Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs ISL Online comparison

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. ISL Online

Download the complete report

Helped 902,456 peers since 2012

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

Microsoft Intune

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Remote Access category, the mindshare of Microsoft Intune is 6.3%, down from 10.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is 5.3%, up from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ISL Online is 1.2%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Remote Access Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Intune	6.3%
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	5.3%
ISL Online	1.2%
Other	87.2%

Remote Access

Featured Reviews

OluwashileAdeniyi

Senior Infrastructure Security Engineer at a outsourcing company with 51-200 employees

Centralized endpoint security has improved and supports hybrid work and BYOD policies

Regarding what I dislike about Microsoft Intune and its downsides, I would say that more Mac controls are needed because we have limited Mac and Linux control. When comparing controls and policies between Windows, Mac, and Linux, Windows has almost everything you can think of, while Mac and Linux have limited types of control. You cannot implement certain things on Mac and Linux that you can on Windows. The limited controls are a major issue. Additionally, if Microsoft could find a way to embed servers into Microsoft Intune, that would be beneficial. Microsoft Intune is not really designed for servers or Windows servers. It is more tailored towards Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems. Windows servers are not fully supported. Enterprise organizations usually have both servers and endpoints, which are users' workstations. For servers, most people look for other solutions such as SCCM, which is Configuration Manager. However, SCCM is what Microsoft Intune is trying to replace. Both SCCM and Microsoft Intune belong to Microsoft. Microsoft is trying to transition organizations into Microsoft Intune, the native cloud solution. However, because this update is still in process, servers are not fully compatible with Microsoft Intune and cannot be managed by it. The current policy that has emerged from issues with clients is what they call co-management, which is relatively new, and I do not know if adoption is significant. Many legacy or older customers who have been using these products for decades still have SCCM. When it is time for them to manage their Windows devices, they use what is called cloud attach. Cloud attach is a term whereby your SCCM is connected to your Microsoft Intune. Most people do not know about it, but I have deployed it for several organizations. Cloud attach and co-management work together so that your device is in SCCM, but some policies are pushed from Microsoft Intune. It is like two different solutions working hand in hand. That is what they call co-management. Microsoft Intune does not bring all of your endpoint and security management tools into one place, which is the goal and how it should be. However, as I mentioned, servers are not included. If we talk about end users, Microsoft Intune does bring all your devices together. In a typical enterprise environment, you have end users with workstations, laptops, company-issued phones, and bring your own devices. You can create policies for all of these. However, for the backend, your servers do not have much coverage. Servers are not really covered by Microsoft Intune in that way.

Read full review

Sorin Neacsu

Technical Lead on Virtual Desktop at Orange

Has delivered consistent desktop experiences across remote locations and has supported multimedia workloads efficiently

I have utilized the HDX protocol for compression and audio-video capabilities. When users need to conduct meetings with customers or colleagues, they can use Teams solutions and open a bridge where video and audio are encapsulated within the ICA protocol, which is protected by SSL and certificates for security. This provides secure communication at good quality through the HDX protocol. HDX protocol has improved application performance as it is specifically designed for multimedia applications. If processing audio or video files, such as in telecom where discussions are recorded and then prepared as video or audio, this does not consume excessive bandwidth during the operation compared to a normal remote desktop connection provided by Microsoft. Everything is compressed and provides sufficient bandwidth for multiple people to perform similar tasks without interruption or session disconnection. All multimedia-related activities, such as playing content on YouTube, deliver a better experience with this protocol overall. I use multi-factor authentication for opening sessions to the data center where users access their machines or software. Multi-factor authentication has helped secure applications because users typically have two-way authentication software on their phones. They use a password first and then authenticate themselves through their mobile application to grant access to resources. This approach is effective because if a hacker attacks a user, they need more than just the password and username. They must also possess the device that provides authentication. The device typically has facial recognition, a password, and provides better security overall.

Read full review

ErikDas

Owner at Cherub

Easy to deploy, stable, scalable and safe

I previously used TeamViewer. ISL Online is definitely the better choice compared to TeamViewer, as it offers a more secure connection that does not involve peer-to-peer transport, and all data is encrypted. A single license for ISL Online costs about the same as TeamViewer but with multiple licenses, ISL Online is cheaper.

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

"The management control feature is the most valuable."

"It works well if you have a Microsoft environment."

"Microsoft Intune is cost-effective, providing ROI through the time saved for support teams and people working with computers."

"Microsoft Intune is reliable, scalable, and user-friendly."

