Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs VMware vSphere comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Apr 5, 2022

We performed a comparison between Nutanix AHV and VMware vSphere based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Nutanix AHV users and VMware vSphere users felt the setup and deployment of both solutions were easy.
  • Features: Nutanix AHV users loved its manageability and liked the ease of troubleshooting and investigating problems but felt there were limitations with the compatibility of other software. VMware vSphere users felt the solution was easy to maintain, had great stability, and allowed for good virtualization, but felt the solution wasn’t so user-friendly.
  • Pricing: Nutanix AHV users felt the solution was expensive yet competitively priced. VMware vSphere users felt the pricing was costly.
  • Service and Support: Nutanix AHV users were extremely satisfied with the level of support. Most VMware vSphere users were happy with the support.

Comparison Results: Nutanix AHV and VMware vSphere have a similar user rating regarding ease of deployment and service and support. If pricing is a factor, Nutanix AHV had a better rating. Regarding features, Nutanix AHV users felt there were software compatibility limitations, whereas VMware vSphere users felt the solution wasn’t so user-friendly.

To learn more, read our detailed Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs. VMware vSphere Report (Updated: September 2023).
735,226 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Nutanix AHV's most valuable feature is NetFlow.""Using AHV, we have a built-in VR solution. It operates using a reduplication-based unique package transfer process.""The solution scales very well.""I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.""The initial setup of Nutanix AHV Virtualization is straightforward.""You don't need any other instruments for control, AHV. You only need to look at the prism to control all infrastructure.""The setup is efficient.""With AHV, you can run micro-segmentation, which is, on the network security level, to have network virtualization across clouds."

More Nutanix AHV Virtualization Pros →

"The technical support is good and they are available over the internet.""The virtualization this solution offer is very complete for the infrastructure.""This solution is very stable. It's scalable and simple to set up.""The product is very easy to install.""In terms of overall features, vSphere's stability stands out on top. Not only is it highly stable, but we're also able to have a quick backup server on standby.""The enterprise direction is very complete and the data center provides almost everything you need.""VMware vSphere allows you to run multiple virtual machines.""The feature that I find very valuable is the ability to move images of virtual machines from different workspaces to other workspaces between different installations."

More VMware vSphere Pros →

Cons
"The solution can be pricey.""The integration capabilities of Nutanix AHV Virtualization is an area with certain shortcomings that need improvement.""The initial installation is complex. It took approximately four days.""The licensing costs are a little bit expensive.""An improvement would be for Nutanix AHV to support VMDK, AOS, Hyper-V, and VMware.""The management console needs to improve to make it easier for administrators. For example, to be able to reorganize our VMs, folders, and subfolders, similarly as it is provided in VMware. We can sort, manage, and organize VMs, folders, or subfolders in VMware.""If we have to opt for a high level of capacity planning and need more analytics—like deciding on new purchases or budgeting, or if we need additional resources in the near future—we need to pay for Prism Central. I would suggest that Nutanix improve a bit on the analytics part of Prism Element so we can calculate those kinds of things within that flavor.""Some companies do not support AHV."

More Nutanix AHV Virtualization Cons →

"Here in Egypt, we would like everything free. So if you give us the license for free, we would be thrilled.""The VMware vSphere app is faster, compared to its web-based client. The web-based client is very slow, freezes, and is challenging to use.""There should be a bit more flexibility in terms of the hardware we can use with the product.""Without a lot of physical RAM on the hardware, it's not very effective. The stability could be improved in cases like this.""The reporting could be improved.""Both the price and the licensing fee are expensive, especially for our clients with a smaller workload.""VMware vSphere could be improved with cheaper costs.""The solution could be cheaper and less expensive."

More VMware vSphere Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The price of the solution can always be lower. However, the price of the solution is reasonable."
  • "Nutanix AHV is free."
  • "The price of Nutanix AHV is reasonable."
  • "The licensing overall from Nutanix AHV is very good compared to other solutions."
  • "Nutanix AHV is low cost."
  • "I would rate the pricing a three out of five. It is expensive, but it also provides the value for money and performance that you require as a hyperconverged and virtualization software."
  • "When comparing this solution to others on the market, such as VMware and Citrix, the price could be reduced."
  • "The licenses are perpetual, which means they don't expire. Even if we don't have support or don't renew the support service after three years, we will still be able to use the solution."
  • More Nutanix AHV Virtualization Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Our customers incur a yearly licensing fee, one of three or five years, in fact."
  • "In my opinion, the price is not cheap, not it is expensive. It's average."
  • "Our customers have the option of paying the licensing fee when they purchase the solution or renting it from us."
  • "We pay our licensing fees on a yearly basis."
  • "The solution comes with a yearly subscription license."
  • "The price is not an issue for our mid-sized or large-sized customers, but it can be expensive for our smaller customers."
  • "I'm satisfied with the VMware vSphere price. They have a bundle that is priced well. However, any advantage feature is very costly."
  • "The organization pays the licensing fees."
  • More VMware vSphere Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Server Virtualization Software solutions are best for your needs.
    735,226 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:To understand which is better - Nutanix AHV or VMware vSphere - you need to do a product comparison. Both products support hypervisors. However, Nutanix supports some of the most popular ones and more… more »
    Top Answer:I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
    Top Answer:The solution's licensing cost is nearly the same as the other solution. I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten, with one being expensive and ten being cheap.
    Top Answer:DEEPEN DHULLA did explain well IOMMU. IOMMU has to be activated at the bios level. It exists on Intel and AMD platforms. It is used a lot inside virtualization platforms like VMware VSphere. It… more »
    Top Answer:We use VMware and KVM. We find that KVM is a lot simpler to use and it provides the virtualization we need for Linux and Windows. For us, VMware does not offer any advantage. Moreover, KVM is free.
    Top Answer:We found the reduced power consumption with Nutanix Acropolis AOS a very attractive feature. We also like the interface that allows you to talk directly to your VM from the present software. We found… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    15,423
    Comparisons
    9,360
    Reviews
    16
    Average Words per Review
    625
    Rating
    8.5
    Views
    42,690
    Comparisons
    35,633
    Reviews
    57
    Average Words per Review
    415
    Rating
    8.9
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview
    Nutanix AHV is a secure, enterprise-grade solution for intuitive virtualization and container management. It streamlines operations and simplifies management for all your workloads and environments.

