Skip to main content
TrustRadius
VMware Horizon

VMware Horizon

Overview

What is VMware Horizon?

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console…

Read more
Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users of VMware Horizon View have praised the software for its ability to provide secure remote access without the need for VPN or remote …
Continue reading
Read all reviews

Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Reviewer Pros & Cons

View all pros & cons
Return to navigation

Pricing

View all pricing

Horizon Apps Standard

$4.67

Cloud
per month per user

Horizon Standard Plus

$5.79

Cloud
per month per user

Horizon Apps Universal

$6.00

Cloud
per month per user

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.vmware.com/products/horizon…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Return to navigation

Product Demos

VMware Horizon 7: Demo - Feature Walk-through

YouTube

Chrome Demo - VMware Horizon

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 and AirWatch

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 with View

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 Hosted Applications Demo

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 Tutorial | VMware Horizon 6 Training

YouTube
Return to navigation

Product Details

What is VMware Horizon?

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console and SaaS management services.

The solution also provides secure remote access to corporate resources from any device and leverage intrinsic security built into the VMware infrastructure to protect from the device to the data center to the cloud.

The vendor's value proposition is that the solution drives cost savings and business value by enabling more flexible and reliable access to resources.

VMware Horizon Competitors

VMware Horizon Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console and SaaS management services.

LISTEQ Cloud Desktop are common alternatives for VMware Horizon.

Reviewers rate Performance highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of VMware Horizon are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
Return to navigation

Comparisons

View all alternatives
Return to navigation

Reviews and Ratings

(157)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users of VMware Horizon View have praised the software for its ability to provide secure remote access without the need for VPN or remote desktop. This feature has allowed them to conveniently access internal web applications and legacy Windows XP applications from anywhere with an internet connection. IT staff utilize the software to connect to virtual desktops, while employees make use of thin clients to access email, file shares, and specific applications on the go. The software has been particularly valuable for organizations with multiple locations and remote workers, as it offers a cost-effective, hardware-independent solution with features like monitoring, resource utilization, and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, VMware Horizon View is widely used across various industries, including healthcare IT, where it improves end user productivity and user experience for clinical task users. However, some users have occasionally experienced connection issues and difficulties with setup. Despite these challenges, users find the software highly useful for accessing virtual desktops efficiently.

Administrative departments and clients also rely on VMware Horizon View to address hardware failures and crashes by providing access to virtual desktops. This flexible solution is used in various scenarios such as training environments, enabling external contractors' access, and providing workstations for IT staff. Moreover, towns benefit from VMware Horizon View by gaining access to shared applications for assessments, while healthcare professionals securely access internal network resources remotely. The software's reach extends even to Highway Patrol cars, ensuring complete access to internal network resources in areas with intermittent cellular data coverage.

VMware Horizon View has proven invaluable in saving time by virtualizing software and simplifying IT tasks like updates and upgrades. It has facilitated the efficient rollout of Windows 10 and provided a work-from-home solution. Additionally, VMware Horizon Mobile Manager aids with device restrictions, tracking, application deployment, email integration, and digital material delivery.

The flexibility and security offered by VMware Horizon View are highly appreciated by users as they can work from anywhere worldwide with an internet connection. The product serves as a standard platform for daily tasks requiring elevated permissions for IT administrators and developers. It finds value in providing a pool of secured desktops within backup networks, separate from standard production environments. Reviewers have commended the product for eliminating the need to ship laptops across the globe by providing VDI desktops.

VMware Horizon View has been described as a win-win situation for businesses, offering convenient solutions for remote work and data access. It also finds application in statistical analysis software like IBM SPSS. By organizing users into different groups called Pools, it efficiently manages PCs, ensuring desktops are always running or shut down when not in use. Loyola University Maryland relies on VMware Horizon as their enterprise application and VDI delivery system, providing easy access for all employees, faculty, and students across departments. Multiple departments in organizations leverage VMware Horizon View to tailor their IT experience, manage systems with less IT involvement, and ensure quick content delivery. This product has enabled a shift in the way employees work, allowing for centralized data, consolidation of offices, and remote work in different states and locales.

VMware Horizon is especially valuable for managing virtual machines and pools of virtual machines for remote classes and work, providing control over information, managing policies, and resolving problems remotely. In educational institutions, it offers dynamic management of computer and storage resources while reducing costs and complexity. Companies across industries such as operations, sales, and product teams use VMware Horizon View as a primary or remote desktop solution to provide a consistent desktop experience across locations and offices.

Overall, users find that VMware Horizon makes VDI easy with its fast and reliable connection options like VMWare Blast or PCoIP. It caters to the needs of remote agents and offsite workers by offering thin clients to connect remotely over VPN and providing a Windows application environment for Macintosh users. The product has been recommended by experts for clients in their data centers to provide standardized virtual desktops for critical groups within the company. By connecting users to Windows environments on the customer side, VMware Horizon offers a VPN-like experience for remote access.

