Microsoft App-V vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] comparison

Microsoft and Broadcom are both solutions in the Application Virtualization category. Additionally, 80% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

Microsoft App-V

Read 9 Microsoft App-V reviews

1,492 Views
1,492 Comparison Views

80% willing to recommend

VMware ThinApp [EOL]

Read 3 VMware ThinApp [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft App-V

VMware ThinApp [EOL]

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft App-V 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.

To learn more, read our detailed Application Virtualization Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Application Virtualization

April 2026

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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:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft App-V

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Virtualization (2nd)

VMware ThinApp [EOL]

Average Rating

9.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Sorin Neacsu

Technical Lead on Virtual Desktop at Orange

Legacy software is maintained effectively, offering cost savings and integration flexibility

I believe there is no room for improvement in Microsoft App-V since it is officially at the end of life. Microsoft does not negotiate extensions for their end-of-life solutions. It has been a great tool over the years, but the company has managed to write most applications to bring them up to date, many written from scratch or as web-based applications. It's highly likely that we will decommission the Microsoft App-V solutions next year, keeping backups for a period until the new applications stabilize. I'm confident that once they transition to newer versions, they will phase out Microsoft App-V just like they do with operating systems. When Microsoft decides to close a version, such as Windows 10-22H2 or 21-H2, it happens. Paying for extended support is costly and, in the end, not worth it. Organizations must think of alternatives, possibly leaning towards MSIX, although MSIX doesn't support very old software used on Windows XP or 2000, which raises doubts about what can truly be improved. It's clear they won't introduce anything new; they will only provide security patches as they approach the end-of-life timeline.

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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.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"From a technical point of view, it meets most of the customers' needs."

"Microsoft App-V is a simple, very good working product that just works."

"I appreciate the process of being able to change or review my answers."

"We can deploy applications incredibly fast."

"From my experience with Microsoft App-V, the feature I liked the most is the streaming."

"I would recommend Microsoft App-V for its simplicity and efficiency."

"It is easy to scale. You can quickly deploy additional instances. Rollbacks are easy because there is an automatic backup every hour. Deploying the application is straightforward and efficient."

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft App-V that I found is the possibility to bring old software back to life and publish it for users to do their jobs using those applications."

More Microsoft App-V 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

"The process was streamlined but didn't make our work simple. We encountered an issue with the person responsible for designing the website."

"The downside is that Microsoft bought this product and they are going to discontinue it in 2026. This is worrisome for us."

"Regarding improvements in Microsoft App-V, I would appreciate seeing the successor, MSIX, work better, as nothing is going to be implemented anymore since it is end of life by the end of the year."

"Microsoft App-V is more suited for legacy software usage, and trying to make it work in that context usually feels tricky and unreliable."

"If it were possible to integrate App-V with a cybersecurity solution then we could implement a documentation registry, which would be useful."

"The downside is that Microsoft bought this product and they are going to discontinue it in 2026."

"If it were possible to integrate App-V with a cybersecurity solution then we could implement a documentation registry, which would be useful."

"Microsoft App-V has been slow, and users experience delays when launching applications, which presents significant challenges."

More Microsoft App-V 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

"Clients do not pay licensing fees."

"The pricing of this product is competitive."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

18%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	5

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft App-V?

Regarding pricing, I believe flexibility would help retain customers. Costs could be more adaptable to meet varying budgets.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft App-V?

There is definitely room for improvement with Microsoft App-V, especially in terms of enhancing troubleshooting resources and user guidance.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Microsoft App-V?

I have been using Microsoft App-V for quite some time, and I can describe my use cases, which include various applications that enhance productivity.

See all answers

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Comparisons

Numecent Cloudpager vs Microsoft App-V

Compared 34% of the time

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) vs Microsoft App-V

Compared 23% of the time

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Microsoft App-V

Compared 22% of the time

Systancia Workplace vs Microsoft App-V

Compared 14% of the time

Microsoft Virtual Server vs Microsoft App-V

Compared 7% of the time

More Microsoft App-V Competitors

Inuvika vs VMware ThinApp [EOL]

Compared 27% of the time

Numecent Cloudpager vs VMware ThinApp [EOL]

Compared 21% of the time

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

Compared 16% of the time

More VMware ThinApp [EOL] Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft App-V

April 2026

Download Microsoft App-V product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Virtualization

April 2026

Download VMware ThinApp [EOL] product report

Also Known As

App-V, MS App-V

ThinApp

Overview

Microsoft App-V facilitates rapid, secure application deployment in isolated containers for Windows platforms. Its centralized management allows app deployment globally or per-user, enhancing productivity alongside legacy software support.

Microsoft App-V is a robust tool for managing application deployments with centralized control and flexibility, offering features like instant upgrades, application streaming, and support for running multiple app versions. While facing discontinuation in 2026, it remains valuable for managing legacy applications and achieving cost efficiencies. Users can quickly manage apps via SCCM and benefit from reduced local installations, lowering security risks and enhancing scalability. However, there are calls for improved Azure integration and better synchronization capabilities.

What are the key features of Microsoft App-V?

Instant Upgrades: Rapidly update applications without disruptions.
Centralized Management: Manage applications from a single location, reducing conflicts.
App Streaming: Streamline deployment with minimal local resource use.
Legacy Software Support: Run older applications on modern systems seamlessly.
Concurrent Versions: Support multiple app versions for user flexibility.

What benefits should users look for in Microsoft App-V?

Cost Reduction: Lower operational costs through efficient resource use.
Scalability: Easily scale application deployments to meet growing needs.
Stability: Enhance operational stability with reliable application management.
Efficiency: Improve efficiency through reduced user interaction in updates.

In industries like finance and healthcare, Microsoft App-V is used to maintain legacy application functionality while modernizing IT infrastructure. Companies in sectors with critical operations leverage its ability to keep applications separate, reducing conflicts and ensuring reliable performance even on aging systems. The focus on transition and integration is crucial as they explore advanced solutions for future needs.

Microsoft

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

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), GDDKiA, P&V, Etisalat Lanka, Hellenic Petroleum

Delhi International Airport, Telus Communications Company, Mansfield District Council, St Edmunds 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

April 2026

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