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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] comparison

Citrix and Broadcom are both solutions in the Application Virtualization category. Additionally, 93% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.
VMware ThinApp [EOL]
Read 3 VMware ThinApp [EOL] reviews
    100% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) and VMware ThinApp [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

    Find out what your peers are saying about Citrix, Microsoft, Parallels and others in Application Virtualization.

    DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
    To learn more, read our detailed Application Virtualization Report (Updated: May 2026).
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    May 2026
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    Helped 896,803 peers since 2012

    Review summaries and opinions

    We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
     

    Categories and Ranking

    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citri...
    Average Rating
    8.4
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.5
    Number of Reviews
    128
    Ranking in other categories
    Application Virtualization (1st), Remote Access (5th), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) (1st), Desktop as a Service (DaaS) (1st)
    VMware ThinApp [EOL]
    Average Rating
    9.0
    Number of Reviews
    3
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    SN
    Sorin Neacsu
    Technical Lead on Virtual Desktop at Orange
    Has delivered consistent desktop experiences across remote locations and has supported multimedia workloads efficiently
    I have utilized the HDX protocol for compression and audio-video capabilities. When users need to conduct meetings with customers or colleagues, they can use Teams solutions and open a bridge where video and audio are encapsulated within the ICA protocol, which is protected by SSL and certificates for security. This provides secure communication at good quality through the HDX protocol. HDX protocol has improved application performance as it is specifically designed for multimedia applications. If processing audio or video files, such as in telecom where discussions are recorded and then prepared as video or audio, this does not consume excessive bandwidth during the operation compared to a normal remote desktop connection provided by Microsoft. Everything is compressed and provides sufficient bandwidth for multiple people to perform similar tasks without interruption or session disconnection. All multimedia-related activities, such as playing content on YouTube, deliver a better experience with this protocol overall. I use multi-factor authentication for opening sessions to the data center where users access their machines or software. Multi-factor authentication has helped secure applications because users typically have two-way authentication software on their phones. They use a password first and then authenticate themselves through their mobile application to grant access to resources. This approach is effective because if a hacker attacks a user, they need more than just the password and username. They must also possess the device that provides authentication. The device typically has facial recognition, a password, and provides better security overall.
    Read full review
    it_user769638 - PeerSpot reviewer
    it_user769638
    Associate Operations at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
    Streamlines checking our app after pushing an update, which helps cut costs
    In the past we used multiple servers to load-balance the application and when we pushed updates to the application we would need to check it on all servers. But when it comes to VMware ThinApp we can do it on a file server or Isilon share and this helps cut costs and create a healthy environment. If we publish an application in Citrix through a server we should have more capacity. On multiple occasions, some applications need updates so at that point we need to disable the servers. But in this case there is no need for disabling user sessions, they can use it and we can do just gpupdate to update all servers in a row.
    Read full review

    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 supports team clients."
    "The Provisioning Services are the most valuable feature. We have Premium licensing, so Provisioning Services is huge for us, along with the Virtual Apps and Desktops part. It allows us to have a vDisk for every region, one that can easily be copied between them if we need to, to limit the amount of updates we have to do."
    "You can connect to any printer, and from anywhere you can print documents using a compressed channel. It is easy and the bandwidth is very low."
    "Citrix is one of the companies that is delivering virtual apps and desktops in a big way. They are mature enough to understand the level of stability required and deliver it."
    "It helps the company or the environment to centralize all its resources and allows all users from all the branches to reach those resources without needing them in every branch."
    "During an extended pilot with these users leveraging Citrix XenDestop, we were able to improve the perceived performance / application response time, as well as use significantly less bandwidth."
    "My advice to others is Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops are good and secure, and they can use their infrastructure from anywhere and anytime."
    "Good product, our POC proved that Xendesktop required lower bandwidth per machine than competitors."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros
    "A great solution to get started with app virtualization, app mobility and deployment"
    "In the past we used multiple servers to load-balance the application and when we pushed updates to the application we would need to check it on all servers, but when it comes to VMware ThinApp we can do it on a file server or Isilon share and this helps cut costs and create a healthy environment."
     

