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Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX comparison

Nutanix and Broadcom are both solutions in the Microsegmentation Software category. Nutanix is ranked #5 with an average rating of 9.7, while Broadcom is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.9. Nutanix holds a 5.8% mindshare in MS, compared to Broadcom’s 16.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Nutanix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.
Nutanix Flow Network Security
Read 9 Nutanix Flow Network Security reviews
  • 1,576 Views
  • 1,497 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
VMware NSX
Read 106 VMware NSX reviews
  • 6,667 Views
  • 3,800 Comparison Views
88% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

VMware NSX and Nutanix Flow compete in the network security solutions category. VMware NSX stands out for its extensiveness and automation, making it favorable for tech buyers seeking comprehensive features. Nutanix Flow, however, is valued for its cost-effectiveness and easy deployment, appealing to those in need of straightforward security solutions.

Features: VMware NSX offers comprehensive security features, including micro-segmentation, extensive automation, and flexible network integration, fostering suitability for complex environments. Nutanix Flow provides simple and effective security measures that are easy to manage, suitable for users seeking straightforward solutions with a focus on ease of use and core functionalities.

Room for Improvement: VMware NSX could enhance encapsulation technology and simplify upgrades to tackle deployment speed issues. It would benefit from advanced routing protocols and improved cloud integration. Nutanix Flow needs improved documentation clarity and a better graphical interface while maintaining its robust core features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware NSX supports various cloud environments, adding complexity, but benefits from strong customer service with global variance in technical support. Nutanix Flow is easier to deploy and manage, noted for seamless technical support and a clear customer response strategy.

Pricing and ROI: VMware NSX is seen as expensive but justified by its robust capabilities and potential ROI through reduced network overhead and security enhancements. Nutanix Flow offers competitive pricing with subscription-based plans, providing a cost-effective solution appealing to small to medium-sized businesses looking for a balance between functionality and affordability.

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To learn more, read our detailed Nutanix Flow Network Security vs. VMware NSX Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Nutanix Flow Network Security vs. VMware NSX
September 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

Nutanix Flow Network Security
Ranking in Microsegmentation Software
5th
Average Rating
9.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
VMware NSX
Ranking in Microsegmentation Software
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
106
Ranking in other categories
Network Virtualization (2nd), Cloud and Data Center Security (3rd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (7th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (9th), Network Automation (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Microsegmentation Software category, the mindshare of Nutanix Flow Network Security is 5.8%, down from 7.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware NSX is 16.0%, down from 20.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Microsegmentation Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
VMware NSX16.0%
Nutanix Flow Network Security5.8%
Other78.2%
Microsegmentation Software
 

Featured Reviews

Gus Thompson - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers great integration capabilities and helps design a disaster recovery plan
My company is still determining how the product has improved network visibility. My organization is still actively developing the product. There are many things my company is doing in the background to make sure that our VMs come up. My company deals with Nutanix Cross Hypervisor Disaster Recovery, so we are moving from an ESXi or VMware to Nutanix AHV, meaning that my company is crossing over from hypervisor technologies and leveraging Nutanix to maintain the networks at our DR facility. The most valuable feature of the product in enhancing the security posture stems from the micro-segmentation provided by the product, but I think that it is a functionality in its early stages. The product's micro-segmentation features are being developed to be made robust against technologies such as NSX from VMware and other hypervisor-dependent technologies such as Guardicore. I can't say that the product has given my company any additional features yet, but we hope that the tool will provide us with additional functionalities in the future. The product's micro-segmentation features seem to be on par with the other technologies in the market when it comes to its ability to isolate workloads. I haven't noticed any improvements in my company due to the automation capabilities of the product, especially since everything is done manually in our organization because we know the application very well, and we also know how we want to protect it. I am sure the product has automatic features, but we haven't used them in our company. There has been a positive impact due to the integration capabilities of the product with the other solutions in our company's IT infrastructure. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it, especially those who use Nutanix AHV as a hypervisor. It would be a good choice to work with the account rep in your company so that you can get a system engineer to help you walk through the majority of the deployment and setup phases since the documentation has certain shortcomings. I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.
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TAIYAB HASAN - PeerSpot reviewer
Has improved network visibility and security through micro-segmentation and SDN capabilities
This feature gives us flexibility and allows us to manage everything under one pane. We can see everything on one console, including network operations and behavior. Monitoring and security are among the best features for VMware NSX. For micro-segmentation, it's integrated with our endpoint security. If there are any issues with servers or VMs, it notifies us so we can isolate the servers and investigate. It provides distributed security features such as firewall and intrusion, IDS, IPS. The security level with IPS and IDS in VMware NSX is excellent. It also provides logical switching and routing which gives an extra layer for Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching requirements. The solution provides flexibility, automation, and self-service capabilities, resulting in cost savings as extensive expertise isn't required. Once automation and self-service are implemented, many tasks can be completed automatically. Load balancing is another excellent feature. Multiple servers can run on load balancing features, which is particularly useful since we have many application servers running. Sharing loads between servers provides the best performance.
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

