Apstra Operating System vs VMware NSX comparison

Juniper and Broadcom are both solutions in the Network Automation category. Juniper is ranked #13, while Broadcom is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. Juniper holds a 2.5% mindshare in NA, compared to Broadcom’s 4.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Juniper users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

Apstra Operating System

Read 1 Apstra Operating System review

412 Views
412 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

VMware NSX

Read 106 VMware NSX reviews

7,473 Views
598 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Apstra Operating System

VMware NSX

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Apstra Operating System and VMware NSX based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Automation Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

January 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Apstra Operating System

Ranking in Network Automation

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

VMware NSX

Ranking in Network Automation

3rd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

106

Ranking in other categories

Network Virtualization (2nd), Cloud and Data Center Security (2nd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (5th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (7th), Microsegmentation Software (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Network Automation category, the mindshare of Apstra Operating System is 2.5%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware NSX is 4.2%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
VMware NSX	4.2%
Apstra Operating System	2.5%
Other	93.3%

Network Automation

Featured Reviews

Hezio Fernandes

Works at wolterskluwer

Highly secure, useful AB test, and stable

I am using Apstra Operating System for some classes and for my personal use Apstra Operating System's most important features are the security and AB test to define what approach we need to take in my company. Additionally, the solution does not take a lot of maintenance. The report data could…

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TAIYAB HASAN

Windows Redhat Linux Vmware & Azure & Cloud & Nutanix Ahv-Vmware & Backup Senior System Administrator at AlDawaa Medical Services

Has improved network visibility and security through micro-segmentation and SDN capabilities

This feature gives us flexibility and allows us to manage everything under one pane. We can see everything on one console, including network operations and behavior. Monitoring and security are among the best features for VMware NSX. For micro-segmentation, it's integrated with our endpoint security. If there are any issues with servers or VMs, it notifies us so we can isolate the servers and investigate. It provides distributed security features such as firewall and intrusion, IDS, IPS. The security level with IPS and IDS in VMware NSX is excellent. It also provides logical switching and routing which gives an extra layer for Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching requirements. The solution provides flexibility, automation, and self-service capabilities, resulting in cost savings as extensive expertise isn't required. Once automation and self-service are implemented, many tasks can be completed automatically. Load balancing is another excellent feature. Multiple servers can run on load balancing features, which is particularly useful since we have many application servers running. Sharing loads between servers provides the best performance.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Apstra Operating System's most important features are the security and AB test to define what approach we need to take in my company. Additionally, the solution does not take a lot of maintenance."

"The most powerful feature of VMware NSX is the micro-segmentation that allows us to separate the different protocols our application works with."

"It's very important for them to have small footprints and have as much services in their servers, as possible."

"VMware NSX offers some of the best features for security, such as micro-segmentation."

"I value the ability to dynamically configure our network on the fly using VMware NSX."

"The most valuable feature of VMware NSX is the load balancing and routing of firewall rules. Many of the features are beneficial."

"Overall, I would say the solution has been quite stable."

"NSX extends Layer-2 scalability on Layer 3, covering the vRO and extending the capability on Layer 3 by decapsulating using a new mechanism. NSX-V was designed to use with VMware products and Success 360, providing more flexibility toward different levels of cloud, containers, and components. NSX-T gives you the ability to stretch your network across different view locations. If you have multiple sites, you can connect them using NSX-T."

"I have found the system to be very intuitive, functional, and they have great technology."

More VMware NSX pros

Cons

"The report data could improve in Apstra Operating System."

"There are always issues integrating with Cisco."

"Our technical team is always looking for the solutions that they work with to offer more convenient integrations."

"Despite being somewhat behind in the cybersecurity field, VMware should develop a cloud and a red team to continuously monitor for new malware and ransomware."

"The initial configuration and integration within our existing environment were not easy."

"It takes time to do the initial setup. It is a bit slow, which is surprising."

"We have done three installations and we have not had any critical issues. The time it took for the installation was approximately two days. However, they should provide better documentation."

