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Proxmox VE vs VMware ESXi comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 6, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Proxmox VE
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Number of Reviews
62
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
VMware ESXi
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
28
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

Toby Champion - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 1, 2024
Ensures a robust, user-friendly virtualization platform with seamless VM management, efficient resource allocation and a strong community for support
Improvements are needed for the API. Currently, there are several features inaccessible through the API, necessitating the use of either the WebUI or the command line interface. While the command line interface suffices, it's apparent that efforts are underway to enhance this aspect. In future releases, one potential feature enhancement could be improved remote screen access, allowing users to connect to the screen of another machine more seamlessly. Additionally, integrating with Terraform or providing better support for Terraform workflows might be beneficial, as there seems to be some lacking in that area. There's a minor inconvenience where you have to switch the license file from the open-source community license to an enterprise license.
Syed Shahid Hasan - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 11, 2024
Reliable, is not affected by network issues, and provides good support
Most people do not know why VMware is more stable than Hyper-V. Our clients use Webex after version 6.5. Before, we installed VMware Client and connected to the vCenter server. The vCenter server was connected to the vCenter host. There were a lot of version and service issues with vCenter. Things have been better after we installed Webex. The cost is very important. We have to buy the latest hardware and licenses. The license is very costly. The vendor might discontinue the perpetual license. The tool will become more costly. Customers will leave VMware and choose Hyper-V. The vendor must rethink the price. We can learn to use the solution through YouTube videos. Beginners can use the tool, but we must learn and better know the product. It is a very good product. Overall, I rate the tool an eight out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Saves a lot of time compared to imaging physical desktops."
"Proxmox is free, very stable, and doesn't require more resources for memory RAM. It's fine for a small data center."
"KVM hypervisor is a valuable part of the solution."
"That the product is free and still has all the features you expect is a huge benefit."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The most valuable feature of Proxmox VE is the speed. Additionally, I can modify the solution if needed because it is open-source and the integration of any kind of API and monitoring is hassle-free."
"The solution's maintenance part was very easy."
"The most valuable feature of Proxmox VE is the linked clone."
"VMware ESXi's most proven and beneficial area for our virtualization needs revolves around clustering."
"From a technical perspective, VMware ESXi's best advantages are its reliability and high availability features. It's a very mature and good environment."
"The ease of use would be the first feature I like, then reliability."
"The most valuable features are the integration with networking and virtual network switches."
"VMware ESXi provides high availability and a good web interface."
"The most important features are having a lot of code and CPU threads to ensure the system doesn't lag, and the role of memory is important."
"ESXi's server management capabilities are incredibly beneficial, as it supports software integration with Windows servers and other essential systems."
"The product is very reliable."
 

Cons

"If this solution could import directly from OVS format then it would make migration much easier."
"I don't have enough experience to say what can be improved."
"The initial setup has a pretty steep learning curve."
"Proxmox VE doesn't offer a good interface for monitoring."
"We are facing issues with disk utilization and disk performance."
"Currently, there are several features inaccessible through the API, necessitating the use of either the WebUI or the command line interface."
"Proxmox needs to improve the integration of its network, machines, and virtual machines."
"The management can be better. It's not like VMware where you can get all clusters on a single dashboard. In VMware, you can literally see all the VMs running in one cluster regardless of the host."
"There is always potential for further refinement, such as improving the web interface or fine-tuning advanced settings."
"The software could be more user-friendly, allowing customers to easily find the resources and features they need."
"Pricing could be improved."
"The price point could be improved."
"The pricing strategy could be improved."
"The solution's cost is a concern."
"The license model has recently changed, which is a bit worrying for customers."
"There have been issues with the tool's technical support and pricing of licenses, making them areas where improvements are required."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost is excellent."
"An excellent choice for budget sensitive operations.​"
"Proxmox VE is affordable. It's cheaper than Hyper-V, Huawei Desktop Protocol, and Huawei Desktop Cloud."
"It's very cheap."
"It's an open-source solution that can be used free of cost."
"The price of the solution is priced low."
"The tool is free."
"We are using the free community version of Proxmox VE."
"VMware ESXi is a costly solution in Africa and other developing countries."
"If one is cheap, and ten is expensive, I rate the tool's price as an eight."
"I rate the solution's pricing a five out of ten."
"The tool has become expensive."
"The solution is expensive."
"Since Broadcom's acquisition, the solution's price has been adjusted, and perpetual licenses are no longer offered."
"The pricing is expensive, with the cost for customers ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 yearly."
"The product pricing was reasonable before, but recent changes, including bundling, have complicated the cost structure."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Proxmox vs ESXi/vSphere: What is your experience?
For me the biggest impact is the cost of licensing in the case of VMware despite its overall intuitiveness and ease of handling and management. However, KVM-based Open Source solutions are becoming...
How does Proxmox VE compare with Hyper-V?
One of the best things about Proxmox VE is that it is open-source and very inexpensive. You get all of the same features as with the more well-known products. Proxmox VE is very easy to deploy - it...
Proxmox VE or KVM?
I use Proxmox VE and have been very happy with it. In my opinion, it is a complete and stable solution with excellent tools for managing servers. It has a lot of different features, and I also love...
What do you like most about VMware ESXi?
My customers are satisfied with the solution’s performance.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VMware ESXi?
The cost of VMware ESXi revolves around its licensing model. It would be beneficial to purchase licenses tailored specifically to our use needs, to reduce costs and improve performance.
What needs improvement with VMware ESXi?
There are concerns about VMware changing their licensing model from perpetual to a subscription model. This has led some customers to reconsider using VMware ESXi due to increased expenses and oper...
 

Learn More

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Municipality of Trento, SwitchMIA, inDenova, Valmeita City Council, Alpha IT AS, Grupo Inversor Veracruzano S.A.P.I. de C.V. (GRIVER), Laut und Schoen, IT-Services - Hamburg e.K., KMI Learning, Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., Serwise AG
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Proxmox VE vs. VMware ESXi and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.