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Best Free Alternatives to VMware Horizon (Broadcom VCF Edition)
Stop paying Expensive ($3,100+ per user / 72-core minimum). Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Enterprise VDI & AppsVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Proxmox VE + VDI Client
FREEBest Direct VMware Replacement
Why we like it
100% open-source; combines VMs and Linux Containers (LXC); 2025 updates include a highly intuitive web interface and simplified cluster clustering; zero licensing fees.
Keep in mind
Requires a DIY approach for the 'VDI portal' (e.g., pairing it with PVE-VDI-Client or UDS Enterprise); higher learning curve for Windows-only admins.
Kasm Workspaces
FREEBest Modern VDI (Container-Based)
Why we like it
Streams isolated desktops/apps directly to the browser; extremely fast and secure; Community Edition is free for up to 5 sessions; perfect for tech portals and remote developer environments.
Keep in mind
Container-based logic is different from traditional 'Full VM' VDI; lacks some legacy peripheral support found in Horizon.
XCP-ng
FREEBest Enterprise Open-Source Hypervisor
Why we like it
Fully open-source alternative to ESXi; paired with Xen Orchestra for Horizon-like management; exceptional stability for Windows VMs; 2025 'Varstored' updates improved UEFI/Secure Boot support.
Keep in mind
The management interface (Xen Orchestra) requires a separate setup; smaller third-party ecosystem than VMware.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
Best for Microsoft Shops
Why we like it
Deeply integrated with M365; only platform with Windows 10/11 multi-session (saving massive hardware costs); no server infrastructure to manage.
Keep in mind
Locked into the Azure ecosystem; monthly costs can fluctuate based on usage; requires high-quality internet for the best experience.
Sangfor HCI
Best All-in-One Enterprise Alternative
Why we like it
A rising star in 2026; combines compute, storage, networking, and security in one platform; much simpler licensing than Broadcom; includes built-in DR and backup.
Keep in mind
Proprietary hardware/software stack; less 'community' documentation available compared to Proxmox.
Apache Guacamole
FREEBest Clientless Gateway
Why we like it
The king of HTML5 remote access; supports RDP, VNC, and SSH; zero client software needed—access everything through a browser.
Keep in mind
Not a full 'VDI'—it is a gateway. You still need a hypervisor (like Proxmox) to run the actual desktops behind it.
Parallels RAS
Best for Ease of Deployment
Why we like it
Takes 1/10th of the time to set up compared to Horizon; works on-prem, cloud, or hybrid; exceptional mobile/tablet support.
Keep in mind
Still requires Windows Server licenses (RDS CALs); performance isn't as 'lossless' as Horizon's Blast Extreme for 4K video editing.
Nutanix AHV
Best for Hybrid Cloud
Why we like it
Enterprise-grade reliability; if you buy Nutanix hardware, the hypervisor is effectively 'free'; superior one-click management.
Keep in mind
Costs can eventually rival VMware VCF tiers; requires Nutanix-certified hardware for the best experience.
Leostream
Best VDI Connection Broker
Why we like it
The 'Swiss Army Knife' of brokers; can manage Proxmox, AWS, and Physical PCs all in one portal; platform-agnostic.
Keep in mind
It is just the 'brain' (broker); you still need the 'muscles' (hypervisors/desktops) to connect it to.
KubeVirt (OpenShift Virtualization)
Best for 'Cloud-Native' Teams
Why we like it
Runs VMs inside Kubernetes pods; allows you to manage containers and VMs with the exact same tools; very future-proof.
Keep in mind
Extremely high technical barrier to entry; requires a mature DevOps culture to manage effectively.
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