Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs vCenter Orchestrator comparison

Microsoft and VMware are both solutions in the Process Automation category. Microsoft is ranked #20 with an average rating of 9.0, while VMware is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.2. Microsoft holds a 0.9% mindshare in PA, compared to VMware’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 33% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of VMware users who would recommend it.

Microsoft System Center Orc...

Read 2 Microsoft System Center Orchestrator reviews

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320 Comparison Views

33% willing to recommend

vCenter Orchestrator

Read 50 vCenter Orchestrator reviews

146 Views
115 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Microsoft System Center Orc...

vCenter Orchestrator

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

vCenter Orchestrator and Microsoft System Center Orchestrator are automation management products for virtual environments. System Center Orchestrator appears to have an advantage due to its comprehensive feature set and integration capabilities.

Features: vCenter Orchestrator integrates smoothly with VMware, enhancing workflow automation and resource management. Its simplicity makes it a strong choice for users seeking efficient VMware automation. Microsoft System Center Orchestrator offers integration across multiple systems, facilitating diverse automation tasks and operational agility, with its variety in integration showcasing adaptability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: vCenter Orchestrator provides a streamlined deployment process for VMware users, supported by a robust service network. Microsoft System Center Orchestrator also features easy deployment, particularly in Microsoft environments, benefiting from comprehensive documentation and customer support. It shows flexibility in deployment options, supporting extensive implementation assistance.

Pricing and ROI: vCenter Orchestrator has a straightforward pricing structure with competitive setup costs, positively affecting ROI for VMware users. Microsoft System Center Orchestrator may entail higher initial costs but its extensive functionality and integration offer long-term value, reflecting a favorable ROI through versatile automation capabilities. The decision may depend on budget constraints versus future-proof automation investments.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. vCenter Orchestrator Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. vCenter Orchestrator

April 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:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft System Center Orc...

Ranking in Process Automation

20th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

vCenter Orchestrator

Ranking in Process Automation

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Process Automation category, the mindshare of Microsoft System Center Orchestrator is 0.9%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of vCenter Orchestrator is 0.2%, down from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Process Automation

Featured Reviews

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

Automates tasks and manages multiple servers from a central location

The initial setup was quite complex. It required careful preparation of installation steps, as many tasks were not automated as expected. Special attention was needed to prepare groups, users, and permissions at each step to ensure a smooth setup process. Please do so accurately to avoid having to start over. Challenges encountered during deployment included issues with installation and configuration and difficulties detecting machines and executing tasks as expected. Some solutions were found through trial and error during installation, while others were discovered through recommendations from other users. Despite these challenges, the deployment and rollout of Orchestrator took approximately one and a half months to ensure proper functionality.

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David Villota

EMEA Hosting Engineer at Yanfeng Automotive

Provides automatic monitoring capabilities that save time for users

In my company's IT environment, we use the tool to deploy production environments for products, including live manufacturing systems. The product improves my company's IT automation processes since we can use fewer resources currently. In my company, we need to spend less time considering that vCenter Orchestrator monitors everything. In general, we don't have to be present in our company to do active monitoring. Automatic monitoring is available for everything with vCenter Orchestrator, so we have proactive alerts in our company. The most valuable feature of the product in streamlining our company's workflow stems from the fact that we need to spend fewer resources and less time in general. Our company can spend time on more effective tasks like working with the plans to improve processes and so on, instead of taking care of the systems. The benefits of the product's integration capabilities were useful for HPE. My company has HPE infrastructure, and we are keen to integrate everything into the host, VMware ESXi. It is really important to have an easy integration method that allows for everything to be installed easily in a matter of minutes. I was not involved in the product's setup process. My colleague took care of the product's setup process. From what I know, I can say that the product's setup phase was straightforward. Some custom setups were to be done manually in the tool, but everything was well documented. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. One of the benefits of the product is that it is a low-cost and stable solution that offers a lot of resources. I rate the overall tool a nine out of ten.

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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

"It can manage multiple servers and workstations from a single location."

"Automation is the most valuable feature of the solution."

"The storage motion is a good feature. It is a very good tool."

"The solution is pretty stable and reliable."

