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Azure Stack vs VMware Software Defined Data Center comparison

Microsoft and VMware are both solutions in the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) category. Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.8, while VMware is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. Microsoft holds a 44.6% mindshare in SDDC, compared to VMware’s 17.3% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of VMware users who would recommend it.
Azure Stack
Read 64 Azure Stack reviews
  • 211 Views
  • 145 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
VMware Software Defined Dat...
Read 29 VMware Software Defined Data Center reviews
  • 242 Views
  • 86 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between Azure Stack and VMware Software Defined Data Center based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

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To learn more, read our detailed Azure Stack vs. VMware Software Defined Data Center Report (Updated: January 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Azure Stack vs. VMware Software Defined Data Center
January 2025
Download the complete report
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Azure Stack
Ranking in Software Defined Data Center (SDDC)
2nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
64
Ranking in other categories
Hybrid Cloud Computing Platforms (1st)
VMware Software Defined Dat...
Ranking in Software Defined Data Center (SDDC)
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.9
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2025, in the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) category, the mindshare of Azure Stack is 44.6%, up from 38.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware Software Defined Data Center is 17.3%, down from 34.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Defined Data Center (SDDC)
 

Featured Reviews

PuneetKaura - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers seamless transition, integration capabilities of Azure Stack works well and scales easily
For hybrid cloud operations, the seamless transition it enables is key. Most enterprises have a lot of workloads on-premises, and they want a smooth way to move into the cloud. Some things are on-prem, and some things are on the cloud. Azure Stack bridges that gap with solutions that work well for their existing on-premises infrastructure.
Read full review
Shahab Al Yamin Chawdhury - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides robust network flexibility but is exceptionally costly
We contact technical support whenever we have an issue. They are helpful, but it is a bit of a process. First, you explain the problem to a level one engineer, and if is complex, they might need to pass it up the chain. This can take a few days, which can be a bit slow in urgent situations. I would rate their support as a seven out of ten. It is good but could be faster.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It's more reliable, secure, and easy to deploy. It's much more stable as a platform."
"The user interface is nice and very simple to use."
"I appreciate that all the tools are available natively within Azure. It's all set up nicely. It's all minor."
"The solution is pretty stable."
"The most valuable features are that it is a Hybrid, and we can easily integrate with the Microsoft Public Cloud."
"The initial setup is very, very simple."
"Azure Stack provides us with computational power. We also get an option to have it with Azure Cloud, which is beneficial. We don't need to buy any other extra servers or any virtual machines with high-end graphics."
"Azure Active Directory is the most valuable feature."
More Azure Stack pros
"The most valuable feature is the strong support. Also, the H-Appliance feature that supports MPLS is very important to us."
"The documentation is very good."
"The feature set and the maturity of the product are most valuable."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the SDDC Manager."
"The VMware Software Defined Data Center Manager can be used to manage VMs across multiple platforms."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is vSphere."
"The higher availability, the DRS, and its connection with NetApp are the most valuable features."
"Bare Metal Ethernet SAN "dramatically improved" performance, stability, and reliability of the VMware Healthcare Solution Architecture."
More VMware Software Defined Data Center pros
 

