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Citrix XenServer vs VMware vSphere Foundation comparison

Citrix and VMware are both solutions in the Server Virtualization Software category. Citrix is ranked #11 with an average rating of 7.5, while VMware is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.0. Additionally, 81% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 81% of VMware users who would recommend it.
Citrix XenServer
Read 52 Citrix XenServer reviews
  • 6,908 Views
  • 5,260 Comparison Views
81% willing to recommend
VMware vSphere Foundation
Read 13 VMware vSphere Foundation reviews
  • 160 Views
  • 68 Comparison Views
81% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on May 13, 2025

Citrix XenServer and VMware vSphere Foundation compete in the virtualization platform category. Citrix XenServer appears to have the upper hand for smaller environments due to its affordability and ease of use, while VMware is favored for stability and reliability in larger deployments.

Features: Citrix XenServer offers real-time performance monitoring, management through a Windows-based interface, and XenMotion for live migration. VMware vSphere Foundation provides scalability, resource management with vCenter, and high availability features.

Room for Improvement: Citrix XenServer's free version lacks certain advanced features, requires yearly license renewal, and has limited scalability for larger infrastructures. VMware vSphere Foundation is criticized for its high licensing costs, complex initial setup, and the learning curve associated with its deployment.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Citrix XenServer is known for straightforward deployment and user-friendly management via XenCenter. VMware vSphere Foundation, while initially complex to set up, offers reliable customer service and comprehensive management tools for ongoing maintenance.

Pricing and ROI: Citrix XenServer is appreciated for its cost-effectiveness, especially with the free version for basic functionalities. VMware vSphere Foundation, though associated with higher licensing costs, justifies its price with robust reliability and resource optimization, leading to significant ROI through efficient infrastructure management.

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To learn more, read our detailed Citrix XenServer vs. VMware vSphere Foundation Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Citrix XenServer vs. VMware vSphere Foundation
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.8
Citrix XenServer offers cost savings and enhanced efficiency through virtualization, justifying the investment despite higher initial costs.
Sentiment score
7.5
Organizations anticipate value from VMware vSphere Foundation through enhanced scalability, manageability, optimization, and flexibility, despite initial ROI not being evident.
My clients generally maintain their Citrix infrastructure without shifting, suggesting stability and reliable operation as Citrix XenServer is fully established.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
In an environment where the infrastructure has to be up for monitoring and controlling physical infrastructure like water plants, it has absolutely returned on its investment.
There is flexibility and interoperability with multi-mode architectures that accommodate both on-prem and cloud realities.
Server consolidation is one return on investment where we can use one server for multiple workloads.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
Tonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewer
JS
RB
reviewer2592888 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.8
Citrix XenServer's customer service varies in effectiveness, with challenges in response times and support access, especially for complex issues.
Sentiment score
6.8
Customers previously praised VMware, but Broadcom's management leads to mixed reviews, highlighting response time and regional support.
With valid licenses, we can access hotfixes, service packs, knowledge base, self-help tools, diagnostics, downloads, live chat, and phone support.
They do not provide adequate support for midsize businesses.
There appear to be very few engineers at Citrix who understand the problems.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
There is nonstop support available around the world, which allows issues to be resolved continuously without interruption, regardless of whether the problem occurs in the USA, India, or another location.
Now, with Broadcom's management, I would rate it a three out of ten.
Most of the time, VMware operates smoothly without requiring support.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
SP
Filip Fronczak - PeerSpot reviewerVivekKumar10 - PeerSpot reviewer
RC
reviewer2592888 - PeerSpot reviewer
HY
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Citrix XenServer offers effective scalability and integration, appreciated for its ease, cost-effectiveness, and support for enterprise growth.
Sentiment score
8.6
VMware vSphere Foundation is highly scalable, easy to integrate, and supports varied environments, though some users seek more exploration.
Familiarity with Linux can enhance its performance and usability.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
The return on investment is high because we can maximize the use of one server for multiple workloads.
It's straightforward to procure additional licenses, install them on the host and add them to the same cluster.
You can simply add more hosts to your VMware stack seamlessly, scaling up vertically or horizontally.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
Tonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2592888 - PeerSpot reviewer
AN
HY
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.7
Citrix XenServer is reliable for SMBs, supports high uptimes, but may occasionally face minor issues, especially with backups.
Sentiment score
8.4
VMware vSphere Foundation is highly rated for stability and requires minimal management but frequent security updates are necessary.
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
Stability is optimal.
Frequent updates are required due to constant security challenges and attacks.
It is a standard tool and is considered very stable.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
reviewer2592888 - PeerSpot reviewerTonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewerAshutoshKumar4 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Room For Improvement