"Nutanix Flow is straightforward to install. You only need to select a checkmark that you want to enable Nutanix Flow."
"It allows for policies that enable complete visibility and traffic control."
"We appreciate the fact that this solution allows us to segregate two virtual machines that are in the same cluster."
"It is a very stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"Flow Network Security's most valuable features are user-friendliness, the console, and policy creation."
"Nutanix Flow has a lot of data protection features. It's also valuable for operations and management. It's a big solution that works well with different solutions and is suitable for most business cases."
"Nutanix Flow Network Security is a simple solution that is usable, easy to understand, and easy to deploy."
"They also introduced that they develop API first and the rest follows."
More Nutanix Flow Network Security pros
"It does have capabilities of micro-segmenting a network, being able to create smaller segments of various types of applications separated by various tiers."
"It operates on a logical level, providing a comprehensive and centralized way to manage your network resources."
"The most valuable features of VMware NSX are the tight integration with the VMware Hypervisor natively and the management console. We have a lot of other integrations where you are able to see the virtual machine's end-to-end visibility."
"The initial setup is easy and takes between one and five days."
"The most valuable feature of VMware NSX is the load balancing and routing of firewall rules. Many of the features are beneficial."
"The stability is great. That's one of the things that we can quantify and leverage through NSX, because it's less complex. We have the availability to manage multiple things at the same time. You can identify problems before they manifest."
"It is easy to implement it."
"NSX's stand-out function is the distributed firewall. The firewall system is just top-notch, and I haven't seen another solution like it."
More VMware NSX pros
 

Cons

"Nutanix Flow's networking features could use some improvement. Also, I don't know if it's currently supporting load balancing or not."
"The documentation offered by the product is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are required."
"While the graphical interface of Nutanix Flow Network Security could have been improved, and some of the reporting features needed extra work, the product's features were similar to VMware's NSX. The difference lay more in the presentation and user interface."
"For customers who are running Nutanix Flow and AHV, the largest area for improvement is in the disaster recovery environments. To automate the populate of rules from one side to the other side in case of disaster you report everything on the disaster recovery site, and you have all the rules automatically applied. This was something that was being built when I left Nutanix. It might already be available. Additionally, the usability of the rules editor could improve."
"We would like the reporting functionality of this solution to be improved."
"The most difficult part is the configuration of the initial blueprints."
"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"I would rate Flow Network Security's stability seven out of ten - it could be improved."
More Nutanix Flow Network Security cons
"Some configuration maximums are limiting to the user, especially when it comes to the deployment of very, very large environments."
"I would like to see automation capabilities in the deployment process."
"Nowadays, NSX supports the KVM and ESXi hypervisors only. It should also support Hyper-V and Citrix hypervisors."
"The tool's setup is complex and we need support to implement it."
"There is room for improvement in VMware NSX's workload management, particularly in the orchestration layer and in managing workloads across multiple clouds."
"It was stable for one year, there was no impact. In the last two months, we had two big incidents."
"It could be cheaper!"
"Everybody needs a network to connect to, and VMware doesn't readily provide one."
More VMware NSX cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In comparison to other options available in the market, I would rate their pricing as very competitive, probably a two or three out of ten for cost."
"The product is available for free use."
"There are different licensing models."
"This model is very accessible to implement."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."
"There is an annual subscription to use this solution. There is a 60-day trial to use the solution, it gives you time to decide if you want to continue using the solution."
"Flow Network Security is available on a three-year license, with annual renewals of the maintenance fee."
"The price of VMware NSX is optimal. Additionally, the price of the solution can be negotiated with the vendor. Many areas of the solution can impact the cost, such as features, time for onboarding, and support needed."
"If five is a good price and one is a high price, I would rate the price a one out of five."
"It is an expensive product, but cheaper than some competing solutions."
"The solution is reasonable at the local level."
"I'm unable to give information on the pricing or licensing cost of VMware NSX because I've never been someone who looks into the economic part of any security or virtualization solutions. That's handled by an entirely different team, and I don't even have the slightest idea about the costs associated with the solution, though I've heard pricing for VMware NSX is on the higher side."
"The pricing model for VMware NSX is good."
"The price is based on the virtual desktop infrastructure(VDI) side and also is dependant on the size of the environment. The price is expensive and it could attract more purchasers in smaller organisations if it was reduced."
"The cost of the solution is a bit high."
More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Healthcare Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business33
Midsize Enterprise23
Large Enterprise69
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Nutanix Flow?
Nutanix Flow Network Security is a simple solution that is usable, easy to understand, and easy to deploy.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Nutanix Flow?
There are different models like Nutanix AOS Pro or Ultimate license. The prices are different, but it's not in the same price range as Cisco ACI, for example.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Nutanix Flow?
Last time I used it, it was not handy to see or to analyze traffic logs. As a Check Point partner as well, we have some more expectations to log in. Probably, it's possible to forward all the traff...
See all answers
What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?
There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...
See all answers
What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?
Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...
See all answers
What do you like most about VMware NSX?
The product has valuable features for security and network extension.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Illumio vs Nutanix Flow Network Security Logo
Illumio vs Nutanix Flow Network Security
Compared 10% of the time
Cisco Secure Workload vs Nutanix Flow Network Security Logo
Cisco Secure Workload vs Nutanix Flow Network Security
Compared 4% of the time
More Nutanix Flow Network Security Competitors
Illumio vs VMware NSX Logo
Illumio vs VMware NSX
Compared 18% of the time
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX Logo
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX
Compared 14% of the time
Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX Logo
Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX
Compared 8% of the time
Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX Logo
Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX
Compared 6% of the time
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs VMware NSX Logo
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs VMware NSX
Compared 3% of the time
More VMware NSX Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Nutanix Flow Network Security
September 2025
Nutanix Flow Network Security reportDownload Nutanix Flow Network Security product report
Buyer's Guide
VMware NSX
September 2025
VMware NSX reportDownload VMware NSX product report
 

