Citrix vs VMware Horizon: Which enterprise VDI platform is best for you?  

The enterprise VDI market has reached an inflection point.

Between Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, big licensing changes across the industry, and the push towards cloud-native solutions, IT leaders are taking a hard look at their virtual desktop infrastructure choices.

The two names that dominate the conversation are Citrix and VMware Horizon, each around for decades and having millions of users worldwide.

In this article, we’ll compare Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops with VMware Horizon, two mature platforms that offer desktop virtualisation from different angles. We’ll look at their strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision between the two.

Let’s clarify something important. VMware Horizon technically became Omnissa Horizon in May 2024 following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and the following spin-off of their End-User Computing division. However, the product is still basically the same, and most people still refer to it as “VMware Horizon.” So that’s what we’ll call it throughout this article.

Just remember that if you’re speaking with vendors or reviewing current documentation, you’ll see it branded as Omnissa Horizon. Same product, same capabilities, new brand.

With that sorted, let’s explore how these two VDI giants stack up against each other.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop) is a platform for delivering virtual applications and desktops to any device, anywhere. It’s been a cornerstone of enterprise IT for over three decades, going from simple application publishing to a full-featured VDI and app virtualisation solution.

It’s a flexible platform, giving you both cloud and on-prem deployment options through Citrix Cloud and traditional infrastructure. Its HDX protocol is renowned for delivering high-definition user experiences even over patchy network connections, so it’s well-suited for global deployments. Citrix supports published applications, pooled desktops, persistent VDI, and everything in between.

Citrix has a strong focus on the complete digital workspace. Beyond just desktops, it provides policy management, detailed analytics through Citrix Analytics, and solid integration with Citrix ADC (formerly NetScaler) for secure access.

VMware Horizon (now known as Omnissa Horizon) takes a somewhat different approach to enterprise VDI, though it shares many fundamental capabilities with Citrix. Like Citrix, it delivers virtual desktops and applications to any device, but it does so with tighter integration into VMware’s virtualisation stack rather than the platform-agnostic approach Citrix favours.

Built on VMware’s vSphere foundation, Horizon offers both on-premises and cloud deployment through Horizon Cloud. Where Citrix promotes flexibility across any infrastructure, VMware Horizon works best within the VMware ecosystem. The platform uses its proprietary Blast Extreme protocol rather than Citrix’s HDX, delivering solid performance though perhaps without the same level of WAN optimisation that’s made HDX famous.

VMware Horizon supports the expected enterprise features: persistent and non-persistent desktops, published applications, and GPU acceleration. The platform’s real selling point lies in its integration with vSphere, vSAN, and NSX, creating a unified stack that simplifies management for those that are already invested in VMware infrastructure.

While we’re looking at VDI capabilities, it’s worth understanding the wider ecosystems these platforms inhabit, as they can significantly influence your decision.

Citrix’s broader ecosystem goes well beyond virtual desktops. Citrix ADC (Application Delivery Controller, formerly NetScaler) provides load balancing, web application firewall capabilities, and SSL VPN functionality. There’s also XenServer (formerly Citrix Hypervisor), though it’s less prominent in Citrix deployments today, with most firms using VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or cloud platforms as their underlying infrastructure. This ecosystem approach means Citrix can handle everything from application delivery to network optimisation, though it also means potentially managing multiple products.

VMware’s platform gives you some major integration advantages if you’re already invested in their stack. Running Horizon on vSphere with vSAN storage and NSX networking creates a tightly integrated environment where everything works together nicely. This integration extends to operations with vRealize Suite and security with Carbon Black. However, this same integration can feel like vendor lock-in if you’re trying to maintain flexibility.

The hypervisor comparison is interesting but increasingly less relevant. While XenServer exists (formerly Citrix Hypervisor), most Citrix deployments today run on VMware vSphere, making the hypervisor battle somewhat moot. The real differentiation lies in the VDI platforms themselves and how they deliver desktops and applications to users.

Cost and licensing

Citrix is now firmly steering customers towards subscription-based licensing through Citrix Cloud. While this shift has simplified things in some areas, it’s also changed how costs stack up. The traditional per-user, per-device, or concurrent models still exist, but the focus is now on cloud subscriptions that bundle features together. It’s tidier overall, but once you start adding extras like analytics and performance management, costs can climb quickly. Many organisations still find themselves needing Premium-level subscriptions for enterprise functionality, which can increase total costs considerably.

