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NetScaler Reviews

Vendor: NetScaler
4.2 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1
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What is NetScaler?

NetScaler is an advanced application delivery controller providing load balancing, SSL offloading, and enhanced network performance. Users benefit from its robust security features, seamless Citrix integrations, and cost-effective infrastructure.

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NetScaler is the #1 ranked solution in top Application Delivery Controllers, #5 ranked solution in top Network Management Applications, and #12 ranked solution in top Web Application Firewalls. PeerSpot users give NetScaler an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. NetScaler is most commonly compared to Microsoft Azure Application Gateway: NetScaler vs Microsoft Azure Application Gateway. NetScaler is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
NetScaler
August 2025
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NetScaler mindshare

Product category:
Application Delivery Controllers (ADC)
As of August 2025, the mindshare of NetScaler in the Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) category stands at 14.4%, down from 16.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
NetScaler14.4%
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)15.7%
HAProxy11.9%
Other58.0%
Application Delivery Controllers (ADC)

PeerResearch reports based on NetScaler reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryApplication Delivery Controllers (ADC)Aug 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNetScaler vs F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)Aug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNetScaler vs Microsoft Azure Application GatewayAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNetScaler vs HAProxyAug 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Microsoft Azure Application Gateway3.77.6%79%48 interviewsAdd to research
Azure Front Door4.4N/A100%16 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

NetScaler's most valuable features include flexible deployment, load balancing, SSL offload, and application management. It supports multitenancy, clustering, global server load balancing, content switching, and strong security with features like web application firewall and reverse proxy. Users appreciate the management's simplicity, scalability, high availability, and seamless integration with Citrix tools. Reporting, customization, and technical support enhance usage, making it a robust choice for diverse IT environments.
  • "It allows students to access required software for their studies."
  • "The solution can be configured very granularly and has good control over security."
  • "Citrix is good for application protection."

Room for Improvement

NetScaler requires enhancements in user interface simplicity, pricing, and customization flexibility. Bug fixes and better technical support are necessary. The learning curve is steep, demanding more comprehensive documentation and training resources. Security features could be expanded, and improvements in integration and licensing models are desired. A more robust upgrade process and interactive guidance would enhance user experience. Multi-tenancy, scalability, and cost-effective pricing need attention.
  • "The configuration is complex, and only one or two people know how to assist when problems arise."
  • "I would like to enhance the solution's bot protection features."
  • "The setup was not simple."

ROI

Implementing NetScaler leads to an immediate return on investment by enhancing system security and data protection. The tool is considered a worthy expenditure for safeguarding web applications and APIs, ensuring stability with minimal issues. Clients have observed almost complete financial returns. By centralizing user support and management, NetScaler reduces procurement and resource costs, providing essential remote access and asset management capabilities across different environments, making it highly valuable for organizations.

Pricing

NetScaler pricing is considered high, especially when compared to some competitors like A10. Licensing is often seen as complex, with separate costs for licenses and support, making budgeting challenging. Options include standard, advanced, or premium licenses, along with throughput licenses, impacting overall costs. Subscription fees typically cover licensing, but prices vary based on the deployment scale. Many find the cost justifiable due to product robustness, though smaller businesses might struggle with expenses. Pricing varies, with some users rating it between seven and nine out of ten.
  • "The solution's pricing is very high compared to its competitors."
  • "The tool is cheap."
  • "After deployment, Citrix Netscaler shifted to a subscription-based license scheme for support, which is slightly more expensive."

Popular Use Cases

NetScaler enhances load balancing, SSL offloading, and secure remote access for diverse applications. It strengthens data center resiliency, provides global server load balancing, and offers content switching. Enterprises use it for application delivery, gateway functions, disaster recovery, and security features like application firewalls. Organizations integrate it to optimize performance, troubleshoot user experiences, and manage virtual infrastructure. Resellers deploy it for customer-specific needs, leveraging its robust capabilities in securing and load balancing services.

Service and Support

Citrix customer service shows mixed experiences. Many praise the support team's responsiveness and expertise, while others note response delays and inconsistent service quality. Some benefit from swift issue resolution, yet others report slow communication or limited problem-solving skills, especially with complex configurations. The need for improved technical support knowledge is expressed, alongside suggestions for better licensing grace periods. Some appreciate sales engineer support, but many wish for greater efficiency and direct escalation to top engineers.

Deployment

NetScaler's initial setup ranges from easy to complex, depending on the environment and user's expertise. Many users find it straightforward, especially with basic networking knowledge, while others require expert assistance for complex configurations involving clusters and firewalls. Some mention that good community and support ease the process, though new users may face challenges. Deployment duration varies widely based on specific requirements and project complexity, with timeframes ranging from a few hours to several weeks.

