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

Why PeerSpot?
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: October 2026).
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    October 2026
    Download the complete report
    Helped 916,056 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

    "Citrix Workspace allows you to work in a remote environment and gives you data security."
    "The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the convenience and the ease of setup the tool provides."
    "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."
    "The scalability of Citrix Workspace is exceptional."
    "Stable product with straightforward setup."
    "Citrix is not a cheap solution as it addresses a lot of the challenges that no one else can."
    "It provides all of the features required for the protection of data. For example, we don't want to allow any copy/paste of data to an outside environment, and we are able to restrict the VDI to not allow any data transfer from the VDI to the local laptop's hard drives. That is one of the greatest advantages the solution provides."
    "It provides the flexibility of being used on any device which makes the employee experience better, in terms of ease of use."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros
    "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."
    "A great solution to get started with app virtualization, app mobility and deployment"
     

    Cons

    "Latency is also a major problem when adopting Citrix for video editing software or 3D editing software, especially editing 4K video or large file size. The Citrix virtualized solution becomes too slow, so we cannot use the VDI."
    "This solution is resource-intensive, it takes a lot of Bandwidth and a lot of the resources of the server."
    "Our organisation has not been successful in delivering a multi-media experience via VDIs."
    "Every employee complains about the performance or quality of their VDI."
    "My only issue with Citrix is that they frequently rebrand their products. I'm using the app and everything is fine but after a couple of years, it's entirely different. There were an enormous number of Citrix tools readily available. My immediate concern was selecting the correct ones."
    "The initial setup is complex."
    "Pricing and technical support needs improvement."
    "We sometimes have issues after updates."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons
    "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."
    "There are some functional areas Thinapp could be improved. Perhaps including application specific or hardware specific virtual drivers"
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The pricing is a little bit high, but it's good value for the product's stability and efficiency."
    "It's my understanding that the solution license fee for each user is around $300 US. If we buy a personal laptop for each employee every five years, then the total cost is five times $300 US, or $1,500 USD. So we could buy 100 personal laptops instead of the Citrix solution."
    "I suggest using the concurrent user licensing scheme."
    "The purchase price was around $300,000 USD and then the maintenance fees were 20%. There are no other additional fees."
    "The licensing, in general, is expensive. A lot of customers battle to pay the amount. It's very difficult to ensure that your solution provides the business value that the customer is after."
    "My company opts for the yearly subscription model to pay towards the licensing costs attached to the solution."
    "The cost of the Citrix software reflects what I would expect a product of that nature, in that market, to be. Understanding the licensing is quite a bit more complicated, because one of the things about Citrix is that you can buy licensing at different levels... Yet I still like the idea because it means that if all you need is a basic load balancing solution, then you don't need to buy an advanced or premium license."
    "I don't quite remember the specifics of what we had. I believe we had a 25-user license, and I don't recall it being overly expensive."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice
    Information not available
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Outsourcing Company
    11%
    Computer Software Company
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Comms Service Provider
    8%
    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 Workspace?
    Citrix DaaS is considered expensive, especially for companies that do not require multi-cloud. Tiered pricing based on company size would be beneficial.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Citrix Workspace?
    The pricing of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) since the company was taken over by the investment firm is not favorable because prices have been raised. It is disapp...
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Citrix Workspace?
    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is typically used by mobile workers and remote employees who work outside the central office and need access to centralized company r...
    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)
    October 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
    October 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
    October 2026
    Download Free Report
    Find out what your peers are saying about Citrix, Microsoft, Parallels and others in Application Virtualization. Updated: October 2026.
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