    Cons

    "In the bank, a major part of all our applications is Microsoft App-V. If App-V is at end of life, then we need a new technology to replace it. As of today, I haven't seen in Citrix Studio that there is a new technology embedded directly in it to replace App-V."
    "I would rate the solution as a two (out of 10). I cannot give an eight or nine (out of 10) to a solution that works well if the provider does not put me in a position where I can use it."
    "Pricing and technical support needs improvement."
    "I would like to see simplification in the management of the on-prem infrastructure component of Citrix DaaS, particularly in the studio tool used to manage the DaaS infrastructure."
    "We had an issue when we were using the Citrix server. We needed to install the Citrix Runtime in the server where the application was hosted."
    "Their customer support can be improved a lot as it lacks a lot of knowledgeable help."
    "We had some issue with SCVMM, which is used to manage the Citrix infrastructure."
    "This product should include a feature like like App Volume, which their competitor already has."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons
    "There are some functional areas Thinapp could be improved. Perhaps including application specific or hardware specific virtual drivers"
    "There are some improvements needed regarding different types of options and still they are in research and build stage so once everything is set it will look good."
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The solution is expensive and I give the cost a four out of ten."
    "Based not only on the cost of Citrix, but additional costs like firewalls, IPS, and other solutions, the total cost of switching users from using normal laptops with VPNs to connection via Citrix were so huge that the CEO of our company decided to postpone the deployment process."
    "Citrix is a mid-range cost solution compared to some others out there."
    "If you look at cost, then you must look at the number of users that you are covering. If you are only using it for some users, then it is very expensive. However, if you have a massive amount of users, then it begins to be interesting to use Citrix. Because once you are managing thousands of servers with one guy, your maintenance costs decrease per user."
    "Citrix solutions cost a lot in comparison with competitors, like Azure Virtual Desktop or VMware Horizon. Those solutions cost around 50 to 60 percent less, per month per user, than Citrix."
    "Citrix is expensive."
    "In terms of pricing with the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, I think it has gotten better over the years. Citrix has found more dynamic ways to be able to revive licensing models that fit many different scenarios that organizations have. We have been able to evolve our own licensing over the years to accommodate our situations between concurrent versus user device licenses. Now, when we move into the Citrix Workspace realm, we definitely have some awesome options there."
    "As for the cost, it is neither cheap nor expensive. Personally, I find it quite expensive, especially if you want to add more features. The security features we use include App Protect and Endpoint Protection."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    14%
    Financial Services Firm
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Comms Service Provider
    7%
    No data available
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business45
    Midsize Enterprise21
    Large Enterprise69
    No data available
     

    Questions from the Community

    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
    I rate the product’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
    I have found that Citrix DaaS is still a complex product, especially on the desktop side, which affects scalability. Although it works well on the apps side, the desktop aspect still has room for i...
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
    The entire development environment is accessed only through the virtual desktop setup using Citrix DaaS.
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

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    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
    May 2026
    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) reportDownload Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) product report
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    May 2026
    VMware ThinApp [EOL] reportDownload VMware ThinApp [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace
    ThinApp
     

    Interactive Demo

    Citrix
    Demo not available
    Broadcom
     

    Overview

    Citrix DaaS provides centralized administration, high security, and app and desktop flexibility, offering excellent user experience and robust remote access. It is known for low bandwidth seamless performance and ease of use, ensuring consistent experience on diverse devices.

    Citrix DaaS is a comprehensive service for virtual application delivery and remote access, ideal for distributed teams and mobile workers. Its support for application virtualization, data regulation compliance, and business continuity makes it valuable in remote work environments. Organizations use it for centralized management and secure remote workflows, benefiting from low-bandwidth delivery in multi-city deployments. However, enhancements in speed, performance, and scalability are necessary, along with better monitoring and pricing improvements. Users face cloud compatibility challenges, and improvements in virtual desktop functionality and multimedia experience are desired.

    What are the key features of Citrix DaaS?
    • Centralized Administration: Streamlined management of virtual desktops and apps from a single console.
    • High Security: Advanced protection features for data and applications.
    • Flexibility: Customizable publishing options for apps and desktops.
    • Robust Remote Access: Reliable performance even on low bandwidth connections.
    • Device Support: Broad compatibility ensures seamless deployment across devices.
    What benefits should users look for?
    • Enhanced Business Continuity: Ensures consistent access to apps and data remotely.
    • Low Bandwidth Efficiency: Maintains performance in limited connectivity scenarios.
    • Centralized Management: Simplifies control over remote resources.
    • Remote Work Enablement: Facilitates secure access for distributed teams.

    In healthcare, Citrix DaaS supports secure access to patient records and applications essential for telemedicine. Financial services benefit from compliance with data regulation and secure workflows. In education, virtual desktops offer accessible learning resources, aiding remote teaching initiatives. Retail uses it for streamlining operations across dispersed locations, ensuring quick access to inventory systems and data management.

    Citrix

    VMware ThinApp accelerates application deployment and simplifies application migration with agentless application virtualization. Deploy ThinApp packages on "locked-down" PCs and allow end users to run their favorite applications without compromising security. ThinApp eliminate application conflicts by isolating applications from each other and the underlying OS into a single executable file that can be easily deployed to many endpoints.

    Broadcom
     

    Sample Customers

    Exelon, Aeronamic, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Alameda County Medical Center, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Aloysius Stichting, Amarchand Mangaldas, AmBev, Amnet Technology Solutions, Arval
    Delhi International Airport, Telus Communications Company, Mansfield District Council, St Edmunds College, Sydney Adventist Hospital, ITSAM, Hertz International, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. , ASVZ, Appenzell Ausserrhoden Informatik, MTF, Stadt Hattingen, €sterreichisches Verkehrsbªro AG, DER Reisebªro GmbH & Co OHG, Thomas-Krenn.AG, BFI Wien, Metal One Pipe & Tubular Products Inc., NTT Neomeit
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    May 2026
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