With its wide range of use cases in various industries, VMware Horizon View continues to be a go-to solution for organizations seeking secure remote access, efficient management of desktops and resources, as well as flexible work arrangements.

Excellent Performance: Users have consistently praised VMware Horizon for its excellent performance. Many reviewers have stated that the software runs smoothly and efficiently, allowing them to access virtual desktops and applications with ease. Some users have mentioned that they experienced no lag or delay when working remotely, which has greatly enhanced their productivity.

Reliable and Efficient Virtualization Solution: Reviewers appreciate that VMware Horizon is a reliable and efficient virtualization solution. Numerous users have highlighted the stability of the software and its ability to provide stable and scalable virtual support. They find it to be a robust product that allows them to create new desktops easily and seamlessly integrate into the vSphere platform.

Easy Implementation and Use: The ease of implementation and use of VMware Horizon is another commonly mentioned positive aspect. Users appreciate the straightforward deployment process, finding it great for deploying new software quickly. They also find the user interface intuitive, making it easy for them to manage their catalogue of pools and devices.

Resource Consumption: Some users have reported that the software consumes more resources than expected, potentially leading to performance issues. This concern has been raised by multiple reviewers who have experienced slowdowns or lag while using the software.

Confusing User Interface: The user interface of the software has received criticism from several users. They describe it as confusing and not well integrated with the operating system. Users have mentioned difficulties in navigating through menus and finding specific features.

Expensive Licensing: Implementing VDI, including hardware and licensing, is seen as a constraint for small and medium-sized businesses. Users have expressed concerns about the high cost of licensing, which adds to the overall expense of adopting VDI solutions. Some users feel that more affordable options should be available for organizations with limited budgets.

User recommendations for using VMware Horizon include the following:

  • Talk with end-users to plan out application loading and day-to-day needs.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for customer service in telecommunications due to its options for call listening and security.
  • VMware Horizon works well, gives good results, and is free.
  • Use VMware Horizon for testing purposes and to avoid losing information.
  • Ensure a stable internet connection for optimal performance and stability.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for any company that needs to implement software and test different systems.
  • VMware Horizon provides solutions and the freedom to do anything with the virtual system.
  • VMware Horizon worked well for automating testing services.
  • VMware Horizon offers different features for configuring operating systems without adding dangerous software.
  • VMware Horizon is a good solution for central security management.
  • Understand use cases before deploying VMware Horizon and dedicate people to manage the environment.
  • VMware Horizon is a very accessible software with few glitches.
  • Set up server settings automatically to provide guidance to the vendor.
  • VMware Horizon is a lightweight solution for connecting to a virtual desktop infrastructure.
  • Using VMware Horizon improves productivity in the working environment.
  • Take advantage of the RSA generated token for extra security.
  • Design a solid backend infrastructure with enough storage for a smoother user experience.
  • Purchase enough resources for quick scalability.
  • Get solid state drives and provide extra training for help desk staff.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for programs that require processing power or access to different operating systems.
  • Try VMware Horizon on other platforms to address bugs or issues.
  • VMware Horizon is a perfect solution for delivering virtual desktops and integrating with existing VMware vSphere environment.
  • Consider alternatives like oVirt, Spice, or Citrix XenServer if VMware Horizon is not suitable.
  • Look at all the options on the internet and choose the platform that best fits the interests, especially for medium and big size companies.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for virtual desktop users experiencing performance issues.
  • Understand the current environment and define use cases during the testing phase.
  • Use the right infrastructure to scale the VDI solution and choose a VDI solution that meets the appropriate needs.

These recommendations emphasize the importance of user involvement in planning, the suitability of VMware Horizon for customer service and testing, stability considerations, and scalability planning.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
August 24, 2023

