# Top 10 VMware ESXi Alternatives & Competitors (22)4.7 out of 5 Based on G2 reviews, VMware ESXi is often evaluated alongside top-rated alternatives that vary by use case, pricing, and features. In most cases, users compare alternatives based on reliability and ease of use. The best overall alternative to VMware ESXi is [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews), rated ~4.6 stars on G2 from 36+ reviewers. It is frequently praised for cost-effective and maintenance ease. Other well-known alternatives to VMware ESXi are: - [Xen Project](https://www.g2.com/products/xen-project/reviews) – known for integrations and functionality (G2 star rating ~4.4) - [XenServer](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews) – highly rated for reliability and ease of use (G2 star rating ~4.2) - [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) – offers cloud storage and cloud computing (G2 star rating ~4.4) - [VirtualBox](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) – best suited for teams that need virtualization management and security (G2 star rating ~4.5) Browse top options below. Based on G2 review data, VMware ESXi is most commonly used in industries like [Server Virtualization Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/server-virtualization), [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas), [Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-desktop-infrastructure-vdi). Compare user ratings by vertical to find the best fit. ## Best Paid & Free Alternatives to VMware ESXi - Proxmox VE - Xen Project - XenServer - Azure Virtual Machines - VirtualBox - Oracle VM - Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) - Google Compute Engine ## Top 10 Alternatives to VMware ESXi Recently Reviewed By G2 Community Browse options below. Based on reviewer data, you can see how VMware ESXi stacks up to the competition, check reviews from current & previous users in industries like Information Technology and Services, Telecommunications, and Luxury Goods & Jewelry, and find the best product for your business. [![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) Sponsored G2 Advertising Get 2x conversion than Google Ads with G2 Advertising! G2 Advertising places your product in premium positions on high-traffic pages and on targeted competitor pages to reach buyers at key comparison moments. [ Learn More ](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/00ed9359853dde05cd4c34e2bc47ec95/proxmox-ve.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) [ Proxmox VE ](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) By [Proxmox](https://www.g2.com/sellers/proxmox) [ 4.6/5(37) ](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews#reviews) Product Description Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) is an open-source server virtualization platform that integrates Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) and Linux Containers (LXC) technologies. It enables users to deploy and manage virtual machines and containers through a unified web-based interface, offering a comprehensive solution for enterprise virtualization needs. Key Features and Functionality: - Integrated Virtualization: Combines KVM for full virtualization and LXC for lightweight containerization, allowing flexible deployment of various workloads. - Web-Based Management Interface: Provides an intuitive web interface for managing virtual machines, containers, storage, and networking, simplifying administrative tasks. - High Availability Clustering: Supports clustering of multiple nodes with high availability configurations, ensuring minimal downtime and enhanced reliability. - Live Migration: Enables live migration of virtual machines between cluster nodes without service interruption, facilitating maintenance and load balancing. - Backup and Restore: Offers integrated backup and restore functionalities for virtual machines and containers, ensuring data protection and disaster recovery readiness. - Software-Defined Storage and Networking: Includes support for various storage backends and advanced networking configurations, providing flexibility in infrastructure design. Primary Value and User Solutions: Proxmox VE addresses the need for a robust, scalable, and cost-effective virtualization solution in enterprise environments. By integrating multiple virtualization technologies and management tools into a single platform, it simplifies the deployment and administration of virtualized infrastructures. Its open-source nature ensures transparency and adaptability, allowing organizations to tailor the system to their specific requirements. The platform's high availability and live migration features minimize downtime, enhancing business continuity. Additionally, the comprehensive backup and restore capabilities safeguard critical data, providing peace of mind for IT administrators. Overall, Proxmox VE empowers businesses to optimize their IT resources, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs associated with virtualization management. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE is: Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/794ceb6ebc76afbfff2702f3c04b5b14/xen-project.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/xen-project/reviews) [ Xen Project ](https://www.g2.com/products/xen-project/reviews) By [The Linux Foundation](https://www.g2.com/sellers/the-linux-foundation) [ 4.4/5(5) ](https://www.g2.com/products/xen-project/reviews#reviews) Product Description The Xen Project serves as the basis for many commercial server virtualization, desktop and embedded products as well as hardware appliances and cloud solutions. Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/7fbe4aba5c3b2a2d5c6a9229c045efa8/xenserver.