Also Known As

Nutanix Flow Microsegmentation
VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender
 

Overview

Flow Network Security is a stateful, distributed, microsegmentation firewall. It is provided as part of NCI Ultimate or as part of the optional Security Add-On package for NCI Pro.
Nutanix

VMware NSX is a comprehensive tool for network virtualization and security, offering advanced features like micro-segmentation and multi-cloud networking to enhance scalability and management efficiency within enterprises.

VMware NSX revolutionizes enterprise networking by integrating security and scalability into one streamlined platform. With capabilities like dynamic policy updates and automation, it simplifies complex configurations and provides robust API integration. Its support for Layer 4 and 7 load balancing, along with its seamless integration in multi-cloud environments, makes it a preferred choice among companies. Although deployment speed and management console features require refinement, NSX is an effective solution for private cloud and hybrid environments, enabling centralized orchestration and management of complex networks.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?

  • Micro-segmentation: Provides secure, granular network segmentation for enhanced security.
  • Distributed Firewall: Offers policy-driven firewall capabilities across all network endpoints.
  • Automation: Enables dynamic policy updates and simplifies network configurations.
  • API Integration: Facilitates seamless third-party integrations and improves configuration processes.
  • Multi-Cloud Networking: Supports seamless integration across various cloud environments.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

  • Scalability: Offers significant improvements in network scalability and management efficiency.
  • Security: Ensures enhanced security through advanced features like micro-segmentation.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Potential to reduce costs through network automation and efficiency improvements.
  • Flexibility: Supports various enterprise requirements with its comprehensive feature set.

In the tech industry, VMware NSX is instrumental in managing private and hybrid cloud environments, allowing companies to replace traditional networking with software-defined networks. In finance, it helps secure transactional data through micro-segmentation. Healthcare organizations leverage its flexibility for managing sensitive patient information securely and integrating cloud services.

Broadcom
 

Sample Customers

JetBlue, International Speedway Corporation, Volkswagen SAIC, Brighton and Hove City Council, Foresters Financial, Janus International Group, Cloud Comrade, Serco
City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis
Buyer's Guide
Nutanix Flow Network Security vs. VMware NSX
September 2025
Free Report: Nutanix Flow Network Security vs. VMware NSX
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