"The synchronization of Intune with other Microsoft solutions is a valuable feature."

"Intune's integration with Defender and other security solutions is valuable because it offers a view into different security vulnerabilities and enables us to secure them more effectively."

"One of the most valuable features of Microsoft Intune is the detection and remediation script capability."

"The valuable feature of this solution is its ease of use."

More Microsoft Intune pros

"XenDesktop 5 is lightyears ahead of XenDesktop 4."

"It allows us to mute users who adhere to a policy of not allowing direct VPN access for security reasons. It is easy to use."

"It increased the no. of users and reduced traffic and data connection cost in addition to increased user productivity."

"And our overall IT costs (hardware, software, utilities, etc.) dropped 44 percent over what we were spending in 2008 and certainly over our trajectory."

"It has accelerated the process in which a new employee is given the necessary tools."

"The whole organization is more productive because Citrix allows us to coordinate together and share information."

"For a remote solution and connectivity I think it's the best that there is on the market compared to the other two, big, competing products."

"It virtualizes the application on your desktop."

More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros

"It's much easier to connect with other services, and it's working great. We haven't had any problems."

"ISL is a fundamental partner for us since, throughout all these years, it has allowed us to grow and solve the problems of our customers and their users in a very fast and agile way without having to move, even providing service abroad."

"We can also monitor our systems at any time from practically anywhere."

"The most valuable feature is safety."

"ISL Online is easy to use and it provides a single platform for various challenges we face in IT."

"We like drawing utilities inside ISL. That helps us mark specific regions on the screen, so that end users know what to focus on."

"Good communication is a key to good business and ISL helps a lot."

"The solution has a lot of features. It does what it is made to do and that's all we can ask for, really."

More ISL Online pros

Cons

"When we implemented Intune, it would have been helpful if Microsoft had provided some videos or data about Intune."

"They should make it easier to order it, however, that's generally true for everything from Microsoft."

"Microsoft's technical support isn't very good. They're very slow in responding."

"Those are the two features that did not impress me much, and currently with other customers I am improving them with Microsoft directly."

"Yes, there are a couple of issues with stability."

"Microsoft Intune can be improved with a more intuitive admin interface, faster policy synchronization, better troubleshooting and reporting capabilities, especially for complex and hybrid environments, along with more granular control and simplified management for advanced configurations."

"It should be easier to define policies and comply with those policies."

"Microsoft Intune could be improved with a more intuitive user interface, simpler policy configuration for complex environments, and faster troubleshooting tools."

More Microsoft Intune cons

"If anything could be improved, it might be some of the Director functionality, and some of the dashboard customization, or the overall Director customization."

"There is room for improvement on the hypervisor side, providing better integration between the hypervisor and the product line. I suspect that they haven't put the work into that because of the move to the cloud. They want everything to be cloud-hosted. But for folks like us, who will always be a hybrid model, that's of some concern."

"Pricing and technical support needs improvement."

"Their customer support can be improved a lot as it lacks a lot of knowledgeable help."

"Citrix does not have an in depth assessment tool."

"I've recently tried to use Citrix on Ubuntu, and I don't know if this is an Ubuntu issue or a vendor issue, but you can't use Citrix right now on Ubuntu 20.04."

"Citrix has undergone significant changes, primarily due to its acquisition. This acquisition impacted Citrix's value because of increased licensing costs under the new model. As a result, many customers are now considering alternatives to Citrix."

"Beware! It is expensive."

More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons

"I would like to be able to access and manage all brands of smartphones."

"We miss the possibility to communicate via head-set in ISL. At the moment, we combine ISL for visual communication with Skype for verbal communication."

"What bothered me the most was that when I connected to the computer at the office, I was afraid that someone would turn on the monitor and watch what I was doing."

"There have been times during updates when something wouldn't work quite right, however, they are quick with updates and quick with fixes."

"There could be a section in the menu describing the new features and changes."

"It would be helpful if they had iSupport for supporting Apple phones."

"If there is an update or new feature on ISL Online, I don't know about it. I would be happy to receive a newsletter or notification of new features or updates."

"Updating the program could be improved. When they're pushing updates, you don't really know that there's an update available."

More ISL Online cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Intune's pricing is competitive. For example, the license of Blackberry's Enterprise Mobility Suite was costly, but Intune is affordable. It is included as an additional feature when you buy security enhancements for your organization. For example, let's say I have fifty users in my organization and all of them are using Microsoft cloud services, like Teams, Office 365, and OneDrive."

