5 VMware Alternatives for Desktop Virtualization
Desktop virtualization is a technology that enables enterprises to host many virtual desktops on a single physical device, thereby granting employees access to their work environment from anywhere and on any device. This technology reduces the cost of hardware and software maintenance, improves data security, and boosts staff productivity.
And if you’re one of the many businesses looking into Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) or Desktop as a Service (DaaS) solutions, it’s almost impossible that you haven’t yet heard of VMware.
The widespread adoption of virtualization technology has enabled organizations to increase their operational efficiency and reduce IT costs. Desktop virtualization, in particular, is a powerful tool for organizations to access applications and data from any device, anywhere. While VMware is the popular choice for desktop virtualization, there are a number of other solutions available on the market.
In this article, we will discuss five alternatives to VMware for desktop virtualization that organizations can implement to meet their business needs.
What is VMware?
Since its inception in 1998, VMware has been a market leader in virtualisation. They provide a range of virtualisation technologies for servers, desktops, applications, and numerous cloud management services.
However, we advise customers in the market for software to carefully consider multiple options for their organisation. While VMware is a virtualisation industry titan and, according to users, offers a reasonably high-quality solution, it may not be the greatest choice for your firm. In either case, you will not know until you investigate some alternative products on the market.
What are some alternatives to VMware for virtual desktops?
To assist you in narrowing down your choice of desktop virtualisation software candidates, I researched a few VMware competitors. The top five choices I discovered are listed alphabetically. Additionally, if this selection does not satisfy your needs, you may always browse our virtualisation directory for additional possibilities.
5 VMware Alternatives
1. Dizzion
Cost: Dizzion doesn’t list its pricing but does offer a calculator for those considering its services.
Image source: Dizzion
Depending on your requirements, Dizzion can deliver desktop as a service (DaaS) completely in the cloud, as a hybrid solution, or on-premises. Choose from over 100 different user permissions to guarantee that your staff access the applications and functionalities they require while restricting access to more sensitive data. Additionally, they guarantee 99.99 per cent uptime, with virtual desktops capable of delivering 250 to 500 IOPS.
Best for Medium and enterprise businesses looking for larger deployments.
2. LISTEQ
Cost: LISTEQ does not list their pricing. However, they do note that, with their pricing model, you’ll only pay for the services and devices you actively use.
Image source: LISTEQ
If your office encourages working from home or has a BYOD policy, then you might want to check out LISTEQ. It’s specifically geared to function with this increasingly popular trend, offering mobile-compatible virtual machines (VMs).
LISTEQ can support VMs running on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, and DOS. Its native hypervisor is Oracle VM VirtualBox, and it works with any x86-compatible server.
Best for: Organisations that encourage remote work or allow employees to use their own devices to complete work tasks or access company information.
3. Paperspace
Cost: Paperspace offers hourly, monthly, and annual pricing models. Its monthly options start at $15 per month for lightweight machines for personal use. Their more powerful VMs range anywhere from $25 per month all the way up to almost $800 per month, depending on what you need to use them for.
Image source: Paperspace
Established in 2014, Paperspace is a cloud-based platform created explicitly with current cloud computing in mind. It is entirely hosted in the cloud, but it can also connect to on-premise or third-party servers. Their virtual machines (VMs) are web-native and offer an auto-update feature. The equipment you choose for your staff will allow them to run high-quality 3D applications and videos, depending on their capabilities.
Plus, if you’re a gamer outside of your 9-to-5 and want a high-quality PC without paying the high price, Paperspace offers pricing options for personal use.
Best for: Organisations whose employees need access to programs that can display high-quality graphics.
4. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a virtualization system that enables organisations to provide virtual desktops and applications to employees on any device, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. This solution offers a secure, scalable, and versatile platform for providing virtual desktops and apps to remote and mobile employees.
Parallels RAS interacts with a variety of virtualization platforms, including VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Amazon Web Services, making it an excellent option for businesses with a diverse virtualization environment. In addition, the platform has a user-friendly interface and an extensive selection of administration and security features, making it simple to set up and administer.
5. vSpace
Cost: vSpace does not list its pricing.
Image source: vSpace
vSpace is specifically designed for companies that want the advantages of a virtual environment but don’t have the budget or IT infrastructure to deal with the complexities of a virtual desktop environment. Their solution supports up to 100 users.
To invest in vSpace, you also have to invest in their servers. In addition, their solution only runs on Windows, although they’re currently working on compatibility with iOS and Android. But if your users only operate on Windows PCs, this lack of flexibility might not be an issue for you.
Best for: Smaller organisations with tight budgets or small IT departments.
Will a VMware alternative cut it for your business?
After reviewing this list, you may have discovered a VMware option that can assist your firm in reducing costs while increasing security. Alternatively, you may have gone through this list once again and determined that VMware is, in fact, the best choice for your firm at this time.
You should always try out a few different options before deciding which programme to purchase. To explore what their competitors are up to and what they might be able to offer your company, take advantage of a demo or free trial of one of these VMware alternatives. In addition, if you are aware of any other desktop virtualisation solutions that could compete with VMware, please let me know in the comments section below.
