

multiple sessionsĬurrently, Windows Virtual Desktop boasts support for multiple sessions.

(Citrix’s other VDI solutions can be deployed on other public clouds, but its fully managed cloud desktop solution runs in Azure.) Single vs. In contrast, Citrix Cloud Desktops and Windows Virtual Desktop are hosted in the Azure cloud. When it comes to which cloud will host your desktops, VMware Horizon is the most flexible option. Of course, given that the vast majority of businesses use Windows desktops, this difference is likely not important for many use cases. They can host Linux-based desktop environments as well as Windows. VMware Horizon and Citrix Cloud Desktops are more flexible. Windows Virtual Desktop, as its name suggests, supports virtualization only for Windows –specifically, Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019. However, the three platforms differ in nuanced but important ways. They also all support application virtualization, which means they can stream individual apps instead of full desktop environments from the cloud if desired. Windows Virtual Desktop, VMware Horizon Desktop and Citrix Cloud Desktops all offer the same basic functionality: The ability to host desktop environments in the cloud. However, because cloud desktops centralize desktop environments in highly available public clouds, they offer maximum flexibility and reliability. VDI provides many of the same benefits as cloud desktops, and in some ways, VDI can be more secure and cost-effective. VDI platforms host virtual desktop sessions on local servers rather than in the cloud. Users can connect to the environment remotely, meaning that their desktop applications and data are accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection.Ĭloud desktops are similar to but different from Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI. What is a cloud desktop?īefore diving into the similarities and differences between these solutions, let’s define what a cloud desktop is.Ī cloud desktop is a virtual machine that runs in the cloud and hosts a desktop environment.

This article provides guidance by comparing the pros and cons of three leading cloud desktop platforms: Windows Virtual Desktop, VMware Horizon Desktop and Citrix Cloud Desktops. If you are new to the world of cloud desktops, you may be unsure which solution is the best for your needs. One of the great things about the cloud desktop market is that there are a number of offerings to choose from, each with different strengths and weaknesses.īut having so much choice can also be a challenge. Comparing Cloud Desktops: Windows Virtual Desktops vs.
