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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Microsoft App-V comparison

Citrix and Microsoft are both solutions in the Application Virtualization category. Citrix is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4. Citrix holds a 27.3% mindshare in AV, compared to Microsoft’s 22.7% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 80% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.
Microsoft App-V
Read 9 Microsoft App-V reviews
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80% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

Citrix DaaS and Microsoft App-V are contenders in the virtualization space. Citrix DaaS tends to have an advantage with its advanced capabilities and integration with diverse operating systems.

Features: Citrix DaaS provides comprehensive virtualization with advanced customization, scalability, and seamless integration across platforms. In contrast, Microsoft App-V stands out for its straightforward application packaging, ease of deployment, and efficient management.

Room for Improvement: Citrix DaaS could improve its resource demands during deployment, enhance ease of use for small-scale implementations, and provide more cost-effective solutions for businesses with simple needs. Microsoft App-V might expand its feature set to include broader virtualization capabilities, enhance support systems, and integrate with a wider array of third-party tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Citrix DaaS is well-equipped with a robust support network and integration capabilities that ease deployment in complex settings, albeit requiring significant resources. Microsoft App-V offers a simpler deployment process suitable for basic application delivery, with a less comprehensive support network.

Pricing and ROI: Citrix DaaS involves higher initial costs due to its extensive features but provides a substantial ROI for complex virtualization needs. Microsoft App-V is cost-effective for enterprises focusing on essential application delivery, owing to lower setup costs and simpler services.

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To learn more, read our detailed Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Microsoft App-V Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Microsoft App-V
July 2025
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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

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citri...
Ranking in Application Virtualization
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
127
Ranking in other categories
Remote Access (4th), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) (3rd), Desktop as a Service (DaaS) (1st)
Microsoft App-V
Ranking in Application Virtualization
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Application Virtualization category, the mindshare of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is 27.3%, up from 24.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft App-V is 22.7%, down from 24.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Virtualization
 

Featured Reviews

Grant Waddell - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly and easily accessible, but cost could be made cheaper
We use Citrix Workspace on Citrix Cloud. We have all of our servers on the AWS public cloud. There are a number of tools that we can implement that would save us costs. However, we've stuck to Citrix for convenience. If the prices keep increasing, we will have to consider other solutions. Users need to understand the tool's limitations correctly and what they require from a usability perspective. They should also understand the configuration of security policies. In some cases, people are unable to download or upload files onto their PCs, which is necessary for them to do their work. Users should understand the limitations of the product or the configuration options. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
Read full review
SN
Legacy software is maintained effectively, offering cost savings and integration flexibility
I believe there is no room for improvement in Microsoft App-V since it is officially at the end of life. Microsoft does not negotiate extensions for their end-of-life solutions. It has been a great tool over the years, but the company has managed to write most applications to bring them up to date, many written from scratch or as web-based applications. It's highly likely that we will decommission the Microsoft App-V solutions next year, keeping backups for a period until the new applications stabilize. I'm confident that once they transition to newer versions, they will phase out Microsoft App-V just like they do with operating systems. When Microsoft decides to close a version, such as Windows 10-22H2 or 21-H2, it happens. Paying for extended support is costly and, in the end, not worth it. Organizations must think of alternatives, possibly leaning towards MSIX, although MSIX doesn't support very old software used on Windows XP or 2000, which raises doubts about what can truly be improved. It's clear they won't introduce anything new; they will only provide security patches as they approach the end-of-life timeline.
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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The shadow feature is extraordinary and helps a lot when supporting remote users."
"You can connect to any printer, and from anywhere you can print documents using a compressed channel. It is easy and the bandwidth is very low."
"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the convenience and the ease of setup the tool provides."
"It has very good performance in delivering 3D applications over WAN."
"The most beneficial feature is seamless remote access, particularly for applications rather than full endpoints. Security features include full data encryption and integrated SSL VPN through NetScaler for secure access."
"Its user-friendliness is most valuable. It was easy to log in and navigate. Some of such solutions are not very user-friendly, but this one was."
"Because of the solution's ubiquity, it is easier to find answers to problems than with competitive products."
"ICA/HDX optimization policies."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros
"I would recommend Microsoft App-V for its simplicity and efficiency."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft App-V that I found is the possibility to bring old software back to life and publish it for users to do their jobs using those applications."
"The most interesting and powerful feature for us is the fact that we can upgrade any kind of app instantly."
"From my experience with Microsoft App-V, the feature I liked the most is the streaming."
"We can deploy applications incredibly fast."
"It is very easy to use from an administration point of view."
"I appreciate the process of being able to change or review my answers."
"Microsoft App-V is a simple, very good working product that just works."
More Microsoft App-V pros
 