Citrix XenServer needs better backup, integration, management, stability, compatibility, affordability, technical support, community engagement, and marketing.
VMware vSphere Foundation struggles with pricing, licensing, support challenges, impacting user experience, especially post-Broadcom acquisition in Latin America.
Although the product is technically competitive, it is not widely known or used due to poor marketing.
Citrix needs to improve the hypervisor, specifically in security and performance.
We can implement high availability and live migration with pools, along with security and backup to enable role-based access control for safer management.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
I highly recommend that continuous support for perpetual licenses be provided.
VMware needs to improve cost efficiency, especially in Pakistan, as customers often seek more affordable solutions.
Recently, VMware shifted its licensing models, and they should streamline it.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
Filip Fronczak - PeerSpot reviewerTonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewer
SP
ErmiasGirma - PeerSpot reviewer
AN
HY
 

Setup Cost

Citrix XenServer is a cost-effective alternative to VMware, though pricing can be complex and varies with needs.
VMware vSphere Foundation's high costs and limited support post-Broadcom merger frustrate enterprise buyers, despite its reliable performance.
It is cheaper compared to its competitors.
Organizations save substantial money because competing solutions, such as VMware, cost double or triple.
The pricing and licensing policy of Citrix XenServer is not transparent and quite confusing.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
It's expensive, however, the stability it offers is optimal.
In Brazil, we are increasingly using open-source alternatives like Proxmox due to their lower prices in comparison.
During one project, the price doubled or even tripled before implementation, causing issues with clients.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
Tonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewerVivekKumar10 - PeerSpot reviewerFilip Fronczak - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2592888 - PeerSpot reviewer
RC
ErmiasGirma - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

Citrix XenServer offers virtualization, ease of use, scalability, and strong support, ideal for small to medium businesses.
VMware vSphere Foundation enhances scalability, reliability, and management, offering tools for efficient resource use, cloud integration, and uptime.
The most valuable feature is transferring and sharing applications that allow users to move files between devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers without needing USB cables, internet connections, or data usage.
It provides secure access to applications and resources, which is crucial for us and our clients.
It is user-friendly and easy to deploy, making it an attractive option.
For more quotes and insights, download the Citrix XenServer report
vSphere Foundation is valuable due to its scalability, reliability, and ease of management.
VMware provides the tools needed to move environments between private and public clouds seamlessly.
The virtual stack of vCenter, its distributed resources system, high availability engines, and the ability to move VM workloads from one host to another are outstanding.
For more quotes and insights, download the VMware vSphere Foundation report
SP
Filip Fronczak - PeerSpot reviewerTonatiuh Torres Zamorano - PeerSpot reviewer
AN
RC
HY
 

Categories and Ranking

Citrix XenServer
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
11th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
52
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
VMware vSphere Foundation
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
13th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

VivekKumar10 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost efficiency enables significant savings but improvement in support and backup integration is needed for enhanced reliability
In the past, we utilized the live migration feature in Citrix XenServer, but not in this project. This is a new, fresh deployment, so there is no live migration. The support of heterogeneous resource pool in Citrix XenServer depends on the deployment and customer requirements. If a customer requires heterogeneous deployment, we accommodate that. Generally, Citrix XenServer goes in straightforward vanilla deployment because it is majorly used for Citrix farms. Very few customers use it for other products or applications. Intelligent performance optimization is available in this product, but very few customers use it, and those who do aren't using it extensively. I cannot comment extensively on this feature at present.
Read full review
ErmiasGirma - PeerSpot reviewer
Virtualization enhances management and utilization in enterprise environments
In the past, we faced challenges with VMware's transition to Broadcom, which caused a lot of frustration. Issues like not being able to upgrade to version eight without support and the end-of-life of perpetual licenses were concerning. Pricing fluctuation and increased licensing costs were also significant challenges. I highly recommend that continuous support for perpetual licenses be provided.
Read full review
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Comparison Review

VL
Jan 13, 2015
vSphere vs. RHEV vs. Hyper-V vs. XenServer
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…
Read full review
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
25%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Citrix Hypervisor?
The core function enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. This maximizes hardware utilization and efficiency.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Hypervisor?
Citrix XenServer multi-cloud includes all necessary products, allowing for a diverse deployment. Licensing includes all the server courses, Unicom, and features from Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Citrix Hypervisor?
Citrix XenServer needs to improve compatibility with other solutions and support various services hosted on it. There's also a need for more companies supporting backups for Citrix XenServer as a h...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VMware vSphere Foundation?
I don't know the exact pricing for the VMware vSphere Foundation, but I think the last license model to upgrade is three or four times more expensive.
See all answers
What needs improvement with VMware vSphere Foundation?
Other than the price being expensive, there are no other areas that could be improved with the VMware vSphere Foundation.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for VMware vSphere Foundation?
Our use case for the VMware vSphere Foundation is in a true data center where we have vSphere on an HP Synergy with a storage device, and it's utilized in both the production environment and the QA...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Proxmox VE vs Citrix XenServer Logo
Proxmox VE vs Citrix XenServer
Compared 32% of the time
VMware vSphere vs Citrix XenServer Logo
VMware vSphere vs Citrix XenServer
Compared 21% of the time
Hyper-V vs Citrix XenServer Logo
Hyper-V vs Citrix XenServer
Compared 18% of the time
Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs Citrix XenServer Logo
Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs Citrix XenServer
Compared 8% of the time
KVM vs Citrix XenServer Logo
KVM vs Citrix XenServer
Compared 7% of the time
More Citrix XenServer Competitors
Red Hat OpenShift vs VMware vSphere Foundation Logo
Red Hat OpenShift vs VMware vSphere Foundation
Compared 58% of the time
VMware vSphere vs VMware vSphere Foundation Logo
VMware vSphere vs VMware vSphere Foundation
Compared 42% of the time
More VMware vSphere Foundation Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Citrix XenServer
June 2025
Citrix XenServer reportDownload Citrix XenServer product report
Buyer's Guide
VMware vSphere Foundation
May 2025
VMware vSphere Foundation reportDownload VMware vSphere Foundation product report
 

