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Compare VMware ESXi and VMware vSphere 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Mid-Market (50.0% of reviews)
Enterprise (44.0% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
VMware ESXi
Star Rating
(19)4.7 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (50.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VMware ESXiVMware vSphere
Star Rating
(750)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (44.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VMware vSphereSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that VMware vSphere excels in overall user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher G2 Score compared to VMware ESXi. Users appreciate its robust features like HA, DRS, and SRM, which enhance enterprise-grade virtualization capabilities.
- According to verified reviews, VMware ESXi is praised for its stability and ease of use, making it a solid choice for mid-market environments. Users highlight its ability to manage servers efficiently, which can lead to reduced hardware costs.
- Reviewers mention that VMware vSphere offers a more comprehensive support experience, with many users noting the great support and service provided. This is particularly beneficial for enterprises that require reliable assistance during critical operations.
- Users say that VMware ESXi shines in its ease of setup, with many finding the implementation process straightforward. This is a key advantage for smaller organizations or those with limited IT resources looking for quick deployment.
- According to recent user feedback, VMware vSphere is recognized for its intuitive management interface, which simplifies resource allocation and monitoring. This feature is particularly valued by users who manage complex virtual environments daily.
- G2 reviewers highlight that while both products are effective, VMware vSphere's extensive feature set, including overprovisioning and replication, makes it a preferred choice for larger enterprises seeking advanced virtualization solutions.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
VMware ESXi
No pricing availableVMware vSphere
No pricing availableFree Trial
VMware ESXi
No trial information availableVMware vSphere
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.5
18
9.2
329
Ease of Use
9.0
18
8.9
612
Ease of Setup
9.4
18
8.6
554
Ease of Admin
9.1
15
9.0
272
Quality of Support
9.1
16
8.6
306
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.2
15
8.6
278
Product Direction (% positive)
7.4
18
8.1
328
Features by Category
Performance
9.4
15
9.2
165
8.6
16
8.9
163
8.4
16
8.7
167
Functionality
9.3
15
9.2
164
9.1
15
9.1
163
9.1
15
9.0
165
9.3
14
8.9
163
Agentic AI - Server Virtualization
Not enough data
7.5
17
Not enough data
8.0
16
Not enough data
8.3
18
Not enough data
7.3
16
Not enough data
7.2
17
Not enough data
7.5
17
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
VMware ESXi and VMware vSphere are categorized as Server Virtualization
Unique Categories
VMware ESXi has no unique categories
VMware vSphere is categorized as Container Orchestration
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
VMware ESXi
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
VMware vSphere
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
44.4%
Telecommunications
11.1%
Food Production
11.1%
Accounting
11.1%
Manufacturing
5.6%
Other
16.7%
Information Technology and Services
15.4%
Hospital & Health Care
5.3%
Government Administration
5.2%
Telecommunications
5.1%
Financial Services
4.9%
Other
64.1%
Alternatives
Discussions
VMware ESXi has no discussions with answers
Is ESXi software free?
4 Comments
NA
ESXi has a free version! Basic features, perfect for personal use or testing. No advanced features or official support, but it's free forever. Paid editions...Read more
What is VMware vSphere standard?
2 Comments
AS
vSphere 7 has been rearchitected with native Kubernetes for application modernization. Developers can’t afford infrastructure that slows them down –...Read more
What is VMware vSphere Hypervisor used for?
2 Comments
AH
Virtual platform to host multiple images on a single machine which has limited resources.Read more
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