Horizon Cloud Service Reviews

Name: Horizon Cloud Service
Brand: Omnissa
Rating: 4.1 (11 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

11 reviews
91% willing to recommend

What is Horizon Cloud Service?

The VMware Horizon Cloud Service delivers feature-rich virtual desktops and applications using a purpose-built cloud platform that is scalable across multiple deployment options, including fully managed infrastructure from VMware, public cloud infrastructure from Microsoft Azure, or on-premises hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI). The service supports a cloud-scale architecture that makes it easy to deliver virtualized Windows desktops and applications to any device, anytime. And, with a flexible subscription model and turnkey solutions, organizations can easily get up and running and scale quickly.

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Horizon Cloud Service is the #4 ranked solution in top Desktop as a Service vendors and #11 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions. PeerSpot users give Horizon Cloud Service an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Horizon Cloud Service is most commonly compared to VMware Workstation: Horizon Cloud Service vs VMware Workstation. Horizon Cloud Service is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 58% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 11% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Horizon Cloud Service

July 2025

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Featured Horizon Cloud Service reviews

SivaKuppala

Enterprise Architect at Wipro Limited

The cost of Horizon Cloud Service is high, however, it could be optimized. The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help. Improvements in application performance, especially for resource-heavy applications like intensive 3D workloads, are needed. More built-in automation for routine tasks like patching and upgrading could reduce administrative effort.

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Vaisakh Natesh M

Technical Lead at Senior Specialist

We use the product to automatically create an on-cloud machine for the end-users to work on daily activities The product’s on-premise version has the ability to create an image of any updates or changes in the system. We can upload that particular image in the virtual desktop infrastructure’s…

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Vaisakh Natesh M

Technical Lead at Senior Specialist

VMware Horizon Cloud is easy to use and the full development cloud is very good. The main features of VMware are included. It's a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure software that allows you to permit the virtual desktops and applications to any device from the single unified management control. These are managed from the dedicated remote session desktop. It is a multiple cloud deployment that provides flexibility. You can choose cloud capacity management by VMware or infrastructure management with Microsoft Azure. Advanced user configuration management through dynamic environment management is available. There are many self-serve options.

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Horizon Cloud Service mindshare

Product category:

As of July 2025, the mindshare of Horizon Cloud Service in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category stands at 1.3%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

PeerResearch reports based on Horizon Cloud Service reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)	Jul 20, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Horizon Cloud Service vs VMware Workstation	Jul 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Horizon Cloud Service vs VMware Fusion Pro	Jul 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Horizon Cloud Service vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	Jul 20, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Workstation	4.4	15.4%	93%	56 interviews Add to research
Workspace ONE UEM	4.1	2.4%	84%	101 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Horizon Cloud Service offers an experience akin to traditional desktops while supporting multiple monitors and remote access. Users highlight its advanced management capabilities like power management, scalability, and stability. Its cloud-based architecture provides deployment flexibility, centralized management, and cost efficiency without extensive upfront investment. The service's user-friendly interface enhances usability, and it supports hybrid environments. It allows VPN connections and effortless updates, leveraging VMware’s robust security for added protection.

"The main benefit of Horizon Cloud Service is that it is cloud-based, allowing our organization to leverage the service without having to manage all infrastructure directly."
"Horizon Cloud Service provides deployment flexibility across multiple clouds with a scalable architecture that easily scales virtual desktops and applications up or down based on demand."
"Horizon Cloud Service provides deployment flexibility across multiple clouds with a scalable architecture that easily scales virtual desktops and applications up or down based on demand."

Room for Improvement

Horizon Cloud Service's shortcomings include high cost, complex licensing, and issues with external connections like USBs. Workspace One access integration needs better emphasis. Improvements are needed in application remoting features and compatibility with older Windows versions. Performance for virtual machines, especially with intensive applications, should be enhanced. Logging processes and built-in automation for routine tasks need to be simplified. Numerous bugs and protocol improvements are necessary, along with better collaboration with hypervisors beyond ESX.

"The licensing model needs to be adjusted, as a cloud license is currently required even for on-premises devices."
"The cost of Horizon Cloud Service is high, however, it could be optimized. The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help."
"The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help."

Pricing

Horizon Cloud Service pricing is perceived as high compared to alternatives like Azure and Hyper-V. Some users find initial costs manageable, but expenses rise with scaling. The licensing structure is complex, with various tier levels. While some see Horizon Cloud as low-cost and compelling due to its consumption-based model, others mention its 30% higher cost than Azure. Despite this, certain users appreciate the ease of management and total cost of ownership for cloud integration.

"Initially, the product is cheap, but it starts to get expensive when users try to scale out."
"I rate VMware Horizon Cloud pricing a ten out of ten."
"VMware Horizon Cloud is an expensive solution. This solution is approximately 30 percent more than Microsoft Azure Cloud. There can be extra costs."

Popular Use Cases

Horizon Cloud Service's primary use case involves virtual desktop and application hosting across multiple clouds like Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS. Organizations utilize it for enabling remote work, supporting end-user computing, and managing virtual desktop infrastructure under various sectors, such as healthcare and aerospace. It allows on-prem interface integration into the cloud, offers burst capacity for peak periods, and ensures secure environments with scalable resources for efficient workload management.

Service and Support

Many users experience effective assistance through third-party providers, reducing direct interaction with VMware support. VMware's GSS is praised, but response times can vary. Technical support quality is noted as good, with some decline observed, yet improvements are also reported. Users mention prompt responses in Latin America, while others find it time-consuming. Ratings vary due to challenges in accessing expert support and a lack of global structure. Customer service interactions are described as friendly.

Deployment

Horizon Cloud Service’s initial setup is perceived as straightforward by many, with a simple cloud-based deployment that requires minimal input after initial consultation with VMware. Some find it complex, citing the need for a full-stack skill set for deployment. Setting up infrastructure is generally easy, though specific use case deployment may present challenges. Prerequisites such as an Azure subscription and specific permissions are needed. Installation can take between 24 to 48 hours.

Scalability

Horizon Cloud Service demonstrates impressive scalability, allowing users to adjust resources easily, often in real-time. Many appreciate its ability to handle thousands of users with minimal complexity. Despite some cost concerns associated with infrastructure elements, its core scalability receives high ratings. Users report seamless experiences involving hundreds of active users, praising its capacity to expand according to demand. Though compatibility with certain platforms may encounter limits, its flexible architecture remains a highlight for various organizations.

Stability

Horizon Cloud Service exhibits strong stability. Users seldom report downtime, and issues have been mostly associated with outdated versions. Once updated, performance improved significantly. A few users noted minor performance issues with VMs, though they still rated stability highly. Factors such as deployment model, configuration, maintenance, and tool integration influence their ratings, ranging from eight to nine. Many found Horizon Cloud Service stability satisfactory for their needs.

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

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