Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs VMware Horizon comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Sep 4, 2022

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and VMware Horizon based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users of both solutions say deployment is easy.
  • Features: Users of both products are happy with their stability and scalability.

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services users like the solution’s performance, its multi-screen feature and smooth connectivity, and that it is user-friendly. Reviewers say the solution could improve if it worked with other operating systems, and think it could benefit from an added notification feature.

    VMware Horizon users like that the solution is hyper-converged and like its flexibility and security. Users mention they have some issues with remote application features and that integration to the cloud could be more seamless.
  • Pricing: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services users share mixed reviews on the pricing. VMware Horizon users consider the solution to be very expensive.
  • Service and Support: Most Microsoft Remote Desktop Services users are satisfied with the technical support. VMware Horizon users express mixed reviews on the technical support they receive.

Comparison Results: Both solutions are easy to deploy and have good features. However, users of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are happier with the price and more satisfied with the technical support.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. VMware Horizon Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 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
"We use it to connect to the legacy system.""I give the stability a nine out of ten.""The most valuable part of RDS is that it allows you to work from any location and check the server through a VPN connection.""The installation of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services was easy.""The solution works on Microsoft servers.""The initial setup is not that difficult. I have gone through the RDS initialization steps, which only seem easy.""The most valuable feature of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is the ability to remote into a system that is not on-premises.""The solution is now stable."

More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Pros →

"The most valuable feature of VMware Horizon 7 is that it can be accessed anywhere in my internal network. It has a lot of flexibility.""We use VMware Horizon to provide remote access for remote users.""The thin image offers efficiency and stability for the system, which is not always available in other alternatives.""It offers great flexibility, allowing us to access it as a complete virtual machine or even just as individual applications.""The ease of deployment is one of the most valuable features. If I want to install something, I can have a test phase to see what sort of impact it will have and whether it will affect production. So I can install it on my lab, make sure it is okay, and if it is, I can deploy it directly to the users or to the staff.""The most valuable features of VMware Horizon in our education organization are its Graphics Virtualization Unit (GVU) integration.""The most valuable feature of this solution is secure remote access to resources.""One of the most interesting features in the enterprise version is the ability to do some support. There is a feature for remote control and debugging, which is something we didn't have before having Horizon 7 and the enterprise version."

More VMware Horizon Pros →

Cons
"Microsoft Remote Desktop Services could improve by having a better application for managing multiple sessions. There used to be one but they stopped supporting it.""Sometimes the server stops working, and we don’t know why. Occasionally we’ll get a message to the effect of "There is no remote license."""The DB card needs improvement. I have a lot of experience with other competitors and Citrix is better than VMware and Microsoft. Citrix has more extensive features.""I want to connect easily from an external network even when I'm not in my enterprise or company. It should be easy to connect or integrate Microsoft Teams, for example, with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services.""There are problems with using Microsoft Teams within a virtual desktop on a mobile device.""We'd like them to continue to improve on security.""The pricing could be better.""The initial setup of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is not the easiest. You need to have a certain understanding of how Microsoft is provisioning the solution to be able to set it up and use it."

More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Cons →

"Areas for improvement in VMware Horizon 7 would be the logging and the troubleshooting, e.g. they could be made clearer.""The multimedia playback is not very good and they could improve it by increasing the quality.""VMware Horizon's initial setup is fairly complex.""What I would like to see improved is not so much about the product. It's more about how to get information about products. It's always too much sales pitching and fancy works and stuff.""We have seen and face notable challenges in the configuration aspect specifically while creating and assigning groups which have proven to be a very cumbersome and tiring process. Apart from this the Reliance on the Active Directory as the only directory has its own limitation, which include the requirement to purchase a windows server for an environment outside the standard set up.""The majority of things in VMware Horizon can be done only in Windows and not in Linux. There are Linux customers who would like to use VMware Horizon's features.""The support team's technicalities and the pricing of the solution need improvement.""There is room for a more cost-effective pricing structure, as it could be more affordable."