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews) [ XenServer ](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews) By [Citrix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/citrix) [ 4.2/5(49) ](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews#reviews) Product Description XenServer is a leading virtualization management platform optimized for application, desktop and server virtualization infrastructures. Consolidation and containment of workloads on Citrix Hypervisor enables organizations of any vertical or size to transform their business IT compute infrastructures. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, XenServer is: Slower to reach roi Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) Sponsored G2 Advertising Get 2x conversion than Google Ads with G2 Advertising! G2 Advertising places your product in premium positions on high-traffic pages and on targeted competitor pages to reach buyers at key comparison moments. [ Learn More ](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/f176b4154a751d10150daa67a57b7dc5/azure-virtual-machines.jpg "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) [ Azure Virtual Machines ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) By [Microsoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/microsoft) [ 4.4/5(393) ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews#reviews) Product Description Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) are scalable, on-demand computing resources provided by Microsoft Azure, enabling users to deploy and manage virtualized Windows and Linux servers in the cloud. These VMs support a wide range of workloads, from simple web applications to complex enterprise solutions, offering flexibility and control over computing resources without the need for physical hardware maintenance. Key Features and Functionality: - Diverse VM Series: Azure offers various VM series tailored to specific needs: - General Purpose (D-series, B-series): Balanced CPU-to-memory ratio, suitable for web servers and small to medium databases. - Compute Optimized (F-series): High CPU-to-memory ratio, ideal for CPU-intensive tasks like batch processing. - Memory Optimized (E-series): High memory-to-CPU ratio, designed for in-memory applications and large databases. - Storage Optimized (L-series): High disk throughput and IOPS, perfect for big data and data warehousing. - GPU-enabled (N-series): Equipped with GPUs for graphics-intensive and machine learning workloads. - Operating System Support: Azure VMs support a broad range of operating systems, including various distributions of Linux and all supported versions of Windows Server. - Scalability and Availability: Features like Virtual Machine Scale Sets allow for automatic scaling of applications, and Availability Sets ensure high availability by distributing VMs across multiple physical servers. - Integrated Security: Built-in security features include Azure Security Center for threat detection and response, and compliance with various industry standards. - Cost Management: Options like Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances and Azure Hybrid Benefit help optimize costs, while Azure Spot Virtual Machines offer significant discounts for interruptible workloads. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: Azure Virtual Machines offer businesses the ability to quickly deploy and manage scalable computing resources without the overhead of maintaining physical hardware. This flexibility allows organizations to respond rapidly to changing demands, optimize costs through various pricing options, and ensure high availability and security for their applications. By leveraging Azure VMs, users can focus on developing and running their applications while Azure handles the underlying infrastructure, leading to increased operational efficiency and agility. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Azure Virtual Machines is: Slower to reach roi Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/905ab8c2886117b7de9f64b848639635/virtualbox.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) [ VirtualBox ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) By [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle) [ 4.5/5(294) ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews#reviews) Product Description Oracle VM VirtualBox is a free, open-source, cross-platform virtualization software that enables users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single device. Designed for IT professionals and developers, VirtualBox supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Oracle Solaris as host operating systems, making it ideal for testing, development, demonstration, and deployment across diverse platforms. Key Features and Functionality: - Cross-Platform Compatibility: VirtualBox runs on various host operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Oracle Solaris, and supports a wide range of guest operating systems. - High Performance: The software leverages the latest in chip-level support for virtualization, including support for AMD, Intel, and Apple silicon processors, to provide faster execution times for guest operating systems. - 3D Graphics Support: VirtualBox includes VBoxSVGA and VMSVGA interfaces to improve 3D graphics performance. - USB Device Support: It implements a virtual USB controller, allowing users to connect arbitrary USB devices to virtual machines without installing device-specific drivers on the host. - Disk Image Encryption: VirtualBox supports 128 or 256-bit data encryption keys, enabling transparent encryption of data stored in hard disk images using the AES algorithm. - Remote Machine Display: The VirtualBox Remote Desktop Extension (VRDE) enables high-performance remote access to running virtual machines, supporting the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with additional features like full client USB support. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: VirtualBox addresses several key challenges for its users: - Cost Reduction: By allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single device, VirtualBox reduces the need for multiple physical machines, thereby lowering hardware and operational costs. - Development Efficiency: Developers can test applications across different operating systems and versions using the same desktop environment, accelerating the development and testing process. - Simplified Software Distribution: Solution providers can distribute applications within a VirtualBox virtual machine, ensuring compatibility across various operating systems and versions without additional configuration. - Legacy Application Support: IT teams can extend the lifespan of legacy applications by running them on modern hardware through VirtualBox, avoiding the need for costly application rewrites or hardware replacements. - Secure Remote Access: VirtualBox facilitates secure access to restricted applications for remote workers by providing encrypted and isolated environments, ensuring data security and compliance without extensive rearchitecting of applications. In summary, Oracle VM VirtualBox offers a versatile and efficient solution for running multiple operating systems on a single device, enhancing development workflows, reducing costs, and providing secure, cross-platform compatibility for various IT needs. Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/53d2f4c6515a8efb209be417b8597377/oracle-vm.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews) [ Oracle VM ](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews) By [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle) [ 4.3/5(73) ](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews#reviews) Product Description Server Virtualization. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Oracle VM is: Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/546b8765f5b21b7fe0c28b00145d0eff/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci/reviews) [ Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) ](https://www.g2.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci/reviews) By [Nutanix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/nutanix) [ 4.5/5(333) ](https://www.g2.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci/reviews#reviews) Product Description Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) combines feature-rich software-defined storage with built-in virtualization in a turnkey hyperconverged infrastructure solution that can run any application at any scale. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) is: Slower to reach roi Easier to do business with Better at support Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/aeae116c52945fdecd7ed16d621cb315/google-compute-engine.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) [ Google Compute Engine ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) By [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google) [ 4.5/5(953) ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews#reviews) Product Description Compute Engine enables you to create and run large-scale workloads on virtual machines hosted on Google Cloud. Get running quickly with pre-built and ready-to-go configurations or create machines of your own with the optimal amount of vCPU and memory required for your workload. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Google Compute Engine is: Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/5132ef1746ee4541cdb9f70d034ff0d6/virtuozzo.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtuozzo/reviews) [ Virtuozzo ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtuozzo/reviews) By [Virtuozzo](https://www.g2.com/sellers/virtuozzo) [ 4.4/5(55) ](https://www.g2.com/products/virtuozzo/reviews#reviews) Product Description Provider of Virtualization, Storage, and Cloud Infrastructure Software. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Virtuozzo is: Slower to reach roi Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/387c3dfdb21c2883f61e09e50a9e2ddf/vultr.png "Product Avatar Image") ](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) [ Vultr ](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) By [Vultr Holdings LLC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/vultr-holdings-llc) [ 4.3/5(288) ](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews#reviews) Product Description Vultr offers a standardized highly reliable high performance cloud compute environment with 14 datacenters around the globe. Reviewers say compared to VMware ESXi, Vultr is: Easier to do business with Categories in common with VMware ESXi: [ Server Virtualization ](/categories/server-virtualization) ## VMware ESXi Alternatives FAQs Generated using AI ### How does VMware ESXi compare to Proxmox VE? According to G2 data, [VMware ESXi](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-esxi/reviews) holds a slight advantage over [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) in key usability dimensions, scoring 9.1 versus 8.7 in Usability and 9.4 versus 8.1 in Ease of Setup, reflecting its reputation for stability, reliability, and a mature ecosystem including vCenter and vSAN integrations. VMware ESXi is praised for its virtualization management, ease of use, and extensive feature set such as snapshots, high availability, and migration capabilities, with 6 reviews highlighting virtualization management and 4 emphasizing ease of use. However, it is noted for high licensing costs, a steep learning curve, and some limitations on standalone mode features. Proxmox VE, rated 4.6/5 from 36 reviews, is recognized for its open-source nature, cost-effectiveness, and integrated virtualization and containerization capabilities, including clustering, live migration, and software-defined storage without expensive licensing. It scores lower in Support (7.0 vs 9.0) and Meeting Requirements (8.9 vs 9.6) but is favored for flexibility and affordability. Proxmox VE users appreciate its scalability and integration potential but note a steeper learning curve and less polished documentation. Overall, VMware ESXi excels in enterprise-grade features and support, while Proxmox VE offers a powerful, cost-effective alternative with open-source benefits. ### What are the best alternatives to VMware ESXi? The best alternatives to VMware ESXi include [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) (4.6/5 stars from 36 reviews), [Xen Project](https://www.g2.com/products/xen-project/reviews) (4.4/5 stars from 5 reviews), [XenServer](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews) (4.2/5 stars from 49 reviews), [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) (4.4/5 stars from 393 reviews), [VirtualBox](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) (4.5/5 stars from 294 reviews), [Oracle VM](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews) (4.3/5 stars from 73 reviews), [Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)](https://www.g2.