VMware Horizon follows a more straightforward per-user or per-device model, though recent changes under Omnissa ownership have maintained similar structures. The initial investment includes not just Horizon licenses but potentially vSphere, vCenter, and other infrastructure components if you’re building from scratch. While simpler than Citrix’s model, the total cost of ownership can still be substantial, particularly after those controversial price increases following the Broadcom acquisition.

Performance and user experience

Citrix HDX protocol is widely regarded as the gold standard for remote display protocols. It excels in challenging network conditions, with adaptive technologies that maintain usability even over high-latency, low-bandwidth connections. The protocol includes specific optimisations for Microsoft Teams, multimedia redirection, and browser content redirection. Graphics acceleration through GPU pass-through and vGPU support ensures even demanding applications run smoothly.

VMware Horizon’s Blast Extreme protocol has caught up considerably in recent years. It delivers really strong performance, particularly in LAN environments and when bandwidth isn’t constrained. The protocol adapts well to varying conditions and includes its own Teams optimisation. Where Horizon sometimes lags is under poor network conditions (this is where HDX’s maturity might give it the edge). That said, for most enterprise scenarios, users would be hard-pressed to notice significant differences.

Security features

Citrix has a comprehensive security range with multiple layers. Citrix ADC acts as a secure gateway, giving you SSL VPN functionality and stopping your infrastructure being directly exposed. The platform includes strong policy controls, watermarking capabilities, screen recording restrictions, and session recording for compliance. Integration with Citrix Analytics for Security adds behavioural analytics and threat detection. SmartAccess provides contextual access control based on device, location, and other factors.

VMware Horizon also has strong security features including multi-factor authentication, smart card support, and USB redirection policies. Integration with NSX lets you enable micro-segmentation at the network level, while Workspace ONE UEM integration provides device trust and conditional access. True SSO eliminates password exposure to virtual desktops. The platform benefits from VMware’s broader security portfolio, including Carbon Black for endpoint protection, though these do need additional licensing.

Scalability and architecture

Citrix architecture is designed for massive scale, with documented deployments supporting hundreds of thousands of users. The multi-site architecture through Citrix Cloud or Global Server Load Balancing makes it particularly suitable for global deployments. Zone architecture allows for distributed management while maintaining central control. The platform’s ability to scale both horizontally and vertically, combined with sophisticated load balancing through Citrix ADC, ensures consistent performance at scale.

VMware Horizon scales well for most enterprise needs, with pod architectures supporting up to 250,000 users per pod through Cloud Pod Architecture. The platform handles growth predictably, though scaling needs careful planning around infrastructure capacity. Instant clones dramatically reduce storage requirements and provisioning time for non-persistent desktops. While it might not match Citrix’s extreme scale, Horizon comfortably handles the vast majority of enterprise requirements.

Management and complexity

Citrix management involves multiple components: Studio for configuration, Director for monitoring, and potentially Cloud services for modern management. While it is powerful, the learning curve is steep. It has extensive PowerShell support for automation and detailed policies for granular control. Citrix’s approach provides incredible flexibility but needs serious expertise to make use of fully. Many companies find they need dedicated Citrix specialists to manage the environment effectively.

VMware Horizon consolidates all its management through Horizon Console, with additional capabilities in vCenter for infrastructure management. The interface is comprehensive but can be overwhelming for newbies. While it’s somewhat simpler than Citrix’s multi-component approach, it still takes a fair bit of expertise. Integration with vRealize Operations provides advanced monitoring and analytics, though this adds another layer of complexity and cost.

Application delivery

Citrix does really well in the flexibility of its application delivery. Published applications can be delivered simply to any device without full desktop overhead. App Layering allows for modular app management, while application isolation prevents conflicts. The platform’s ability to deliver applications into existing desktops (whether physical or virtual) is a strong point. Global App Configuration Service simplifies application settings management across environments.

VMware Horizon supports published applications through Horizon Apps, though it’s generally considered less flexible than Citrix’s approach. App Volumes gives you application layering capabilities similar to Citrix, allowing for dynamic application delivery. The platform works best for full desktop delivery, with application publishing feeling somewhat like an add-on rather than a core strength. Instant clones work brilliantly for non-persistent desktops but don’t address the application management challenge as elegantly as Citrix.

Citrix has earned its reputation as a Swiss Army knife of VDI platforms, with really strong flexibility and capability. But the trade-off for this power is its complexity: something not every firm needs (or can manage effectively).