    VMware vSphere is a powerful and complete server virtualization platform that allows its users to create and manage virtual data centers and machines. VMware vSphere is designed to help IT departments set up and run applications using the most cost-effective computer resources. By using vSphere, organizations save the time and energy necessary for purchasing infrastructure and software and reduce ongoing maintenance and operational burdens on IT teams.

    Infrastructure administrators and network operators can access and manage the vSphere server by using a web-based cross-platform client application or via the vSphere client tool provided with vSphere. 

    VMware vSphere provides visibility into VMs and enables its users to carry out operations to manage VMs. This includes tasks such as:

    • Powering VMs on and off
    • Launching the VM console
    • Shutting down guest operating systems
    • Settings configurations
    • Taking system snapshots

    VMware vSphere Benefits

    Some of the benefits of using VMware vSphere include: 

    • Reduced costs: Since VMware applications are run on a server, it is not necessary to spend large amounts of your organization’s money on hardware, software, and infrastructure.
    • Increased productivity and customer satisfaction: VMware is able to operate multiple complex processes simultaneously. With all your applications being managed and run on the cloud, downtime, failures, and application errors are rare. VMware easily scales up and down to meet your computing needs. The high availability that VMware provides allows your IT staff to focus on other issues and keeps your customers satisfied with the service they receive.
    • Unlimited access to your VMs: VMware’s user-friendly cloud-based interface allows any employee to work from any location at any time.
    • Enhanced security: VMware’s security tools deliver full visibility into your entire system. This keeps your applications and data more secure, in any type of environment. VMware provides multiple protective tools including antiviruses and anti-malware, as well as backup and recovery services.

    VMware vSphere Features

    Below is a list of some of VMware vSphere’s key features:

    • Transferable virtual machine images: Export and import virtual machine images from your local environment. This gives users the ability to set up and configure their systems locally and only upload them to the server once everything is working properly. VM images can be moved back and forth between vendors, ensuring that your company is never tied up to a specific cloud vendor.
    • User-friendly interface: Using VMware’s intuitive console, you can easily create, manage, share, and deploy virtual machines.
    • API integration: VMware’s APIs support integration with third-party applications for data protection, multipathing, and disk array solutions.
    • Distributed power management: Automate efficiency by continuously optimizing server power consumption within each cluster.

    Reviews from Real Users

    VMware vSphere stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. A few major ones are its virtualization abilities, its flexibility and availability, and its user-friendly interface.

    Felix D., an Automation project administrator, DCS, I&E at Centennial Cayman Corp, writes, “The connectivity is fantastic, and many functions can run together in one server. If you need to scale, we can continue to add components or modules. It's a beautiful virtual solution that has many advantages over physical hardware, where you have to use devices and wiring to connect all your projects.”

    Offer
    Learn more about Nutanix AHV Virtualization
    Learn more about VMware vSphere
    Sample Customers
    JetBlue, International Speedway Corporation, SAIC Volkswagen
    Abu Dhabi Ports Company, ACS, AIA New Zealand, Consona, Corporate Express, CS Energy, and Digiweb.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company33%
    Financial Services Firm28%
    Retailer11%
    Educational Organization6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization28%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Government6%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Energy/Utilities Company10%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Retailer6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization26%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Government7%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise31%
    Large Enterprise36%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business18%
    Midsize Enterprise38%
    Large Enterprise44%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise24%
    Large Enterprise46%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business20%
    Midsize Enterprise34%
    Large Enterprise46%
    Buyer's Guide
    Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs. VMware vSphere
    September 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs. VMware vSphere and other solutions. Updated: September 2023.
    735,226 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Nutanix AHV Virtualization is ranked 6th in Server Virtualization Software with 22 reviews while VMware vSphere is ranked 2nd in Server Virtualization Software with 55 reviews. Nutanix AHV Virtualization is rated 8.6, while VMware vSphere is rated 9.0. The top reviewer of Nutanix AHV Virtualization writes "Lightweight, integrates well, and the technical support is responsive". On the other hand, the top reviewer of VMware vSphere writes "Strong performance, works well with large infrastructures but it is quite expensive". Nutanix AHV Virtualization is most compared with Proxmox VE, Hyper-V, KVM, Oracle VM and Citrix Hypervisor, whereas VMware vSphere is most compared with Hyper-V, Proxmox VE, VMware Workstation, Oracle VM and RHEV. See our Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs. VMware vSphere report.

    See our list of best Server Virtualization Software vendors.

    We monitor all Server Virtualization Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.