Stability

NetScaler demonstrates strong stability across varied environments, providing reliable performance. Users report consistent operation, few bugs, and excellent uptime. High satisfaction is noted, with users valuing its resilience, especially in critical scenarios like hospitals. A minority experienced issues attributed to software versions or configuration complexities, yet these were often resolved with updates or assistance. The support and extensive documentation further bolster the stability reputation, making it a dependable choice for many organizations.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our NetScaler Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business32
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise43
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business302
Midsize Enterprise231
Large Enterprise848
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Healthcare Company
5%
University
5%
Insurance Company
5%
Retailer
5%
Energy/Utilities Company
4%
Educational Organization
3%
Construction Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Legal Firm
3%
Non Profit
3%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Transportation Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Pharma/Biotech Company
2%
Logistics Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Recruiting/Hr Firm
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Marketing Services Firm
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%

Compare NetScaler with alternative products

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Learn more about NetScaler

Designed to optimize and secure application delivery, NetScaler offers high availability and supports data centers with its load balancing and reverse proxy capabilities. It ensures effective traffic management and provides valuable insights into network health while integrating easily with Citrix products. Users appreciate its centralized management via ADM and flexible deployment options tailored to their infrastructure needs. However, there is room for improvement in its management tools, interface, and documentation, alongside a need for security enhancements and better licensing flexibility.

What are the most important features of NetScaler?
  • Flexible Deployment: Allows adaptation to different environments and needs.
  • Load Balancing: Efficiently distributes traffic to enhance performance.
  • SSL Offloading: Offloads encryption to optimize server performance.
  • Content Switching: Enables tailored content delivery based on user needs.
  • Robust Security: Includes firewalling and AAA authentication.
  • Global Server Load Balancing: Distributes load across multiple locations for high availability.
What benefits should users look for in reviews?
  • Cost-effectiveness: Delivers an efficient infrastructure without high costs.
  • Reliable Performance: Ensures consistent delivery and resilience.
  • High Availability: Maintains network uptime and service quality.
  • Technical Support: Offers responsive assistance for operational issues.

NetScaler is implemented across sectors like healthcare, finance, and education to guarantee secure remote access, enhance application network management, and support virtual desktops. Its application gateways and VPN access capabilities make it ideal for industries needing secure and efficient connectivity solutions.

NetScaler was previously known as Citrix ADC, Citrix NetScaler VPX, NetScaler Console, NetScaler Web Application Firewall, NetScaler VPX - Customer Licensed.

NetScaler customers

ABB Schweiz, Aer Lingus, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Amnet Technology Solutions, Aramex International, Ascenty, Atos, Autodesk

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Application Delivery Controllers (ADC)
Network Management Applications
Web Application Firewall (WAF)

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NetScaler Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
IT Security Specialist at a educational organization with 201-500 employees4.0I'm a consultant and CISO dealing with security and recommend NetScaler for its effective integration with Citrix, particularly for VDI systems. Although its configuration is complex, it was preferred over F5 due to cost considerations.
Information Technology Division Director at Ethiopian Roads Administration3.5We use Citrix Netscaler for VDI, providing application and desktop services and load balancing. While it offers better user session visibility and enhances security, challenges like virtual machines becoming unregistered need improvement. Overall, the ROI is favorable with cost-effective user support management.
IT Supervisor at United Nations4.5We used NetScaler for application security in a production environment, benefiting from its protection against SQL injection and advanced security features. However, support ceased after a company acquired Citrix, leading us to consider F5 and Fortinet as alternatives.
Cloud Consultant at Migros Ticaret A.Ş.4.5I use Citrix ADM for centralized management of internal programs, benefiting from its robust security policies and comprehensive monitoring tools. While it surpasses competitors like VMware Horizon in monitoring, improving tech support communication is necessary for better customer service.
Cloud Consultant at Migros Ticaret A.Ş.4.5I use Citrix NetScaler mainly for load balancing and application delivery, benefiting from its seamless Citrix Storefront integration. It's a reliable solution despite challenges with documentation accessibility and technical support for beginners. NetScaler remains our preferred choice for load balancing.
Manager Spend and Alliances (RVP) at Faysal Bank Ltd4.5We used Citrix NetScaler for load balancing in our application and core banking infrastructure. It offers comprehensive security, gateway, and global service load balancing features. However, improvements are needed in management interfaces and failover processes, along with the subscription model.
Cloud network engineer at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd.4.5We use NetScaler for load balancing, creating an internet gateway, and remote VPN. Its load balancing feature is valuable, though technical support needs improvement. While stable, frequent firmware upgrades are needed for security. Overall, it's been a reliable solution.
Junior System Engineer at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees4.0I provide Citrix ADC services and find the reverse proxy for virtual apps and desktops, with load balancing, very valuable due to its flexibility. Although initially complex, it becomes user-friendly with experience. I hope they don't change its name again.