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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…

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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 …
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Awards

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Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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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
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Product Demos

VMware Horizon 7: Demo - Feature Walk-through

YouTube

Chrome Demo - VMware Horizon

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 and AirWatch

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VMware Horizon 6 with View

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 Hosted Applications Demo

YouTube

VMware Horizon 6 Tutorial | VMware Horizon 6 Training

YouTube
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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).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(156)

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

(1-25 of 35)
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August 24, 2023

VMware Horizon Review

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • 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
M. Randy Harris, Jr. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • 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.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • 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.
September 04, 2020

VMware Horizon Review

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • VMware Horizon allows us to safely access our company desktop.
  • Works well for use on windows, Linus and Mac Operating systems.
  • Easy to install and use by most employees (exception is in the negatives).
  • Requires very knowledgeable IT staff to maintain.
  • Set up on the company system can be complicated.
Tim Enders | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Application delivery
  • VDI Desktop delivery
  • The older Flash management console is occasionally slow (but is being replaced by HTML5)
  • Designing the architecture can be confusing, as there are lots of particular gotchas
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Manages the graphics and audio use well.
  • The initial setup is fairly easy and can be done in a day or two for a simple setup.
  • Very similar uses to VMware ESXi, and you can use vcenter to manager the devices.
  • Licensing. This goes hand in hand with cost.
  • Cost -- every feature tends to cost you, it would seem.
  • Support can sometimes be hit or miss.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • It provisions and works with vCenter very well to access new virtual machines.
  • There is very little I need to perform on the systems infrastructure other than working on images and upkeep.
  • I think they are strengths because with so much that goes into creating a managing the images we roll out the last thing you need to worry about are simple issues with the backend infrastructure.
  • We run into issues a decent amount of the time with nonpersistent desktops not being able to roll over quick enough. This means the end-user gets a black screen while it gives them a new machine. They don't know that so we receive calls that users cannot connect to VMware.
  • The upgrade process is fairly tedious and most of the knowledge-based articles from VMware are not really real-world scenarios.
  • The support for this is not the greatest. Each time we have reached out to support for assistance the process has been drawn out and usually, we are unable to get an engineer who is knowledgeable on the phone until we reach out to our contact at VMware.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • The desktop experience is much better for remote users because the desktop is next to the applications, all running in the data center.
  • Mobility is fantastic. I can have the same desktop experience whether I am on a Windows PC, Mac, Apple/Android mobile device, or even if I am just wanting to connect through a web browser.
  • Application streaming is difficult. The monthly recompose process can be a bear if there are a ton of applications in the base image and implementing the technology that allows for application pools that aren't in the base VM image is time-consuming and unmanageable for a small team or individual.
Stefan Semo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Keeping a configuration consistent across large numbers of devices.
  • Reducing costs of deployment.
  • Greatly simplifying management.
  • It improves security and simplifies compliance.
  • Leverages datacenter resources for multiple desktops.
  • 3D support could be optimized, but most organizations do not have a big need for it.
  • It cannot suit every business need and should be evaluated based on organization requirements.
  • Until version 7 it was very hard to deliver space-optimized desktop pools without instant clones.
Ben Moore | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Device agnostic: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and HTML5 clients all available.
  • Ease of use: The end user's experience is simple and consistent, regardless of device type.
  • Stable: Once configured properly, system components are redundant and highly reliable.
  • Video conference/meeting integrations: Currently only has direct integration with Skype for Business. It would be great if they would provide enhancements for WebEx, Zoom, etc.
September 28, 2019

A real business gamechanger

Dan Reynolds | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Horizon provides a robust and mature desktop interface.
  • Horizon is flexible enough to configure to fit your environment - whether large or small.
  • Horizon has decent tools to manage the infrastructure.
  • The interface to the management console has depended on Flash technology for far too long.
  • Horizon needs much better graphics drivers, and not just to depend on outside hardware GPU vendors. Those solutions can be incredibly expensive and also incur additional licensing costs (Nvidia for example).
  • Horizon needs to move away from the PCoIP protocol, it's time to improve and move the display protocol forward. And get away from third party's monopolizing on the display protocol (Teradici).
February 07, 2019