"I like the tool's DNS feature."

"The solution was easy to install."

"The stability of the product is very good."

"Communication with technical support is very good. It has a repository of knowledge base articles which we can access which are very helpful."

"The platform integration is straightforward, especially with recent updates, making connecting with various systems and streamlining workflows easier."

"The open, flexible architecture has brought in the agile computing environment along with better Dr capabilities. Automation management and operational tasks across VMware and third-party applications, like our HMIS and other business productivity applications, have delivered peace of mind."

More vCenter Orchestrator pros

Cons

"The product's management aspect needs enhancement."

"I find the Orchestrator UI to be problematic."

"The interface could be improved to bring greater user-friendliness and ease of use."

"There are some update-related issues with the product."

"I would like to see a greater ability to do mobile administration."

"Its technical support team takes a long time to escalate the issues."

"The snapshot technology of VMware is not good compared to other solutions in the market, like Nutanix."

"It is practically difficult at this stage to really comment on the improvisations of V central. But more tech events and PoC cases would help the EA to design better solutions and utilization."

"This solution needs to have more built-in workflows."

"vCenter Orchestrator's debugging capacity could be improved."

More vCenter Orchestrator cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We obtained a license that bundled Windows Server with System Center at no additional cost."

"I give the cost of the solution a five out of ten."

"vCenter Orchestrator could be more affordable."

"I rate the product price a seven to eight out of ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."

"vCenter Orchestrator is a very expensive solution."

"vCenter Orchestrator is an expensive solution."

"My organization didn't have to pay extra for vCenter Orchestrator. It was already included, so it's basically free. Even VMware regular support is included."

"The licensing module is somewhat complex. Calculating the cost is complicated. Many of our clients are unclear about the billing system and the traffic metering."

"The licensing cost is manageable because they have different versions available, standard, essential, and advanced."

"Our licensing is on a yearly basis. We pay for the license and then we pay the support every year."

More vCenter Orchestrator pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

22%

Financial Services Firm

17%

Government

12%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

It can manage multiple servers and workstations from a single location.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

The platform was almost free of cost for us. We obtained a license that bundled Windows Server with System Center at no additional cost.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

The product's management aspect needs enhancement. It affects the visibility of powerful scripts that were previously accessible. Furthermore, the focus is shifting towards cloud-based features, sp...

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What do you like most about vCenter Orchestrator?

The stability of the product is very good.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for vCenter Orchestrator?

We're running a low-profile budget. This is not our main focus on investment technology, so we're trying to reduce costs due to the change from perpetual to subscription licenses.

See all answers

What needs improvement with vCenter Orchestrator?

After the change from perpetual licensing to subscriptions, the cost model changed. We are considering alternatives since we lost the perpetual aspect, and support is changing.

See all answers

Comparisons

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BizTalk Server vs Microsoft System Center Orchestrator

Compared 16% of the time

Ivanti Automation vs Microsoft System Center Orchestrator

Compared 12% of the time

Rundeck vs Microsoft System Center Orchestrator

Compared 12% of the time

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VMware Aria Automation vs vCenter Orchestrator

Compared 53% of the time

VMware Aria Operations vs vCenter Orchestrator

Compared 23% of the time

VMware Cloud Director vs vCenter Orchestrator

Compared 13% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Process Automation

May 2025

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator report

Download Microsoft System Center Orchestrator product report

Buyer's Guide

vCenter Orchestrator

April 2025

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Also Known As

MS System Center Orchestrator

No data available

Overview

As an IT administrator, you probably perform a lot of tasks and procedures to keep your computing environment healthy. You may have automated individual tasks, but typically, not the whole process. With System Center - Orchestrator you tie disparate tasks and procedures together using a graphical user interface Runbook Designer to create reliable, flexible, and efficient end-to-end solutions in your IT environment.

Microsoft

VMware vCenter Orchestrator simplifies the automation of complex IT tasks and integrates with VMware vCloud Suite components to adapt and extend service delivery and operational management, effectively working with existing infrastructure, tools and processes.

VMware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Beiersdorf Shared Services

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. vCenter Orchestrator

April 2025

Free Report: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. vCenter Orchestrator

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