VMware Cloud Foundation Reviews & Product Details

Across all locations, VCF standardizes the infrastructure stack. Prior to VCF, different sites had varying configurations (different versions of vSphere, unique networking layouts), making troubleshooting complex; first step was identifying what made that site different. With VCF, all compute/storage/network components are deployed similarly every time.

Lifecycle automation via SDDC Manager eliminates our manual efforts for patching. Previously, patching was completed over the weekends and executed one host at-a-time. We can now apply updates to workloads, and the system performs the updates.

Being able to run VMs and containers on the same platform provides developers access to both without implementing separate Kubernetes clusters with Tanzu-enabled services. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The licensing modifications that have occurred since Broadcom's acquisition have been considerably difficult. The amount we paid previously is no longer what we pay now, and the subscription model just appears to increase in price each year. Several reviews found on Gartner's site show similar results -- the cost of licenses has risen substantially.

There is also an increased learning curve associated with how you utilize the lifecycle tooling and NSX. When team members have not been involved in prior upgrades and are new to the team, they will likely have difficulties with the automation segment of those upgrades because they will not have gone through the upgrading process; therefore, they'll need time to adjust to using the automation capabilities that are part of the upgrades. Because you must have certified hardware to run the lifecycle tooling/automation software, having certified hardware may inhibit your ability to use existing servers as resources for the new lifecycle tooling and automation systems because of the hardware compatibility requirements. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about VMware Cloud Foundation is the way it brings compute, storage, networking, and cloud management into a single integrated platform. It simplifies deployment and lifecycle management, reduces operational complexity, and provides a more consistent infrastructure standard across private and hybrid cloud environments. It also helps accelerate provisioning, improves scalability, and gives better visibility and control for IT teams managing modern workloads. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One downside of VMware Cloud Foundation is that the initial implementation and overall architecture can be complex, especially for organizations without a highly skilled virtualization or cloud operations team. It can also require significant planning, upfront investment, and alignment between infrastructure, networking, and security teams. In some cases, licensing, hardware requirements, and the learning curve may slow adoption for smaller environments or companies with limited resources. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

With VCF 9, you can finally get a private cloud experience that’s on par with hyperscalers like AWS and Azure. The components fit together smoothly as one cohesive unit, covering compute, storage, and networking in a consistent, integrated way. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The default load balancer that comes with NSX is not enterprise-ready. For that, you would have to buy the Avi load balancer. This hinders the experience of a turnkey solution where everything comes with one license. I would prefer the default load balancer to include a few more features that support small-scale deployments, with the option to gradually upgrade to the more advanced Avi load balancer as the solution expands. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

in my daily activities, what I appreciate the most is the level of automation and integration across the platform. Tasks that would normally require multiple manual steps are handled in a much more orchestrated way, which saves time and improves consistency. The integration between compute (vSphere) and networking (NSX) is very well designed and simplifies day-to-day operations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

So far, I haven’t encountered major issues. The main challenge is the initial learning curve: understanding the architecture and workflows requires some time and hands-on experience, especially if you want to use the platform at its full potential. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about VMware Cloud Foundation is its tightly integrated SDDC stack, which simplifies deployment and operations. Automated lifecycle management via SDDC Manager significantly reduces upgrade effort and risk. It also ensures consistency across environments, improving deployment speed and supporting scalable, repeatable automation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I dislike about VMware Cloud Foundation is its complexity and heavy resource requirements, especially for smaller environments. The initial deployment and configuration can be time-consuming, and troubleshooting often requires deep expertise across multiple components. Additionally, licensing costs can be relatively high compared to more modular or cloud-native alternatives. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about VMware Cloud Foundation is that it provides a complete and integrated platform for managing hybrid cloud environments. It combines compute, storage, and networking in one solution, which makes it easier to explain and demonstrate to customers as a presales engineer.

I also like the consistency between on-premises and cloud environments, as well as the automation features that simplify deployment and management. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I dislike about VMware Cloud Foundation is that it requires skilled resources. Also, the cost is relatively high, which can be a concern for some customers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about VMware Cloud Foundation is how it simplifies the management of complex infrastructure by bringing compute, storage, networking, and security into a single integrated platform. Instead of managing each layer separately, everything is centrally managed with built-in automation and lifecycle management. This reduces operational effort, improves consistency, and makes it much easier to deploy, scale, and maintain hybrid cloud environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One area where VMware Cloud Foundation can improve is cost flexibility. The licensing and overall investment can be high, particularly for small and mid-sized organizations, so more modular or usage-based pricing would help. Additionally, the platform has a steep learning curve due to the integration of multiple VMware components. More simplified onboarding, clearer documentation, and guided setup workflows would make it easier for new users to adopt and manage the platform effectively. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like the stability and predictability that VMware Cloud Foundation brings once the environment is set up properly. The integration with vSAN and NSX feels very enterprise-grade, and performance remains consistent even when workload demand increases. Additionally, from an operations perspective, it makes troubleshooting easier as the stack is designed to work together, rather than feeling like separate tools stitched up. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest downside is the complexity - it's not something you can just 'pickup and configure' without proper planning and VMware knowledge. Licensing and cost can also feel heavy, especially if you are not using the full stack. Also, when something breaks, the dependency chain is big, so troubleshooting can sometimes take longer than expected. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like VMware Cloud Foundation for its automated lifecycle management through SDDC Manager, which significantly reduces upgrade complexity and operational risk. NSX microsegmentation is also a feature I really value as it provides strong internal security controls and visibility, crucial for our cybersecurity environment. SDDC Manager is extremely helpful as it orchestrates upgrades and patches across the entire stack—vSphere, vSAN, and NSX. The platform allows us to define workload-level firewall rules, strengthening our internal security posture beyond just perimeter security. It's a highly integrated, secure, and automated platform, which motivated our transition from using standalone vSphere and NSX deployments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One challenge is the licensing and overall cost, which can be significant for larger or scaling environments. The licensing model can be expensive because it bundles multiple components - vSphere, vSAN, NSX, SDDC Manager each with its own cost, which adds up quickly for larger deployments. It can be difficult to predict total cost when scaling and some features are only available in higher-tier license. A potential improvement would be more flexible, modular licensing options that allow organizations to pay only for the components and features they actively use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

VMware Cloud Foundation is a precious tool for managing and working with hybrid cloud systems and environments. For small businesses and large datacenters it helps all clients. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

In my opinion the downside of the VMware Cloud Foundation is the licensing costs , there should be a lite version that could have less functionalities and would be ideal for small environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.