More VMware Horizon Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The pricing is moderate."
  • "The solution has a perpetual license and it is purchased upfront."
  • "It will probably cost about $500 USD to get the resources set up in the cloud."
  • "Although not an expensive product, pricing is always something that can be improved."
  • "It's not an expensive solution."
  • "It's not an expensive product."
  • "Its licensing is on a yearly basis. We're on the educational or academic license, and our terms are good. We're very happy with the pricing."
  • "The pricing could always be improved."
  • More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Its cost is fair. You can go for a free trial, but for initializing a project, you need to purchase a license. There are different types of licenses."
  • "There are different editions available at different cost points."
  • "I don't know about the price. I know there are different tiers with the license, but I'm not sure exactly what it costs anymore."
  • "It is hard to know for sure. It is definitely in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. It is quite expensive, but you do save money on desktop power, desktop upgrades, etc. You're able to extend the useful life of your previous desktops. Previously, we used to change desktops regularly, and now we just change them when they break."
  • "The VMware Horizon 7 license is for three months. We are in the testing stage, we are still evaluating the product. We are sure now that we need to buy a license for the production environment."
  • "The license is very costly, as well as the renewal cost."
  • "We are happy with the price."
  • "The license for this product is paid on a monthly basis."
  • More VMware Horizon Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:VMware Workspace One has a powerful set of helpful features. The solution offers very good documentation, the initial setup is easy, and the product is very stable and reliable. I think the fact that… more »
    Top Answer:Its most valuable feature is the rapid and versatile access from clients operating on various Windows, Linux, and MacOS systems.
    Top Answer:Pricing for Horizon is relatively high, earning a rating of one out of ten.
    Ranking
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    9,813
    Comparisons
    8,606
    Reviews
    38
    Average Words per Review
    405
    Rating
    8.1
    Views
    5,717
    Comparisons
    4,787
    Reviews
    20
    Average Words per Review
    400
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Remote Desktop Services, MS Remote Desktop Services
    Learn More
    Overview

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is a highly regarded remote access tool in addition to being a top-ranked Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution in the marketplace today.

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a suite of valuable elements of the Windows operating system (OS) that serve specific desired objectives. Microsoft RDS integrates various features that allow approved users to gain access to graphical desktops and Windows applications remotely. Approved users are able to deploy applications or even a complete desktop without having to install anything on their devices. Everything remains in the cloud. This ensures that there are never any compatibility issues and keeps the organization's original network secure at all times. Administrators are also able to ensure that data cannot be stored in any unapproved location, such as the local device, unapproved drives, or any other location.

    Microsoft RDS makes it easy for business organizations to access Windows Desktops and other Windows applications remotely to ensure today’s busy enterprise organizations are able to maintain the highest levels of productivity at all times. There are two basic ways organizations can effectively utilize RDS.


    • Microsoft Remote Desktop Component: This allows users to connect with various alternate desktops from their current device. Once the user has gained a secure connection based on the approved administrative permissions, the user can seamlessly access and interact with the remote desktop. Users have the feeling of having this new virtual desktop installed directly on their machine.


    • RemoteApp: Users are able to easily access cloud-based applications via their own personal desktop computers or other approved mobile devices. This application ensures overall application management is centralized and consistent throughout the entire business enterprise.


    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Benefits

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has many benefits. Some of its most valuable benefits include:


    • Access Windows applications remotely from any device
    • Enhanced consistent application performance
    • Increased computing resources
    • Secure cloud-based data storage.
    • Streamlined management processes
    • Reduction in technical administrative resources
    • Reduction in hardware and device costs.
    • Improved employee productivity
    • Cost-effective
    • Improved Profitability
    • Reduce carbon footprint


    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services makes it easy for busy enterprise organizations to stay productive and remain competitive in today’s aggressive marketplace. An organization's end-users can be given access to their own specific desktops from any location, anytime, using any approved device. Additionally, users can access Microsoft applications without having an effect on their device's resource capacity or performance.

