Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Reviews

Name: Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
Brand: Citrix
Rating: 4.2 (124 reviews)

Vendor: Citrix

4.2 out of 5

124 reviews
92% willing to recommend

2,861 followers

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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is the #1 ranked solution in top Application Virtualization solutions, #1 ranked solution in top Desktop as a Service vendors, #3 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions, and #5 ranked solution in top Remote Access solutions. PeerSpot users give Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 124 most recent Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.5. (Among the highest in the category). Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is most commonly compared to Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS): Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS). Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 65% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

January 2025

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Featured reviews

DavidWood1

Senior Infrastructure Engineer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

Provisioning Server is a fantastic option for image management in Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. It offers excellent performance and reliability. On the other hand, while Machine Creation Services can be scaled easily, they can significantly increase storage consumption. For instance, creating a Windows 10 image in MCS typically requires at least 80 GB of storage, in addition to any separate disks needed. To store changes made by users in Machine Creation Services, the differencing disk must be equal in size to the base disk, leading to significant storage consumption. On the other hand, Provisioning Server uses image versioning, creating a new image version every time it's modified. As a result, virtual machines streamed from the server revert to their original state after a reboot, which is similar to their state during the first boot. Using the provisioning server, I start by configuring a virtual machine with either a 2016 or 2019 server operating system. I install the necessary Citrix client provisioning server target device software, followed by installing the required applications. After that, I capture the entire configuration to a file share. The image is then streamed from the file share to the hypervisor, which can handle multiple machines. In some large-scale deployments, we have used a single image to provision thousands of servers. Once the image is captured and stored on the file share, it is set to read-only mode, and any changes made to it are not accepted until it is put in read-write mode. When a virtual machine is rebooted, it returns to its previous state before the changes were made. This feature can be beneficial in situations like a virus outbreak, where a simple reboot of the virtual machines can remove any malicious code or changes. A provisioning server offers a faster recovery time from a bad change and is generally faster than machine creation services. With the provisioning server, changes are not accepted until the read-write mode is enabled, and if a virus outbreak occurs, rebooting the machines restores them to the previous state. On the other hand, machine creation services' speed is dependent on the storage's speed, and recovery time from a bad change can take longer, especially with a large number of devices. If a bad change is made with machine creation services, the replication process can take a while to revert, whereas, with a provisioning server, all machines can be rebooted quickly. Within thirty minutes, I can restore my system to its previous state using the provisioning server.

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Grant Waddell

Head of IT Architecture & Operations Support at Lyntia

We use Citrix Workspace on Citrix Cloud. We have all of our servers on the AWS public cloud. There are a number of tools that we can implement that would save us costs. However, we've stuck to Citrix for convenience. If the prices keep increasing, we will have to consider other solutions. Users need to understand the tool's limitations correctly and what they require from a usability perspective. They should also understand the configuration of security policies. In some cases, people are unable to download or upload files onto their PCs, which is necessary for them to do their work. Users should understand the limitations of the product or the configuration options. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

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Mohd Abdul Aziz Shah Sulaiman

Assistant General Manager Endpoint Application at Telekom Malaysia

Citrix Workforce is good, but it needs improvement in diagnosing network issues. When errors occur, it is difficult to determine if they're due to network issues, Workspace issues, or environment issues. The error messages are too vague, just stating "connection error" without specifying if it's an IP address issue, connectivity problem, or something else related to the network. This lack of detail makes troubleshooting difficult. We often have to reinstall everything in Workspace, without knowing the root cause. Even after engaging with Citrix and sending logs, the feedback is often unsatisfactory, not meeting my expectations. This trial-and-error approach isn't effective problem-solving. While these issues aren't everyday occurrences, when they do happen, they can be catastrophic for our operations team.

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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) mindshare

Product category:

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) in the Application Virtualization category stands at 27.2%, down from 31.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Virtualization

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Virtualization	Jan 7, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 7, 2025	Download
Comparison	Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Microsoft App-V	Jan 7, 2025	Download
Comparison	Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Microsoft Virtual Server	Jan 7, 2025	Download
Comparison	Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	Jan 7, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	4.4	16.7%	96%	25 interviews Add to research
Microsoft App-V	4.8	21.5%	80%	4 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Citrix DaaS offers valuable features including seamless automatic software upgrades, easy setup, high flexibility, strong security, excellent user experience, reliable remote connections, low cost, centralized policy control, user behavior analytics, and virtualization on any device. It supports various applications and desktops, provides a secure environment for data, and enhances productivity for remote users. Its strong integration with Microsoft and sophisticated policy control ensure optimal performance and a smooth user experience even with poor bandwidth.