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci/reviews) (4.5/5 stars from 328 reviews), [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) (4.5/5 stars from 952 reviews), [Virtuozzo](https://www.g2.com/products/virtuozzo/reviews) (4.4/5 stars from 55 reviews), and [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) (4.3/5 stars from 286 reviews). These alternatives offer a range of features and pricing models that appeal to different user needs and budgets. ### Which Server Virtualization tools do reviewers recommend instead of VMware ESXi? Reviewers recommend [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) for its open-source model, integrated virtualization and containerization, high availability clustering, live migration, and cost-effectiveness, with 36 reviews praising its ease of deployment and comprehensive features. [XenServer](https://www.g2.com/products/xenserver/reviews) is noted for stability, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness across 49 reviews. [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) receive strong recommendations for scalability, flexibility, integration with Azure services, and ease of use from 393 reviews. [VirtualBox](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) is favored for its free, open-source nature, cross-platform compatibility, and user-friendly interface in 294 reviews. [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) is praised in 952 reviews for its flexibility, performance, customizable machine types, and seamless integration with Google Cloud services. [Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)](https://www.g2.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-nci/reviews) is recommended for simplifying hybrid cloud management, unified compute and storage, and automation features in 328 reviews. [Virtuozzo](https://www.g2.com/products/virtuozzo/reviews) is appreciated for ease of deployment, container and VM management, and cost-effectiveness. [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) is noted for its affordable pricing, global data centers, ease of use, and developer-friendly interface in 286 reviews. These tools are often recommended as alternatives to VMware ESXi based on user satisfaction and feature sets. ### Why do users choose Proxmox VE over VMware ESXi? Users choose [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) over VMware ESXi primarily due to its open-source licensing and significantly lower cost, avoiding the high licensing and subscription fees associated with VMware ESXi, as cited in multiple reviews. Proxmox VE provides enterprise-grade virtualization and containerization features such as clustering, live migration, high availability, and software-defined storage without locking users into expensive licenses. Its all-in-one simplicity and flexibility appeal to users seeking a cost-effective solution that supports both virtual machines and containers in a single platform. Additionally, Proxmox VE's compatibility with a wide range of hardware and native support for ZFS storage are valued. Despite a steeper learning curve and less comprehensive documentation, users appreciate the active community support and the ability to integrate Proxmox VE smoothly into existing environments. These factors make Proxmox VE a preferred choice for organizations prioritizing affordability, open-source transparency, and integrated virtualization features without vendor lock-in. ### Explore Articles [ Leading software for automating customer support services ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/leading-software-for-automating-customer-support-services) [ Which freelance platforms work best for a project manager who needs to hire and manage multiple contractors across different skill sets without using a separate tool for each? ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-freelance-platforms-work-best-for-a-project-manager-who-needs-to-hire-and-manage-multiple-contractors-across-different-skill-sets-without-using-a-separate-tool-for-each) [ Which MEP tools maintain ease of setup and performance when handling large, complex project files? ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-mep-tools-maintain-ease-of-setup-and-performance-when-handling-large-complex-project-files) [ What HR service delivery platforms have strong integration capabilities so employee requests and case management flow seamlessly with the existing HR tech stack? ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-hr-service-delivery-platforms-have-strong-integration-capabilities-so-employee-requests-and-case-management-flow-seamlessly-with-the-existing-hr-tech-stack) [ Popular VoIP platforms for corporate use ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/popular-voip-platforms-for-corporate-use) [ Best live chat software for increasing conversion rates ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/best-live-chat-software-for-increasing-conversion-rates) ### Spotlight Categories [ Marketing Automation Software ](https://www.g2.com/categories/marketing-automation) [ Data Observability Software ](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-observability) [ Digital Asset Management Software ](https://www.g2.com/categories/digital-asset-management)