"It is cheap, but as compared to Google, it is costly. Google is cheaper, but quality-wise, Microsoft Intune is better."

"This cost is approximately $30 USD per user per month."

"The price of Intune is included with the license for Office 365, so we don't have to pay anything extra for it."

"For organizations that are a Microsoft shop, the pricing is compelling."

"Microsoft Intune is not cost-effective as a standalone product."

"Microsoft Intune is expensive."

"No one can compete with Microsoft when it comes to price, and the features it is offering."

More Microsoft Intune pricing and cost advice

"We recouped 60 to 70 percent of the hardware costs."

"The licensing is $125 USD per user."

"It is quite expensive, but so are the competitors on the market."

"As for the cost, it is neither cheap nor expensive. Personally, I find it quite expensive, especially if you want to add more features. The security features we use include App Protect and Endpoint Protection."

"The price of the solution could be less expensive. There are different versions to their solution and the price keeps increasing."

"The purchase price was around $300,000 USD and then the maintenance fees were 20%. There are no other additional fees."

"Implementing Citrix DaaS with thin clients, rather than physical laptops, has resulted in savings of 27% to 29%. Additionally, moving 1,000 users from physical laptops to thin clients and VDI solutions can save around 40,000 kilograms of carbon emissions, benefiting both the environment and the company's economy, provided thin clients are used."

"It is a bit costly, but enterprise class features come with a cost."

More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice

"We have a pay-per-use license available for 500 minutes within one year for 95 Euros. However, this option is not popular. Alternatively, we can purchase a one-year license for 339 Euros; if we need two licenses, the cost is double, and for three licenses, the cost is triple with a ten percent discount. For 99 Euros a year, we can open multiple sessions on the same computer with a multi-session subscription."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Remote Access solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

902,456 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Performing Arts

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	190
Midsize Enterprise	65
Large Enterprise	185

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	45
Midsize Enterprise	21
Large Enterprise	69

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

How does Microsoft Intune compare with VMware Workspace One?

Microsoft Intune is a great tool for managing a mobile device fleet while keeping access control. The solution makes ...

What are the pros and cons of Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a great configuration management tool and has a lot of good things going for it. Here are some of...

How does Google Cloud Identity compare with Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune offers not only an easy-to-deploy data protection and productivity management solution, but also ...

What needs improvement with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?

I have found that Citrix DaaS is still a complex product, especially on the desktop side, which affects scalability. ...

What advice do you have for others considering Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?

I rate the overall product a six out of ten.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Workspace?

Citrix DaaS is considered expensive, especially for companies that do not require multi-cloud. Tiered pricing based o...

Jamf Pro vs Microsoft Intune

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

Comparisons

Compared 10% of the time

IBM MaaS360 vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 10% of the time

Workspace ONE UEM vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 4% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Intune Competitors

Azure Virtual Desktop vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Compared 23% of the time

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Compared 4% of the time

Horizon 8 vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Compared 4% of the time

Rocket Exceed TurboX vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Compared 3% of the time

Horizon Cloud Service vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Compared 3% of the time

More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Competitors

TeamViewer vs ISL Online

Compared 30% of the time

Splashtop Remote Support vs ISL Online

Compared 15% of the time

ScreenConnect vs ISL Online

Compared 10% of the time

LogMeIn Rescue vs ISL Online

Compared 9% of the time

NinjaOne vs ISL Online

Compared 5% of the time

More ISL Online Competitors

Product Reports

Microsoft Intune

Download Microsoft Intune product report

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)

Download Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) product report

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) report

ISL Online

Download ISL Online product report

Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager

XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace

No data available

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

Microsoft

Citrix

Demo not available

ISL Online

Overview

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service designed for device management, security, and compliance. It supports automation and facilitates endpoint management for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, ensuring data protection and efficient policy enforcement.

Microsoft Intune offers seamless integration with tools like Windows Autopilot to automate device setup and deployment. Integrated with Azure Active Directory, it enhances policy management while providing robust reporting and analytics tools for compliance tracking. Despite its intuitive interface aimed at simplifying navigation and device security management, there are challenges such as compatibility issues with Linux and Mac, limited policy support for Android, and demands for better third-party integration. It's widely used for both corporate-owned devices and BYOD scenarios in dynamic IT environments.

What are the key features of Microsoft Intune?

