



    Reviews from Real Users

    “The most valuable feature of the VMware Workstation is the ease of creating a development environment. When you have different ongoing developments, you often need to create a lot of different development environments. With this workstation solution, you can have a development environment for all the things you develop.” Walter G., Owner at Secacon Gygli Engineering LLC

    “The most valuable features of VMware Workstation are the DirectX support; you can run Microsoft Hyper-V in virtual environments, which is good for me to test different installations. Additionally, you can set up different VLANs, and overall it is a complete solution.” Toni L., CEO at Virtual Consultants Sverige AB

    A Chief Technical Officer at a construction company says,“Having a user-friendly interfaceis important for me. I'm not a coder, even though I do a little bit of programming. Also, I don't use the command-line interface when I can avoid it. When I do have to use it, I look up what I'm supposed to type and then type it.” 

    Sample Customers
    U.S. Army Shared Services Center, SoftLayer, Educational Services of America, Independent Bank, and SK Telecom.
    Akademiska Hus
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider17%
    Healthcare Company10%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Computer Software Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization48%
    Computer Software Company7%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    Government5%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company20%
    Manufacturing Company20%
    Construction Company8%
    University8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business55%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise30%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise55%
    Large Enterprise30%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business48%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise30%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise57%
    Buyer's Guide
    Server Virtualization Software
    April 2024
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    Citrix Hypervisor is ranked 8th in Server Virtualization Software with 45 reviews while VMware Workstation is ranked 2nd in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with 41 reviews. Citrix Hypervisor is rated 8.2, while VMware Workstation is rated 8.8. The top reviewer of Citrix Hypervisor writes "Good features, fair pricing, and excellent reliability". On the other hand, the top reviewer of VMware Workstation writes "An easy-to-manage solution that has really good customer support compared to other market players". Citrix Hypervisor is most compared with Proxmox VE, Hyper-V, VMware vSphere, KVM and RHEV, whereas VMware Workstation is most compared with Hyper-V, VMware vSphere, KVM, Proxmox VE and Oracle VM VirtualBox.

    We monitor all Server Virtualization Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.