V2 Cloud
Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp Alternative: Deliver Windows Applications and Desktops to Any Device for a Fraction of What You’re Paying For Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp
Move to V2 Cloud to streamline the deployment and management of virtual desktops. Our fully integrated Desktop-as-a-Service solution accelerates time-to-value, reduces implementation efforts and lowers costs.
Deploy in Minutes and Reduce IT Overhead
Up and running out-of-the-box
V2 Cloud is one of the best Citrix XenDesktop alternatives that offer all-in-one Desktop-as-a-Service and VDI solutions with built-in security, virtual private networks and remote working features without need for complex plugins and long learning curves that is so often required by Citrix XenDesktop and other competitors.
Scale from single-digit deployments to thousands of seats
Small and medium-sized businesses have had to over-invest in Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp for smaller deployments. V2 Cloud takes out complexity from end-users and lowers the entry point such that smaller deployments make sense both technically and financially.
Fair and proportionate pricing
Legacy Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp pricing plans are designed for large corporations and enterprises, leaving small and medium-sized businesses locked out or confined in the expensive small-deployment pricing bracket.
As an alternative to Citrix XenDesktop and DaaS, V2 Cloud’s VDI solution has a fair and balanced pricing model, ensuring costs are proportionate to the needs and requirements of your business with no hidden fees, no up-front costs, and no minimum order-requirements.
Features Comparison
| Feature | V2 Cloud | Citrix XenApp & XenDesktop |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Remote Administration | Yes Easily manage users and associated permissions from a simple dashboard | Limited Manage users and permissions without the ability to have multiple users per VM |
| Easy Installation and Setup | Yes Setup and deploy a VM in minutes using templates and simplified setup processes without complex training and documentation | No Complex processes and setup will require time to train and understand documentation for a large enterprise-focussed product |
| Comprehensive Security | Yes Effective and maintainable security with built-in encryption, strong data policies, automated firewalls and AV implementations alongside off-site backups | Yes Comprehensive security infrastructure with adequate encryption, controls and policies suitable for large customers |
| High Performance | Yes Persistent desktops, device-independent GUIs and 24-hour availability on VM’s provides high performance to users | Limited High performance is achievable with ease, providing device-independent GUIs and desktop persistence. However, VMs are not accessible 24 hours a day |
| Simple App and Desktop Delivery | Yes Pre-configured RDP clients, includes app virtualization and remote VM access, all available without the need for a complex plugin | Limited Many features are only achievable using complex plugins and configuration changes |
| Appropriate Desktop and App Management | Yes Easily manage, deploy, monitor and maintain desktops and applications whilst having access to comprehensive monitoring | Yes Applications and desktops can be managed, deployed and maintained with ease, allowing a comprehensive array of different services to be accessible |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go and Fixed pricing models. No minimum order, no up-front costs and no hidden fees. | Fixed pricing available. Additional developments and plug-ins may increase the cost |
| Access to Managed Services | Yes Fully-managed setup, backup management, software and hardware upgrades are included in the base offering | No Monitoring, Maintenance, and Service Desks are not included in the base offerings |
| Wide Array of Pre-Installed Software | Yes Access to Microsoft Windows, Office, anti-virus and more is included | Limited Operating systems and antiviruses included. However, business support systems such as Microsoft Office are not pre-installed |
| Reliable Customer Support | Yes Free online chat, phone and email support is included as standard with a response times within minutes | Limited Email support is available during business hours to aid with any queries IT administrators may have |
| Appropriate Scalability | Yes Scale up or down as and when required | Limited Easy to scale up the deployment, difficult to scale down |
| Unlimited Networking | Yes Unlimited bandwidth and unmetered internet is provided, allowing users to get on with their work uninterrupted | No Unlimited bandwidth and unmetered internet is not included, requiring IT administrators to monitor and manage usage |
Download Technical Benchmark to Discover How V2 Compares to Citrix Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp
Factors for Deciding on a Citrix XenDesktop Alternative
Number of Users
This is the key factor to consider when evaluating a Citrix DaaS and VDI alternatives and competitors. The number of users is representative of the total amount of workload you require and is the main price-driving force.