Also Known As

Hypervisor
No data available
 

Overview

Citrix XenServer provides virtualization with high availability and robust security, offering seamless VM migration and centralized management through XenCenter. Its expansive compatibility and integration enhance its appeal, particularly for SMBs.

Citrix XenServer is recognized for its user-friendly virtualization capabilities, facilitating dynamic scalability and efficient resource management. It supports a wide range of operating systems and integrates with Citrix solutions for improved operations. Businesses benefit from its affordability and ease of deployment. Despite its strengths, users seek improvements in third-party tool integration, network and backup management, and storage flexibility. High costs, limited Linux support, system complexity, technical support, and hardware compatibility remain challenges. An updated and intuitive interface is in demand for more seamless operations across platforms.

What are the key features of Citrix XenServer?
  • User-Friendly Virtualization: Simplifies virtualization operations with efficient management tools.
  • High Availability: Ensures continuous access to virtualized resources.
  • Robust Security: Protects virtual environments with comprehensive security protocols.
  • Seamless VM Migration: Facilitates easy migration of virtual machines across environments.
  • Centralized Management: XenCenter provides centralized control for resource management.
  • Dynamic Scalability: Supports scaling of resources as per business requirements.
  • Real-Time Performance Monitoring: Enables monitoring and optimizing of system performance actively.
  • Unlimited Virtual Machines: Offers the capacity for deploying numerous virtual machines without limitations.
What benefits and ROI can users expect?
  • Cost Efficiency: Competitive pricing model reduces virtualization costs.
  • Comprehensive Virtualization: Complete solution for desktop and server virtualization needs.
  • Ease of Deployment: Quick and straightforward setup process minimizes downtime.
  • Integration with Citrix Solutions: Enhances functionality with existing Citrix technologies.

In diverse industries, Citrix XenServer is leveraged for server and desktop virtualization, cloud automation, and infrastructure management. Many deploy it for virtual desktop infrastructure, application delivery, on-premises data centers, and to support Citrix application delivery like XenApp and XenDesktop. Enterprises migrating from VMware often find Citrix XenServer cost-efficient for these applications, serving as a main computing platform for enterprise applications including ERP systems and SQL Servers.

Citrix

VMware vSphere Foundation is designed for businesses seeking virtualization management capabilities. It offers essential features to optimize IT operations and improve server utilization, providing a solid infrastructure for managing virtual environments.

VMware vSphere Foundation supports efficient resource management in virtual environments, delivering a robust platform for businesses to streamline their IT processes. It enhances system reliability and offers scalable options for growing business needs. By leveraging virtualization, it reduces hardware dependency while ensuring consistent system performance.

What are the key features of VMware vSphere Foundation?
  • VMware vCenter Server: Centralized platform for managing VMs and hosts.
  • High Availability: Ensures minimal downtime for critical applications.
  • Data Recovery: Provides backup and restore options for enhanced data protection.
  • Resource Manager: Allocates resources efficiently between VMs to maximize performance.
What benefits or ROI should users consider?
  • Cost Reduction: Decreases hardware expenses by maximizing server usage.
  • Improved Scalability: Facilitates easy expansion of IT infrastructure.
  • Enhanced Reliability: Offers consistent uptime and minimized outages.
  • Efficiency Gains: Streamlines operations, reducing manual IT management tasks.

VMware vSphere Foundation is implemented effectively across industries like healthcare, finance, and retail. It supports crucial workloads, allowing these sectors to maintain operational efficiency while handling sensitive data. Its flexibility and robust capabilities make it suitable for diverse operational demands.

VMware
 

Sample Customers

U.S. Army Shared Services Center, SoftLayer, Educational Services of America, Independent Bank, and SK Telecom.
Information Not Available
Buyer's Guide
Citrix XenServer vs. VMware vSphere Foundation
June 2025
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