"Migrating from V to T is very tricky, complicated, and there are a lot of parameters to account for."

"If you're worried that NSX is too complex, I would tell you to take another look. If you compare NSX to a similar solution you might find it to be a bit more complex. Usually, the guy that comes in to implement NSX isn't the network guy and will lack the knowledge for the program. He can lack the knowledge for this program and will therefore think it's complex. You need somebody with network experience."

More VMware NSX cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is competitive."

"I was not involved in the purchase of the solution but I hear it is on the expensive side."

"The price is pretty high."

"The solution is very expensive."

"The subscription is on a yearly basis."

"The pricing model for VMware NSX is good."

"We haven't had to hire a dedicated network engineer because NSX handles 90 percent of it. The reduced overhead in terms of managing networks has been the biggest plus."

"I'm unable to give information on the pricing or licensing cost of VMware NSX because I've never been someone who looks into the economic part of any security or virtualization solutions. That's handled by an entirely different team, and I don't even have the slightest idea about the costs associated with the solution, though I've heard pricing for VMware NSX is on the higher side."

"VMware NSX is a cheaper product compared to its competitor, Cisco."

More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Comms Service Provider

University

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	33
Midsize Enterprise	23
Large Enterprise	69

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

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What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...

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What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...

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What do you like most about VMware NSX?

The product has valuable features for security and network extension.

See all answers

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Compared 16% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

Anuta ATOM vs Apstra Operating System

Compared 14% of the time

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Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX

Compared 15% of the time

Illumio vs VMware NSX

Compared 14% of the time

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiDDoS vs VMware NSX

Compared 2% of the time

More VMware NSX Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

January 2026

Download Apstra Operating System product report

Buyer's Guide

VMware NSX

January 2026

Download VMware NSX product report

Also Known As

Apstra OS, AOS

VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender

Overview

The Apstra Operating System (AOS) is a turn-key automation solution that dramatically simplifies the process of designing, deploying and operating data center networks. Apstra AOS provides a singular view into the relationships and interdependencies of millions of data center elements. With real continuous validation, Apstra AOS enables you to instantly pinpoint and quickly resolve issues across all infrastructure silos, regardless of vendor or hardware.

Juniper

VMware NSX is a comprehensive tool for network virtualization and security, offering advanced features like micro-segmentation and multi-cloud networking to enhance scalability and management efficiency within enterprises.

VMware NSX revolutionizes enterprise networking by integrating security and scalability into one streamlined platform. With capabilities like dynamic policy updates and automation, it simplifies complex configurations and provides robust API integration. Its support for Layer 4 and 7 load balancing, along with its seamless integration in multi-cloud environments, makes it a preferred choice among companies. Although deployment speed and management console features require refinement, NSX is an effective solution for private cloud and hybrid environments, enabling centralized orchestration and management of complex networks.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?

Micro-segmentation: Provides secure, granular network segmentation for enhanced security.
Distributed Firewall: Offers policy-driven firewall capabilities across all network endpoints.
Automation: Enables dynamic policy updates and simplifies network configurations.
API Integration: Facilitates seamless third-party integrations and improves configuration processes.
Multi-Cloud Networking: Supports seamless integration across various cloud environments.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Scalability: Offers significant improvements in network scalability and management efficiency.
Security: Ensures enhanced security through advanced features like micro-segmentation.
Cost-Effectiveness: Potential to reduce costs through network automation and efficiency improvements.
Flexibility: Supports various enterprise requirements with its comprehensive feature set.

In the tech industry, VMware NSX is instrumental in managing private and hybrid cloud environments, allowing companies to replace traditional networking with software-defined networks. In finance, it helps secure transactional data through micro-segmentation. Healthcare organizations leverage its flexibility for managing sensitive patient information securely and integrating cloud services.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Bloomberg Television, Energy Corporation, A mid-sized financial services company

City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation. Updated: January 2026.

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