Cons

"Citrix has to support all of the hypervisors including KVM and OpenStack KVM."
"​There have been many issues with stability."
"I heard that Citrix found some loopholes in the product, and they have yet to be covered up."
"It is not easy to set up."
"I think Citrix's support is good, but sometimes it is a little slow."
"As an end-to-end solution for implementing Zero Trust principles I would rate it a six or a seven out of 10, because it doesn't cover all aspects of Zero Trust. There are quite a few aspects you need to cover."
"This solution is resource-intensive, it takes a lot of Bandwidth and a lot of the resources of the server."
"Pricing can be lower and roaming profiles need to be fixed to work consistently."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons
"The downside is that Microsoft bought this product and they are going to discontinue it in 2026. This is worrisome for us."
"Microsoft App-V has been slow, and users experience delays when launching applications, which presents significant challenges."
"The process was streamlined but didn't make our work simple. We encountered an issue with the person responsible for designing the website."
"The reporting features could be improved."
"There is definitely room for improvement with Microsoft App-V, especially in terms of enhancing troubleshooting resources and user guidance."
"If it were possible to integrate App-V with a cybersecurity solution then we could implement a documentation registry, which would be useful."
"Microsoft App-V is more suited for legacy software usage, and trying to make it work in that context usually feels tricky and unreliable."
"Regarding improvements in Microsoft App-V, I would appreciate seeing the successor, MSIX, work better, as nothing is going to be implemented anymore since it is end of life by the end of the year."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's costly in the market. But it is not expensive for the company. For the company, it's relatively inexpensive because the core of the work is compensated with the price."
"In terms of pricing with the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, I think it has gotten better over the years. Citrix has found more dynamic ways to be able to revive licensing models that fit many different scenarios that organizations have. We have been able to evolve our own licensing over the years to accommodate our situations between concurrent versus user device licenses. Now, when we move into the Citrix Workspace realm, we definitely have some awesome options there."
"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."
"Citrix solutions cost a lot in comparison with competitors, like Azure Virtual Desktop or VMware Horizon. Those solutions cost around 50 to 60 percent less, per month per user, than Citrix."
"The licensing, in general, is expensive. A lot of customers battle to pay the amount. It's very difficult to ensure that your solution provides the business value that the customer is after."
"It is a bit costly, but enterprise class features come with a cost."
"Their licensing model used to be on a per-year basis, where you would negotiate the cost per user for a year. For instance, if you had 25,000 users, you could negotiate the cost accordingly. However, they are transitioning to a subscription-based model where the cost is incurred monthly."
"The Citrix license model has changed. It costs around $240 per user for a single username, but a concurrent license costs double."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice
"Clients do not pay licensing fees."
"The pricing of this product is competitive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Government
9%
Healthcare Company
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
My focus has primarily been on publishing virtual applications.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
I rate the product’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
See all answers
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. Although it works well on the apps side, the desktop aspect still has room for i...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft App-V?
Regarding pricing, I believe flexibility would help retain customers. Costs could be more adaptable to meet varying budgets.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Microsoft App-V?
There is definitely room for improvement with Microsoft App-V, especially in terms of enhancing troubleshooting resources and user guidance.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Microsoft App-V?
I have been using Microsoft App-V for quite some time, and I can describe my use cases, which include various applications that enhance productivity.
See all answers
 

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Compared 6% of the time
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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
August 2025
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) reportDownload Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) product report
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft App-V
August 2025
Microsoft App-V reportDownload Microsoft App-V product report
 

Also Known As

XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace
App-V, MS App-V
 

Interactive Demo

Citrix
Demo not available
Microsoft
 

Overview

Enable secure, flexible work with the leader in virtual apps and desktops

Deliver desktop as a service (DaaS) from any cloud or datacenter

Get started with Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) in minutes to provide a familiar, high-performance digital workspace experience to your users. We’ll manage the infrastructure and security. You focus on your business.

Citrix
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) enables you to make applications available to end users without installing the applications directly on end user computers. App-V transforms applications into centrally managed services that are never installed and don't conflict with other applications.
Microsoft
 

Sample Customers

Exelon, Aeronamic, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Alameda County Medical Center, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Aloysius Stichting, Amarchand Mangaldas, AmBev, Amnet Technology Solutions, Arval
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), GDDKiA, P&V, Etisalat Lanka, Hellenic Petroleum
Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Microsoft App-V
July 2025
Free Report: Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Microsoft App-V
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We monitor all Application Virtualization reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.