    Reviews from Real Users

    “What I found most valuable in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is accessibility because the solution lets you take control of your computer remotely, and that's a good feature.” Pascal B., IT consultant at Secoptrial

    “The most valuable features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are unification, central management, and accessibility.” Jan S. Solution Architect at a tech services company

    “The most valuable features are that it is fast and cost-effective. I am not aware of a replacement currently on the market.” Ramon H. Director at Empaco

    VMware Horizon is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution designed to allow users to create secure and scalable virtual desktops and applications that work on any device, from any location. These virtualization capabilities help simplify and speed up application delivery and greatly reduce enterprise costs.

    VMware Horizon’s centralized management console provides IT admins with comprehensive control over all of their virtual desktops and applications, making them simple to manage and secure. The solution enables using features such as identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, to ensure ultimate data protection.

    VMware Horizon benefits:


    Some of key the benefits of using VMware Horizon include:


    • Increased security: VMware Horizon includes multiple security features such as identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, to ensure a high level of security and data privacy.


    • Compliance: Meet regulatory and compliance requirements by providing users with secure and controlled access to data and applications.


    • Reduced costs: By using VMware Horizon, organizations can reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining physical desktops and applications, as well as reduce the costs associated with providing secure remote access to these resources.


    • Easy management: VMware Horizon provides IT administrators with a user-friendly centralized management system, making it easier and faster to manage and secure their virtual desktops and applications.


    • Enhanced user experience: Users are able to access their virtual desktops and applications from any device, and from any location. Work from any location, without being tied to a specific device or area.


    VMware Horizon features:


    Some of the top features of VMware Horizon include:


    • Virtual desktops: Create secure and scalable virtual desktops, with a choice of operating systems and settings.


    • Virtual applications: Create virtual applications that can be run from any device or operating system.


    • Central management: Control and manage virtual desktops and applications from a single pane of glass.

    • Quick duplications: Clone virtual machines and applications instantly.


    • Scalability: VMware Horizon can scale on demand to meet the needs of any business large or small.


    • Reporting and analytics: Gain insight into user activity and behavior with detailed analytics and reporting.


    • Security features and ID management: Ensure the security and privacy of data with a wide variety of security features, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, single sign-on (SSO), and network security.


    • Seamless integration: VMware Horizon integrates easily with other VMware solutions, including VMware vSphere, VMware NSX, and VMware Workspace ONE.


    Reviews from Real Users

    VMware Horizon stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Several major ones are its high performance, flexibility, and powerful virtualization capabilities.

    Natnael A., a consultant at IWM Network Solutions, writes, “The app virtualizing is a great feature. The system developers use it to deliver apps to targeted staff. It basically reduces the server infrastructure resource. The solution provides good functionality.”

    Rob M., a systems administrator at Saint Tammany Parish Hospital, says, “The solution has provided flexibility by allowing an end user to remote in, log in, and get their VM. VDI session and have all the icons and applications they need to use and retain the same booking view regardless of location.”

    Sample Customers
    Bank Alfalah Ltd.
    LCMC Health
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm17%
    Manufacturing Company12%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Healthcare Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company13%
    Government9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    REVIEWERS
    University20%
    Government15%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company13%
    Government11%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business47%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise32%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise58%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business51%
    Midsize Enterprise20%
    Large Enterprise29%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business20%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise64%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. VMware Horizon
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. VMware Horizon and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is ranked 1st in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with 69 reviews while VMware Horizon is ranked 4th in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with 33 reviews. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is rated 8.2, while VMware Horizon is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services writes "Easy to set up and reliable, but needs an additional control panel". On the other hand, the top reviewer of VMware Horizon writes "Compelling solution for virtual desktop infrastructure with advanced technology, straightforward licensing, easy setup, and seamless integration". Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is most compared with TeamViewer, VMware Workstation, Citrix Workspace, Parallels Access and Apache Guacamole, whereas VMware Horizon is most compared with VMware Workspace ONE, VMware Horizon View, VMware Player, VMware Horizon Cloud and VMware Workstation. See our Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. VMware Horizon report.

    See our list of best Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) vendors.

    We monitor all Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) 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.