| Factors | V2 Cloud | Citrix |
|---|---|---|
Small-to-mid sized deploymentsCitrix solutions see good return on investment with large deployments. So if your number of users is anywhere under 250, V2 Cloud would be a great alternative to Citrix XenDesktop for your company. It enables you to scale up and down without friction, manage your users and platform from a centralized dashboard, reduce costs and provide better long-term stability. |  |  |
Large deploymentsSolutions over 250 end-users come hand-in-hand with more complex cloud infrastructure that can be suited with the help of V2 Cloud’s product experts. However, if you have the required expertise and experience in-house, solutions provided by vendors such as Citrix and Citrix competitors like VMWare may give you better technical flexibility to suit your use cases. | | |
In-house IT Team Size
The deployment and management of complex VDI and DaaS solutions like Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp will require trained and dedicated staff. Your internal IT team size must be considered when evaluating vendors.
| Factors | V2 Cloud | Citrix |
|---|---|---|
Small-to-mid sized deploymentsOrganizations with a large pool of internal IT resources can either have staff with deep knowledge in VDI solutions, or are able to assign and train staff as required. Deploying complex solutions such as the ones provided by Citrix XenDesktop can have many benefits when supported by internal IT staff. However, simple Citrix DaaS alternative solutions such as V2 Cloud’s can provide many similar benefits and enable organizations to reassign IT staff to other value-adding activities. | | |
Fewer IT staff without vendor-specific knowledgeSmaller teams can provide value more quickly with a less-complex and more modern product using features such as VM templates and simplified configuration. V2 Cloud’s DaaS offering is tailored for businesses with limited IT resources that are looking to replace Citrix XenDesktop with alternative solutions. | | |
Vendor-Specific Technical Expertise
| Factors | V2 Cloud | Citrix |
|---|---|---|
| Deploying and managing VDI platforms such as Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop requires in-depth technical expertise, often specific to that one product. Most traditional VDI solutions now have engineers that specialise in a single product or suite of products such as Citrix due to the complex management and configuration required. Unlike Citrix VDI solution V2 Cloud is intuitive and easy to use, with a simplified network setup, templates for deployments and easy application and desktop management. The features and setup processes available through V2 Cloud reduce the technical expertise required, ensuring IT staff can spend as little time as possible learning complex configuration rules and integrations. | | |
V2 Cloud VS Citrix XenDesktop Budget and Pricing Models
Pricing models will determine whether a solution can be financially suitable or not. VDI solutions should offer proportionate pricing with respect to your budget and usage.
V2 Cloud Pricing | Citrix XenDesktop Pricing |
|---|
What Makes V2 Cloud a Great Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp Alternative
Performance
We maintain high performance using SSDs, device-independent GUIs and 24x7 availability.
Integrated Security
V2 Cloud’s offering includes endpoint protection, firewalls and off-site backups.
Unlimited Support
We provide free of charge, round-the-clock support for your IT team via multiple channels, including online chat, email and phone.
Easy Deployment
Our Citrix XenDesktop alternative runs in the browser, no installation required, no complex VPN setups. Get set up and running in as little as 20 minutes
Try the Best Citrix XenDesktop Alternative for 7 Days
Are you still looking for Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp competitors and alternatives? Get started with V2 Cloud to move your workspaces to the Cloud in as little as 20 minutes!
Our risk-free 7-day trial gives you full access to the V2 Cloud platform so you can test our solution in a live environment and find out why we are the #1 alternative to Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp. Cancel at any time within the first 7 days for a guaranteed refund.
Other Citrix XenDesktop Alternatives
Fierce competition in the VDI and DaaS space empower customers to choose the solution which best fits their budget and requirements. Here are some vendors which V2 Cloud consider to be reputable alternatives to Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp..
AWS Workspaces
Good Citrix XenDesktop alternative for organizations who already have an existing AWS Cloud estate
Read more...
VMWare Horizon
A well-known Citrix XenDesktop competitor and name in the VDI Space, VMware Horizon offers comprehensive features and multiple deployment models
Windows Cloud PC
Windows 365 platform can be tightly integrated with the wider Microsoft portfolio
Read more...Learn How V2 Cloud Can Help your Business
What is Citrix Apps and Desktop Service?
Citrix Apps and Desktops Service is a type of virtualization solution that gives businesses and IT organizations control of virtual machines, computing hardware resources, desktop applications, security and licensing that behave just like their physical functionality. It delivers virtual apps and desktops from the cloud and allows users to access their virtual desktops anywhere from any device. It helps your business or organization transition to a remote workforce with features of enterprise-level security, cost-effective, and end-to-end management.
Why is Citrix so expensive and what is the best alternative for Citrix XenDesktop?