VMware Horizon has a bit more of a focused approach to VDI, with tight integration into the VMware ecosystem being both its greatest strength and potential limitation.

Global enterprises with distributed workforces find Citrix’s WAN optimisation and multi-site capabilities very helpful indeed. When you’re supporting users across continents with varying network quality, HDX protocol’s ability to maintain performance makes the difference between enjoyment and annoyance.

Application-centric deployments benefit enormously from Citrix’s published app capabilities. If your primary need is delivering specific applications rather than full desktops, Citrix’s flexibility is what you need. The ability to publish applications to physical PCs, virtual desktops, or as standalone apps provides options other platforms can’t match.

Mixed device environments are where Citrix does well. Supporting everything from thin clients to tablets to BYOD scenarios with consistent policy application and user experience is Citrix’s forte. The platform’s client support across virtually every operating system and device type means that nobody’s left out.

High-security requirements align well with Citrix’s strong security features. Financial services, healthcare, and government organisations will appreciate it’s contextual access controls, session recording capabilities, and integrated ADC functionality.

Complex application landscapes with legacy applications, conflicting software requirements, and diverse user needs benefit from Citrix’s layering technologies and isolation capabilities. When you need to deliver incompatible applications to the same users or maintain multiple versions of software, Citrix is generally a good way to do it.

VMware-invested organisations find Horizon a natural extension of their existing infrastructure. If you’re already running vSphere, vSAN, and NSX, adding Horizon means you make use of existing expertise for a unified support experience. The integrated stack simplifies troubleshooting and reduces vendor management overhead.

Full desktop VDI deployments work brilliantly with Horizon, especially when using instant clones for non-persistent desktops. If your primary use case is delivering standardised Windows desktops to users, Horizon’s approach is efficient and effective.

Graphics-intensive workloads perform really well on Horizon, particularly when using NVIDIA vGPU technology. Designers using CAD software and video editors benefit from Horizon’s graphics acceleration capabilities (and the tight integration with vSphere’s GPU management.)

Simplified management requirements tend to like Horizon’s more consolidated approach. While still complex, many IT pros find Horizon’s single-console management more approachable than Citrix’s multi-component architecture. For teams without deep VDI expertise, this relative simplicity is definitely a bonus.

On-prem focused deployments are a good match for Horizon’s strengths. While Horizon Cloud exists, the platform feels most at home in traditional data centre deployments where you have full control over the infrastructure.

For organisations considering Azure deployments, both platforms offer distinct integration paths.

Citrix takes a flexible, cloud-agnostic approach. You can either integrate deeply with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), managing native AVD environments through Citrix Cloud with enhanced features and monitoring. Or you can deploy traditional Citrix infrastructure on Azure IaaS virtual machines. Citrix DaaS provides a fully managed option. This flexibility supports genuine multi-cloud strategies, though it adds complexity to your overall architecture.

VMware Horizon offers two main Azure paths. Horizon Cloud on Azure deploys VMware infrastructure as a managed service within your Azure subscription. More compellingly, VMware Horizon works with Azure VMware Solution (AVS), which runs the full VMware stack (vSphere, vSAN, NSX) as a native Azure service. For VMware-invested organisations, AVS enables a “lift and shift” to Azure whilst maintaining existing tools and expertise. The trade-off is tighter ecosystem lock-in compared to Citrix’s multi-cloud flexibility.

Both platforms support hybrid configurations splitting workloads between on-premises and cloud. Citrix’s cloud experience feels more mature overall, whilst VMware’s approach sometimes requires on-premises components for certain management tasks.

Both options are mature, capable solutions that have earned their market positions. So you’ll have to think about which one aligns with your specific requirements, existing infrastructure, and organisational capabilities.

Consider your primary use case: sophisticated application delivery favours Citrix, while desktop-focused deployments within existing VMware infrastructure suit Horizon. Factor in your team’s expertise: Citrix demands deeper specialisation, whilst Horizon’s relative simplicity may mean faster deployment for VMware-experienced teams. And don’t overlook total cost of ownership beyond just licensing, including staffing, training, and operational expenses.

If you’re exploring the broader VDI landscape, you might find our other comparisons helpful: VMware vs Nutanix, Hyper-V vs Proxmox, Proxmox vs VMware, and our comprehensive guide to VMware alternatives.

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