"One of the best features of Citrix Workspace is that we can access it from any device anywhere."
"I have found that Citrix DaaS is still a complex product, especially on the desktop side, which affects scalability. Although it works well on the apps side, the desktop aspect still has room for improvement in scalability. Managing multiple OSs centrally doesn't reduce many problems, and the product remains almost on par with its competitors like VMware Vue."
"The most beneficial feature is seamless remote access, particularly for applications rather than full endpoints. Security features include full data encryption and integrated SSL VPN through NetScaler for secure access."

Room for Improvement

Citrix DaaS needs improvements in pricing, integration with other environments, and overall user experience. There are concerns about performance, particularly with latency and speed, especially for video editing and high-density videos. The complexity of setup and deployment can be cumbersome, and support for training materials could be enhanced. Users also seek better technical support and a more streamlined management interface. Enhanced mobile access and reduced dependency on specific infrastructures are recommended.

"The solution's cost has almost doubled this year, and it could be made cheaper."
"It would be great if they included VPN features and improved connectivity."
"Citrix has undergone significant changes, primarily due to its acquisition. This acquisition impacted Citrix's value because of increased licensing costs under the new model. As a result, many customers are now considering alternatives to Citrix."

ROI

Citrix DaaS provides excellent ROI with benefits in time savings, employee satisfaction, and security. Universities appreciated its flexibility and advanced designs. Healthcare organizations found it essential during the pandemic, reducing data costs and enabling productivity from home. Users saved on business continuity plans and scaled operations by pursuing larger contracts. Companies experienced improved productivity and coordination. Some noted mixed cost savings, but security and efficiency were enhanced. Implementing Citrix DaaS with thin clients resulted in notable savings and reduced carbon emissions.

Pricing

Citrix DaaS pricing varies widely, with perpetual enterprise licenses around $300 USD. Many users find the licensing straightforward, yet some struggle with complexities. Licensing flexibility allows for basic, advanced, or premium options without hidden costs. While some enterprise users report high satisfaction, others find costs prohibitive, especially when additional infrastructure is required. Microsoft's associated costs and support issues can impact total expenses. Negotiation often helps lower costs, reflecting Citrix's adaptability and competitive positioning.

"We spent nearly 1,50,000 Euros for 250 licenses."
"As for the cost, it is neither cheap nor expensive. Personally, I find it quite expensive, especially if you want to add more features. The security features we use include App Protect and Endpoint Protection."
"If one is a high price and ten is a low price, I rate the tool's price a three."

Popular Use Cases

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is primarily used for remote access, enabling employees to work securely from various locations. Organizations use it for delivering virtual applications and desktops to multiple users, supporting work-from-home initiatives, and ensuring secure access to internal resources. It facilitates the use of virtual applications in universities, healthcare systems, law firms, and technical support teams, enhancing flexibility, security, and centralized management of IT infrastructure.

Service and Support

Users mention Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) customer support as responsive and knowledgeable. They highlight fast issue resolution and helpful guidance. Users appreciate the efficiency and professionalism of the support team. Some users indicate occasional delays in receiving responses but generally feel satisfied with the assistance provided. Users also note the detailed documentation available which helps address common queries.

Deployment

Initial setup of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is straightforward but varies in complexity based on environment size and requirements. Some companies found it quick and easy, completing within days, while others experienced delays due to larger scale deployments or integration challenges. Expertise levels, documentation quality, and external support, such as consultants, influenced setup ease. Smaller and simpler environments generally faced fewer issues than larger or more complex deployments.

Scalability

Citrix DaaS is highly scalable, seamlessly accommodating users across diverse companies, from small teams to tens of thousands. Organizations have scaled up rapidly during emergencies and have praised its ease of expansion, integration, and maintenance. The only limits cited are hardware and licensing constraints. Overall feedback indicates Citrix DaaS handles significant user increases efficiently without notable issues, making it suitable for varied scalability needs.

Stability

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is praised for its stability, with many citing it as dependable and reliable. Users highlight minimal downtime, consistent performance, and effective issue resolution. Stability is often attributed to robust infrastructure, security updates, and efficient resource management. Some mention the importance of network conditions for optimal performance, while others value its reliability, especially during high-demand periods. The platform is appreciated for its continual improvements and solid operation across various environments.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Healthcare Company

Retailer

University

Insurance Company

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

Hospitality Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Legal Firm

Non Profit

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Consumer Goods Company

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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) was previously known as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace.

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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) customers

Exelon, Aeronamic, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Alameda County Medical Center, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Aloysius Stichting, Amarchand Mangaldas, AmBev, Amnet Technology Solutions, Arval