Microsoft App-V Reviews

Name: Microsoft App-V
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.3 (9 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

9 reviews
80% willing to recommend

What is Microsoft App-V?

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) enables you to make applications available to end users without installing the applications directly on end user computers. App-V transforms applications into centrally managed services that are never installed and don't conflict with other applications.

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Microsoft App-V is the #1 ranked solution in top Application Virtualization solutions. PeerSpot users give Microsoft App-V an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Microsoft App-V is most commonly compared to Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service): Microsoft App-V vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service). Microsoft App-V is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 862,452 peers since 2012

Featured Microsoft App-V reviews

Sorin Neacsu

Technical Lead on Virtual Desktop at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees

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. Additionally, this came free with an agreement with SCCM since it did not require any additional licenses; it was an add-on to SCCM when the enterprise acquired the solution. One of the latest releases allowed for easy publishing via SCCM, making it quite flexible and easy to maintain. Once you package one app, it can be delivered to many users, creating a win-win situation because if it was packed in a capsule, the interaction with the user was minimal. The users could not break the app or ask for support because there was no support; they simply had this app in a container that would function correctly, without altering the content. The downside is that not all software worked perfectly due to how they were written—as either machine or user context—which impacted how applications could be delivered. In a virtual environment with many users on the same machine, surprises could happen. I utilize the feature of Microsoft App-V for running multiple versions of applications concurrently, where they are pushed by SCCM. We can have different populations with different versions published simultaneously, either through SCCM or Microsoft App-V. However, I'm currently contemplating whether the enterprise I'm in still uses the old App-V infrastructure or if they have completely switched to SCCM packages, as they have multiple personnel for managing SCCM and only had three individuals for the Microsoft App-V infrastructure.

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Michael Baars

Owner at CoBSS

Microsoft App-V is a simple, very good working product that just works. It's starting to age, but it still is one of the better products available. The specific area of virtualization in Microsoft App-V keeps the application separate from the local OS without deploying unwanted files. I have utilized Microsoft App-V's feature for running multiple versions of an application concurrently. This capability helps when migrating from version one to version two of software, as it allows easily pointing the software to people who need the current or next version. It usually works seamlessly as long as there are no services involved. Using Microsoft App-V for virtual application distribution across a network has definitely helped customers with their business continuity plans. It works very stably, meaning that if there's an issue, things can be quickly switched around. It can be moved to a local system, to an end-user system, or used in VDI. If Microsoft App-V is working, it usually works in all systems, making it flexible. Even if there's an issue and the VDI environment is not working, it can easily be deployed to another environment or to the end user, and the customers can keep working with the application. From their standpoint, it is a very robust system. Microsoft App-V brings measurable benefits in terms of improvement in operational cost because it is a well-defined solution. There are many best practices available on how to use it. The costs of keeping it running are limited and easy to quantify. The system resources needed to keep it running and especially to make new ones are very limited, and as that is even starting to be phased out, it keeps the companies running without hidden costs.

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Francois Gotti

Senior Global Infrastructure Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

From the end-user perspective, maintenance is minimal, primarily for the infrastructure and application team. The cache must be cleared every time an application is updated, that is something that needs to happen at both the infrastructure and client side. In terms of pricing, I believe the model that some companies are adopting, which is based on user licensing, is problematic because the more users you have, the more you pay. A better approach might be to have a flat site or company-wide pricing structure, reducing the overall costs annually. Previously, with licensing, Microsoft App-V was difficult due to variable costs and specific licensing requirements, and many organizations, including ours, want a central management solution for application virtualization. However, we still have instances where we create master applications and install clients without robust virtualization. On a scale of one to ten, I rate Microsoft App-V a six.

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Microsoft App-V mindshare

As of July 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft App-V in the Application Virtualization category stands at 22.6%, down from 24.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Virtualization

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft App-V reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Virtualization	Jul 18, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft App-V vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	Jul 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft App-V vs Microsoft Virtual Server	Jul 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft App-V vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	Jul 18, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	4.2	27.9%	92%	126 interviews Add to research
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	4.4	17.4%	96%	25 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft App-V excels in fast deployment, centralized management, and seamless application updates. It supports legacy software, auto-backups, and eliminates local installs, reducing conflicts. Its virtualization keeps apps separate, allowing concurrent version use. Renowned for user-friendly features and high performance, it significantly cuts time by 40-45% and improves operational costs. Apps follow users across devices, providing flexibility in virtual environments. Microsoft App-V integrates efficiently with SCCM for streamlined application publishing.

"Microsoft App-V is a simple, very good working product that just works."
"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."
"From my experience with Microsoft App-V, the feature I liked the most is the streaming."

Room for Improvement

Challenges with Microsoft App-V include the discontinuation plan by 2026, lack of integration with cybersecurity tools, and issues with package management, notably publishing different shortcuts to multiple groups within the same package. Reporting features and synchronization need enhancement. Users encounter delays and troubleshooting setbacks. The shift to MSIX lacks support for older software. Cloud server resources and Azure deployment would aid in adapting to newer operating systems.

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

Pricing

Microsoft App-V is considered competitive, particularly when bundled with Microsoft Office 365. Enterprises find that while the product itself is free, the associated Microsoft licenses incur costs. Some perceive it as more expensive than other platforms, nearly twice the price, and rate it high on the cost scale. Users suggest that flexible pricing could better accommodate diverse budgets and help retain customers.

"Clients do not pay licensing fees."
"The pricing of this product is competitive."

Popular Use Cases

Microsoft App-V is primarily used for deploying applications quickly and securely, often in isolated containers. It facilitates application deployment on Windows by associating users' accounts with devices, enhancing process efficiency. Organizations also use it for legacy support and managing older software compatibility. Despite its benefits, challenges with infrastructure and evolving technology push some entities to consider alternatives like FlexApp due to cost and complexity. App-V use often involves substantial management and integration with other technologies.

Service and Support

Microsoft's customer service is often praised for being available 24/7 and resolving issues efficiently within a day. Many find the technical interaction pleasant, quick, and knowledgeable. However, some entities note the high cost of obtaining support contracts and limitations from partner services. Support quality varies, with concerns about prioritization for paying customers. Some have chosen alternative options, finding other platforms superior.

Deployment

Microsoft App-V's initial setup varies by infrastructure complexity. Installation on Windows 10 clients is simple; server-side setup involves configurations and can take five to six hours or up to a month with load balancers. Deployment is quick with potential business impact. Previous challenges with SoftGrid included complex tasks, but now 99% of cases require minimal modules, using file shares, agents, and scripts. SCCM is preferred for application distribution as it's more convenient.

Scalability

Microsoft App-V is highly scalable, supporting thousands of users efficiently. Enterprises appreciate its seamless integration and ease of maintenance, with no major restrictions under appropriate planning. Challenges may arise from storage limitations and network connectivity when accessing applications from diverse locations. Shared content mode could encounter bottlenecks unless local deployment features with a streaming server are utilized. Generally, scalability suits businesses of various sizes without significant constraints, aiding in rapid application deployment.

Stability

Users find Microsoft App-V mostly stable for enterprise environments, though it may require initial adjustments due to software issues. Some report bugs and breakdowns linked to design and infrastructure, especially with network or storage problems. Although integration can be unstable with multiple plug-ins, once configured, it remains stable unless affected by updates. MSIX might replace it in the future. Despite challenges, customers appreciate Microsoft's responsive support when issues occur.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft App-V Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.