Cons

"It's not stable as IBM solutions. It fully supports all the .NET solutions, but our main applications are based in Java. So in those cases, we've had some minor problems with Azure, but Microsoft always says that it can handle this stuff."
"The licensing model of Azure Stack is complicated."
"Azure Messaging services are in need of improvement."
"Azure Stack could be improved with more integration, governance tools, monitor tools, and lift and shift tools."
"It might be beneficial if Microsoft could introduce a more cost-effective data lake feature within their product."
"There should be more focus on the user interface, specifically for the management console."
"The visibility of its SDN feature needs improvement."
"If I were to mention an area that could be enhanced, it might be technical support, as there have been observations that the response time is not as fast as some of its competitors like Google."
More Azure Stack cons
"One area where it could improve is in the user interface."
"There's quite a lot of uncertainty at the moment regarding the solution following the Broadcom acquisition of VMware."
"They are using vRealize Log Insight as the virtualized log platform, but this solution is not well developed and not yet ready to use for advanced optimization and troubleshooting."
"The automation of the solution needs improvement. We should be able to automate some processes."
"The most recent web-based interface has given us some problems."
"The solution needs performance optimization of the VMware IO technology."
"There could be more insights for hyper-cloud solutions in terms of enhanced configuration."
"The solution must provide more features."
More VMware Software Defined Data Center cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Azure Stack is a medium-priced product, so it is not overpriced, but the prices may be higher for certain services."
"It is not a cost-friendly solution."
"I don't have a specific feature, my customers use all of the features that are available and the entire stack."
"The solution is expensive."
"Azure Stack is expensive."
"Pricing could be improved so I rate it an eight out of ten."
"The product is expensive, but it is fine for the value that the solution produces."
"The licensing costs are expensive."
More Azure Stack pricing and cost advice
"VMware Software Defined Data Center is expensive."
"VMware Software Defined Data Center is a very expensive solution."
"All of the customers can go to VMware Hands-on Labs online and test this solution before buying it."
"There are extra costs involved for the product for storage and expansion."
"Its pricing could be better."
"The normal license is not very cheap."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
15%
Government
15%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Real Estate/Law Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Azure Stack?
For hybrid cloud operations, the seamless transition it enables is key. Most enterprises have a lot of workloads on-premises, and they want a smooth way to move into the cloud. Some things are on...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Stack?
Azure Stack is a very expensive solution. The costs are very opaque and coming out of control quite quickly.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Azure Stack?
The solution's transparency over cost management could be much easier because it's very difficult to manage costs.
See all answers
What do you like most about VMware Software Defined Data Center?
The VMware Software Defined Data Center Manager can be used to manage VMs across multiple platforms.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VMware Software Defined Data Center?
VMware Software Defined Data Center is a very expensive solution.
See all answers
What needs improvement with VMware Software Defined Data Center?
There's quite a lot of uncertainty at the moment regarding the solution following the Broadcom acquisition of VMware. After the Broadcom acquisition, they changed the licensing model, reduced their...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

VMware Cloud Foundation vs Azure Stack Logo
VMware Cloud Foundation vs Azure Stack
Compared 51% of the time
AWS Outposts vs Azure Stack Logo
AWS Outposts vs Azure Stack
Compared 27% of the time
Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) vs Azure Stack Logo
Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) vs Azure Stack
Compared 13% of the time
Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Azure Stack Logo
Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Azure Stack
Compared 4% of the time
Google Anthos vs Azure Stack Logo
Google Anthos vs Azure Stack
Compared 2% of the time
More Azure Stack Competitors
No data available
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Azure Stack
January 2025
Azure Stack reportDownload Azure Stack product report
Buyer's Guide
VMware Software Defined Data Center
December 2024
VMware Software Defined Data Center reportDownload VMware Software Defined Data Center product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
VMware SDDC
 

Learn More

Microsoft
VMware
 

Overview

Information not available

The VMware approach to the SDDC delivers a unified platform that supports any application and provides flexible control. The VMware architecture for the SDDC empowers companies to run hybrid clouds and to leverage unique capabilities to deliver key outcomes that enable efficiency, agility, and security. Enterprises using VMware technology have three ways to establish an SDDC and transition at their own pace: build their own using reference architectures; use a converged infrastructure; or use a hyper-converged infrastructure for which the full SDDC is delivered already implemented on the customer's hardware of choice.

 

Sample Customers

Weblink, Fathym, Sage, CFD Support Ltd, The UberCloud Inc.
ACI, Western Carolina University
Buyer's Guide
Azure Stack vs. VMware Software Defined Data Center
January 2025
Free Report: Azure Stack vs. VMware Software Defined Data Center
Find out what your peers are saying about Azure Stack vs. VMware Software Defined Data Center and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
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We monitor all Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.