VMware Horizon Review

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I deployed this solution for one of our company's client organization. That organization was speared over multiple location and worker were allowed to do work from home. it was not feasible for that organization to deliver hardware to every location and maintain the other aspects of hardware maintenance. In such situations, VMware Horizon Cloud was their choice. It is a cloud based VDI that enables the management of operating system in cloud. It is cost-effective solution in terms of hardware, flexible solution without the need for hardware dependency, In case of any incident, an easy and efficient way to restore or recover data. moreover, features like monitoring, resource utilization, multi-factor authentication makes this solution more feasible in terms of Security and performance.
  • Endpoints Management become very easy.
  • No Hardware labilities
  • More features and easy to maintain.
  • Managing the VDI needs training which should be freely available to everyone.
  • Cost could be the constraints for SMBs to adopt this model. For managing VDI you need trained IT Staff
As I have already explained that VMware Horizon is very attractive model for some organizations which are dependent on remote work and hardware management is problem for them. You have better performance because a server has more capacity compared to a laptop. from anywhere any time you can connect but off course internet connectivity is required.
  • Anywhere access and apps and software
  • No hardware liabilities
  • It was our company's customer requirement, and they are happy with it
M. Randy Harris, Jr. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon is a tool used within the VMware virtualization product line which allows me to manage virtual machines and pools of virtual machines. These virtual machines are provided to students and staff to allow for remote classes and work, respectively. This was particularly critical during the lock-down phase of the pandemic when the entire college was shut down.
  • Their vSphere product is the best in the industry in regards to virtualization.
  • Their products, although very sophisticated and technical, are rock solid. Uptime is above 99.99%.
  • Their documentation is extensive, thorough, and excellently organized.
  • Their support is top tier with quality support staff and excellent response time.
  • They could really improve their licensing. It is very very confusing.
  • They should provide a free license for non-business-related use, i.e., someone wanting to learn on the platform without a large monetary investment.
VMware Horizon is well suited for both private, public, and hybrid cloud environments due to the fact the same tool is used across all three platforms, and the behavior across all three platforms is the same. It provides significant value in allowing for the management of virtual machines and virtual pools with a smaller staff.
  • Reliability
  • Scalability
  • This product was instrumental in allowing a limited staff provides a work-from-home solution during the shutdown phase of the pandemic to faculty and staff. It allowed the college to remain open even though the college was physically closed.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It's great to be able to set it up enough to support the stores I work for. My Big problem with it is that any form of connection issues on my primary PC - despite it reconnecting - the VM crashes and even after restarting the VM I sometimes need to reboot the primary computer just to get the desktop to display properly. Also getting it set up so I can see everything I want is extremely troublesome. Granted that part is related to it being locked on the desktop as a non-admin, I can do my best with the settings - but the settings aren't much.
  • Separation.
  • Individual connection.
  • Quick Reboot.
  • Saved openings when VM crashes.
  • Reloading after connection loss.
  • Better display adjustments.
Setting up remoting software to get into the specific company in which we support. It works a lot like a VPN, but it definitely has room to improve. There's nothing special that helps my job, it's a separate desktop that houses programs for me to remote into other computers and Linux systems.
  • Separate desktop.
  • Internet connection.
  • When it doesn't load right VM Crashes.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The main reason for using a Horizon solution vs computer equipment was security. When starting to manage a hybrid (home office) scheme, it was important to have control over the information as well as to manage policies to increase productivity, the resolution of problems remotely was another major challenge to face for us. For this reason, we decided to test the Horizon solution that offers security, mobility, and technical support options in a single package, the part of smartphones was not included due to the cost issue.
  • The use of virtual desktops is very good, generate templates for areas is simple.
  • The security options that permit to block and allow applications for users are very important in this solution.
  • The remote support tools for the TI department are very good to resolve problems with a user of other areas that worked remotely.
  • Horizon has other tools to measure user performance and productivity.
  • The deployment of environments in smartphones is very useful (integration with workspaces one solution).
  • Creation of templates based of areas is easy.
  • We have some problems in Apple MacBooks with M1 processor in early phases.
  • The integration with Windows 11 is under development.
  • Optimization of resources to deployment all environment.
It is a robust solution with many functionalities, depending on the complexity of the company's environment, several versions of the software can be adapted, the price is not cheap since there are other cheaper solutions that allow virtualization of desktops, sales by subscription helps to solve the price. For a correct implementation, several virtual machines with sufficient hardware resources are required. An important point to consider is Microsoft's licensing, which initially makes a solution more expensive.
  • Security features.
  • Template of virtual desktops feature.
  • Remote support tools.
  • Support for graphics in virtual environment.
  • The financial area usually doesn't see the ROI until the next 2 or 3 years, due to the additional cost of hardware and software required for VDI solution.
  • The cost of licensing in the subscription model is not cheap, if your organization doesn't need all the features, you can consider and check other options.
  • Microsoft licensing is an important point to consider in VDI solutions.
  • The implementation on-premise is still a little complex due to the components required for the Horizon solution and it represents a considerable cost, a solution on the cloud could solve this issue.
VMWare Horizon has several advanced features vs other competitors, choosing one option or another depends on the scope of the company's need and the cost of investment. In general, all the solutions of VDI are good and offer a good experience.
Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Zoom, Veeam Backup & Replication, Dell EMC Avamar, Dell EMC PowerScale (emc isilon)
Josh Justic | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
We use VMware [Horizon (formerly VMware View)] for our VDI environment to provide standardized desktops, using linked clones. We also host View desktops for our clients. This solves the problem of deployment and management of multiple OS instances. We update just one golden image to deploy a patch or new application version.
  • Fast deployment
  • Simplifies management
  • Reduces latency to datacenter applications
  • High learning curve for support
  • Can be expensive for licensing and hardware requirements
[VMware Horizon (formerly VMware View) is] well suited for remote workers that can use any device to access their virtual desktops.
  • Golden standard image
  • Simplified deployment
  • Scalable to suit our needs.
  • We needed to expand our datacenter footprint to support the hardware requirements
  • We decreased deployment of new software and patches significantly
  • We reduced help desk tickets.
  • Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop)
Far more cost effective.
Return to navigation