Brief Overview of Horizon

Sam Majam | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Powerful platform for providing end user computing in a secure and efficient manner
  • Integrates seamlessly with VMware vSphere that is a proven and reliable virtualization platform
  • Integrates well with popular Cloud Providers
  • Hardware and licensing costs can be a challenge
  • Steep learning curve
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • It provides a robust, secure, rich desktop environment that is able to access all internal network resources.
  • Addresses security and compliance concerns as all data resides within the internal network. All data accessed stays within the internal network and does not need to traverse a VPN to the local desktop where it may be cached, etc.
  • The connection is thin client that does not require large amount of bandwidth.
  • Client application is available for all common devices and O/S’s.
  • No need to install, configure and maintain applications on local desktop.
  • Cost of backend systems hardware (servers, memory and storage) is initially very expensive.
  • VMware software purchase, licensing and ongoing support is also somewhat expensive.
  • Requires knowledgeable technical staff to setup and maintain.
  • Sometimes there are issues with printing to the remote desktop that needs to be troubleshot to resolve.
  • Needs a better means to upgrade versions without it being a major difficult undertaking.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Easy to use and setup
  • Very robust set of features from end user and administrative perspective
  • It solves many problems that Microsoft RDS cannot address
  • Provides better support and performance when it comes to GPU intensive software solutions
  • It can integrate with our ERP system in order to simplify user management and automate process
  • Move away from Adobe Flash version in UI, currently on the path but they need to hurry up
  • Speed up the boot process of the environment when servers need maintenance
  • Provide clear steps on what should be upgrade path in terms of components, the order
  • price! A bit too much
Ho'omana Nathan Horton | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • The ability to access local files is an excellent feature.
  • The ability to preserve the state of logged-in users is also nice.
  • In my experience, this is about as close as one can get to using Microsoft Remote Desktop.
  • The interface isn't always super straightforward and newer or less proficient users may need some detailed help getting it set up.
June 06, 2018

Virtual Success!!!!

Eric Krueger | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • It allows us to do more with less in creating an environment tailored for each department.
  • The amount of technical knowledge needed to run and support from infrastructure means more focus can go to other areas. More personnel can easily be involved in support.
  • Systems issues, windows problems, drivers etc, can all be easily addressed through the management console to keep end users up and running.
  • Some of the proprietary application delivery could be a bit better.
  • Some additional single points of failure to consider.
  • Roaming profile issues on a particular server can cause issues.
Chris John | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Secure. Doesn't allow copy and paste if configured. Allows for 2FA.
  • Flexible. Allows you if you have the resources to setup different images for people.
  • Seamless experience for users.
  • Setup can be cumbersome.
  • Thin apps are hit or miss. Depends on licensing for the application.
  • Administration site is based in Flash. Terrible and laggy.
Brad Daugherty | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Renders graphics using PCOIP and Blast protocols with great graphic quality.
  • Provides users a persistent desktop experience without the need for persistent desktops using their linked clone or just in time technologies.
  • User Environment Manager allows us to control registry values and other user and application specific needs that couldn't easily be done on a non persistent desktop before.
  • App Volumes gives us the ability to virtualize the applications and then deliver then using GPO to our end users based upon location and permissions. It also give us the ability to only update a single copy of the application and push it live to our employees.
  • Monitoring of end user session details has been lacking in the product since its beginning. They are starting to work on modules to help this aspect but they are immature and slow to develop.
  • Troubleshooting issues to the PCOIP protocol are not easy and usually require VMware assistance. Better logging and analysis of errors though the VMware admin utility would be beneficial.
  • Many users when switched permanently to a Virtual Desktop have a predisposed feeling that they are going to have a slow and laggy experience. This is an issue from previous revisions or bad deployments, but once someones mind has been made up it is hard to sway them back into giving a technology another shot.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Cloud Based Solution
  • Ability to manage devices globally
  • Very simple to use
  • Ability to create "application bubble" for BYOD devices
  • Expensive to implement because you'll most definitely need a professional partner for implementation
  • As easy it is to use, it is complex to install. We have about 4 servers in our infrastructure only for this.
  • Tech support almost never gets back to you on the same day. Even for the critical issues.
Kurt Ferguson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Easy to use. It is very easy to access Virtual Desktops from VMWare Horizon View. Performance is great, and using the program is practically the same across multiple platforms.
  • Multiple platforms. VMWare Horizon View is available on Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS, amongst others. The user experience is very similar across these various platforms. This is crucially important, especially for unplanned access to VDI when a full fledged Windows/OS X machine isn't available.
  • Great performance - Even without especially robust internet connections, the VDI performance is typically very good. I've accessed it at work, in coffee shops, tethered to my phone, and at home. I can almost always get a usable connection regardless of the connection I am using.
  • Peripheral access - The peripheral access in VMWare Horizon Client is great! It isn't limited to simple keyboard and mouse access, which certainly does work seemlessly, but also allows multimedia peripherals. We actually have webcams attached to all of our thin and zero clients, and they are perfectly usable from inside VDI, be it in Skype for Business, WebEx, etc.
  • USB throughput - USB storage throughput over Horizon isn't great. It definitely needs some tweaking in that regard. It is acceptable for small file transfer from flash drives and the like, but far too slow for large file transfers.
  • More connection quality options - There are very limited options for adjusting the connection quality from the Horizon Client. These would be helpful especially when dealing with very low speed connections.
  • Resolve minor memory leak issues - The application does sometimes leak memory in Windows 10, causing it to consume more resources than it should.
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