Windows Autopilot: Automates device setup for rapid deployment.
Azure Active Directory Integration: Enhances user policy management.
Reporting and Analytics: Improves compliance visibility.
Mobile Application Management: Ensures app security without compromising personal data.
Cloud-Based Management: Allows management from any location.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Time Efficiency: Automation reduces time in policy enforcement and configuration updates.
Enhanced Security: Ensures data protection across corporate-owned and BYOD devices.
Improved Compliance: Advanced reporting tools enhance compliance visibility.
Flexible Management: Cloud-based nature supports management from any location.

In industries such as finance and healthcare, Microsoft Intune is implemented to ensure data protection and compliance with regulatory standards. Manufacturing sectors utilize Intune for managing a distributed workforce across global locations, while educational institutions employ it to secure and manage devices in learning environments supporting both students and faculty.

Microsoft

Citrix DaaS provides centralized administration, high security, and app and desktop flexibility, offering excellent user experience and robust remote access. It is known for low bandwidth seamless performance and ease of use, ensuring consistent experience on diverse devices.

Citrix DaaS is a comprehensive service for virtual application delivery and remote access, ideal for distributed teams and mobile workers. Its support for application virtualization, data regulation compliance, and business continuity makes it valuable in remote work environments. Organizations use it for centralized management and secure remote workflows, benefiting from low-bandwidth delivery in multi-city deployments. However, enhancements in speed, performance, and scalability are necessary, along with better monitoring and pricing improvements. Users face cloud compatibility challenges, and improvements in virtual desktop functionality and multimedia experience are desired.

What are the key features of Citrix DaaS?

Centralized Administration: Streamlined management of virtual desktops and apps from a single console.
High Security: Advanced protection features for data and applications.
Flexibility: Customizable publishing options for apps and desktops.
Robust Remote Access: Reliable performance even on low bandwidth connections.
Device Support: Broad compatibility ensures seamless deployment across devices.

What benefits should users look for?

Enhanced Business Continuity: Ensures consistent access to apps and data remotely.
Low Bandwidth Efficiency: Maintains performance in limited connectivity scenarios.
Centralized Management: Simplifies control over remote resources.
Remote Work Enablement: Facilitates secure access for distributed teams.

In healthcare, Citrix DaaS supports secure access to patient records and applications essential for telemedicine. Financial services benefit from compliance with data regulation and secure workflows. In education, virtual desktops offer accessible learning resources, aiding remote teaching initiatives. Retail uses it for streamlining operations across dispersed locations, ensuring quick access to inventory systems and data management.

Citrix

ISL Online provides secure, cross-platform remote access and user-friendly features. Its unattended access and robust security options enhance IT operations without needing user interaction, making it ideal for versatile applications.

ISL Online stands out with its comprehensive remote access capabilities, facilitating controlled, secure connections across numerous platforms. Its ease of setup and stability make it a trusted option for diverse customers, enabling organized computer management and efficient customer support. Cloud and on-premise hosting flexibility underlines its adaptability in varied environments. The platform's strong unattended access mechanisms, seamless file transfer capabilities, and intuitive utilities such as drawing tools ensure efficient remote sessions. Strong encryption and generated security codes underscore its commitment to maintaining high security standards.

What are the key features of ISL Online?

Secure Remote Access: Allows control without user interaction.
Platform Versatility: Compatible with multiple systems.
Unattended Access: Enables efficient access when users are absent.
File Transfer: Provides seamless data exchange.
Intuitive Drawing Tools: Facilitates communication and collaboration.
Categorized Computer Management: Enhances IT efficiency.

What benefits can be expected when evaluating ISL Online?

High Security: Offers reliable encryption and code generation.
Stability: Users report robust performance during sessions.
Ease of Setup: Quick and straightforward configuration.
Cloud and On-Premise Flexibility: Supports different deployment models.
Efficient Customer Support: Improved response times and issue resolution.

ISL Online is widely used for remote technical support and customer assistance, enabling IT firms and managed service providers to remotely manage client devices and troubleshoot server issues. Government offices and broadcasting entities rely on it for secure access to unattended servers. ERP system providers benefit from its problem-solving and seamless file transfer capabilities, while cross-platform compatibility supports integration into unique IT environments, enhancing client interactions.

ISL Online

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway

Exelon, Aeronamic, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Alameda County Medical Center, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Aloysius Stichting, Amarchand Mangaldas, AmBev, Amnet Technology Solutions, Arval

Mitsubishi Chemicals, Konica Minolta, Raifeissen bank, Terpel, Singtel, Teleroute, SOS Kinderdorf, Arsys, EMAAR, Dutco, Alterdata

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. ISL Online