Currently, Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp is no longer the best choice for cloud services and cloud computing because of its complex billing system. Many users have complained that Citrix’s initial quotes are much lower compared to deployed solutions. This is because users may need to pay for Citrix XenDesktop with many additional dependency costs such as Citrix Gateway, Citrix Application Delivery Controller or Citrix License Server. Moreover, Citrix has a kind of complex deployment process and difficult network configuration, and deploying and managing its platform requires in-depth technical expertise and training. Thus, in addition to the cost of the product itself, the cost of training with Citrix could add up to an unexpected cost. What is the best alternative for Citrix XenDesktop? As a Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp Alternative, V2 Cloud delivers fully managed and integrated Desktop-as-a-Service to any device with features of accelerated time-to values, reduced implementation efforts, and lower cost. You only need to pay for one product that has all the features with cloud service.
Is Citrix a DaaS?
Yes, Citrix XenDesktop is a fully managed cloud-based virtual Desktop-as-a-Service(Daas) solution that can perform as a replacement for a traditional physical computer desktop. It enables you to create and use Linux and Windows desktops that are accessible from anywhere and supported devices. Citrix hosts your entire virtual desktop environment, including operating system, application, data, computing, and storage that allow you to perform day-to-day tasks and behave just like your traditional physical desktop functionality. It helps your business or organization transition to a remote workforce with features of enterprise-level security, cost-effective, and end-to-end management.
Is Citrix VDI the same as VMware VDI?
Citrix provides its VDI solutions by Citrix XenApp or Citrix XenDesktop, and VMware provides VDI via VMware Horizon. A VDI stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, is a form of desktop virtualization technology that is used to distribute a virtualized desktop environment on a remote server setup. At certain points, Citrix and VMware provide very similar functionality. For example, with Citrix or VMware, users can work on a virtual desktop hosted on a centralized server, and this virtual desktop is remotely accessible by any device from any location, irrespective of the actual hardware device. However, they have a common issue. They both have a kind of complex deployment process and difficult network configuration, and deploying and managing its platform requires in-depth technical expertise and training.
What is the difference between V2 Cloud and Citrix XenDesktop?
V2 Cloud and Citrix XenDesktop both are cloud-based virtual Desktop-as-a-Service(Daas) solutions that can perform as a replacement for a traditional physical computer desktop. However, they are not exactly the same.
- Citrix XenDesktop has complex pricing details depending on the user’s usage, data center location, additional plug-ins, and services. It is designed for large enterprises, leaving small sized businesses confined in the expensive deployment pricing bracket. Comparatively speaking, V2 Cloud ensures costs are fair by having no hidden costs, no minimum order, and up-front fees.
- Citrix has a good return on investment with large deployments, and it allows up scale with the growth of businesses’ needs. However, Citrix would not be suitable for some enterprises with under 250 end-users because small businesses have had to over-invest in Citrix for smaller deployments which cause a lot of overhead for them. Even for small deployments, it contains high complexity which requires in-depth training to use Citrix XenDesktop. V2 Cloud enables businesses or organizations to scale up and down without friction to provide better long-term stability.
- Citrix XenDesktop has a kind of complex deployment process and difficult network configuration, and deploying and managing its platform requires in-depth technical expertise and training. Citrix requires engineers that specialize in a single product. V2 Cloud is intuitive with a simple network setup and easy desktop management. It reduces the technical expertise required to ensure organizations can spend as little time as possible learning configurations and integrations rules.
- Citrix only has Email support during business hours. V2 Cloud has free online chat, phone, and email support available 24/7.
What are the advantages of using V2 Cloud?
The following are some most important benefits of the Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp alternative provided by V2 Cloud:
- Seamless scalability. V2 Cloud’s virtual desktop solutions are highly scalable. No matter how small your initial deployment is, V2 Cloud enables businesses or organizations to scale up and down as needed without unfeasible one-time charges to provide better long-term stability.
- Fully managed and supported. V2 Cloud is intuitive with a simple network setup and easy desktop management in 20 minutes without any in-depth training or certifications. It reduces the technical expertise required to ensure organizations can spend as little time as possible learning configurations and integrations rules. Also, V2 Cloud has free online chat, phone, and email support available 24/7.
- Competitive price. V2 Cloud applies Pay-as-you-go and fixed pricing models which ensures costs are fair by having no hidden costs, no minimum order, and up-front fees.