No more typing reviews! Try our Samantha, our new voice AI agent.

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] comparison

Citrix and Broadcom are both solutions in the Application Virtualization category. Additionally, 93% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.
VMware ThinApp [EOL]
Read 3 VMware ThinApp [EOL] reviews
    100% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

    Download the report
    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) and VMware ThinApp [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

    Find out what your peers are saying about Citrix, Microsoft, Parallels and others in Application Virtualization.

    DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
    To learn more, read our detailed Application Virtualization Report (Updated: April 2026).
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    April 2026
    Download the complete report
    Helped 893,311 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

    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citri...
    Average Rating
    8.4
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.5
    Number of Reviews
    128
    Ranking in other categories
    Application Virtualization (1st), Remote Access (4th), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) (1st), Desktop as a Service (DaaS) (1st)
    VMware ThinApp [EOL]
    Average Rating
    9.0
    Number of Reviews
    3
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    SN
    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
    it_user769638 - PeerSpot reviewer
    it_user769638
    Associate Operations at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
    Streamlines checking our app after pushing an update, which helps cut costs
    In the past we used multiple servers to load-balance the application and when we pushed updates to the application we would need to check it on all servers. But when it comes to VMware ThinApp we can do it on a file server or Isilon share and this helps cut costs and create a healthy environment. If we publish an application in Citrix through a server we should have more capacity. On multiple occasions, some applications need updates so at that point we need to disable the servers. But in this case there is no need for disabling user sessions, they can use it and we can do just gpupdate to update all servers in a row.
    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 flexibility provided by that alone was invaluable, in just getting people able to work from home."
    "XenApp is fast and secure and reliable for remote connections."
    "At this moment, 95 percent of our employees are using Citrix as the only tool to do their job."
    "It is a stable solution."
    "It has very good performance in delivering 3D applications over WAN."
    "The most valuable feature of the solution is the desktop virtualization, which allows me to connect from anywhere."
    "It is a very scalable solution."
    "Citrix Virtual Apps is the most valuable feature. Many customers use this feature to publish only applications, and not the full desktop. They can publish the internal resource or allow the end-user to reach a site or an application without having the full desktop. That's why they love this feature. It helps them save on resources."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros
    "A great solution to get started with app virtualization, app mobility and deployment"
    "In the past we used multiple servers to load-balance the application and when we pushed updates to the application we would need to check it on all servers, but when it comes to VMware ThinApp we can do it on a file server or Isilon share and this helps cut costs and create a healthy environment."
     

    Cons

    "The product is currently not working well in hosting conferencing software like Zoom, Team, and Salon."
    "I think improvement around the Analytics piece is super important. There has been a lot of maturity over the last year in that area, though a lot more needs to be done. Also, a lot more of the value of those Analytics needs to be sold to end users. Citrix is working on a lot of things that are ahead of the curve and a lot of organizations aren't quite there yet with implementing those technologies and capabilities."
    "The product’s customization feature needs improvement."
    "The speed and connectivity of Citrix DaaS could be improved."
    "I think they should improve data speed performance to reduce bandwidth."
    "All implementations of Citrix have problems with stability; that is normal."
    "It is slow. When everybody is logged in, it does have a tendency to slow down."
    "Beware! It is expensive."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons
    "There are some functional areas Thinapp could be improved. Perhaps including application specific or hardware specific virtual drivers"
    "There are some improvements needed regarding different types of options and still they are in research and build stage so once everything is set it will look good."
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "We are just now approaching the end of our initial purchase, which was an excellent price for us as an academic institution. We got a very good deal to get us on board. That license is up for renewal in about a year, and we are nervously waiting to see what the pricing will be."
    "It is quite expensive, but so are the competitors on the market."
    "I think it is a little high priced."
    "The solution is affordable."
    "You can buy an on-cloud or on-prem license. You can switch between on-cloud users and on-prem users. Its licensing is cheap. It is from $8 to $15 per user. It is not that expensive when you compare the cost of buying new hardware with the cost of the license. For example, at $15 per user, it costs around $180 for a year, which is cheaper than buying a $600 PC that at a certain stage, you will again have to change because its hardware is not supported. It may also get damaged or stolen. So, you can compare the cost of the actual hardware that you have to buy and the time spent in supporting the clients with the cost of its license."
    "Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops is an expensive solution."
    "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."
    "They offer licensing per user. From time to time, they give discounts. Because it's a hybrid model, you can deploy some portion of it on cloud and some portion your on-prem."
    More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice
    Information not available
    report
    See which vendors are best for you
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Application Virtualization solutions are best for your needs.
    See recommendations
    893,311 professionals have used our research since 2012.
     

    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    14%
    Financial Services Firm
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Comms Service Provider
    7%
    No data available
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business45
    Midsize Enterprise21
    Large Enterprise69
    No data available
     

    Questions from the Community

    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 primary use case for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
    The entire development environment is accessed only through the virtual desktop setup using Citrix DaaS.
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

    Comparisons

    Azure Virtual Desktop vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Logo
    Azure Virtual Desktop vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
    Compared 27% of the time
    Horizon 8 vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Logo
    Horizon 8 vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
    Compared 4% of the time
    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Logo
    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services 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) Logo
    Rocket Exceed TurboX vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
    Compared 3% of the time
    Amazon WorkSpaces vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) Logo
    Amazon WorkSpaces 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
    Microsoft App-V vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] Logo
    Microsoft App-V vs VMware ThinApp [EOL]
    Compared 35% of the time
    Inuvika vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] Logo
    Inuvika vs VMware ThinApp [EOL]
    Compared 27% of the time
    Numecent Cloudpager vs VMware ThinApp [EOL] Logo
    Numecent Cloudpager vs VMware ThinApp [EOL]
    Compared 21% of the time
    More VMware ThinApp [EOL] Competitors
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
    May 2026
    Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) reportDownload Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) product report
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    April 2026
    VMware ThinApp [EOL] reportDownload VMware ThinApp [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace
    ThinApp
     

    Interactive Demo

    Citrix
    Demo not available
    Broadcom
     

    Overview

    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

    VMware ThinApp accelerates application deployment and simplifies application migration with agentless application virtualization. Deploy ThinApp packages on "locked-down" PCs and allow end users to run their favorite applications without compromising security. ThinApp eliminate application conflicts by isolating applications from each other and the underlying OS into a single executable file that can be easily deployed to many endpoints.

    Broadcom
     

    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
    Delhi International Airport, Telus Communications Company, Mansfield District Council, St Edmunds College, Sydney Adventist Hospital, ITSAM, Hertz International, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. , ASVZ, Appenzell Ausserrhoden Informatik, MTF, Stadt Hattingen, €sterreichisches Verkehrsbªro AG, DER Reisebªro GmbH & Co OHG, Thomas-Krenn.AG, BFI Wien, Metal One Pipe & Tubular Products Inc., NTT Neomeit
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Virtualization
    April 2026
    Download Free Report
    Find out what your peers are saying about Citrix, Microsoft, Parallels and others in Application Virtualization. Updated: April 2026.
    DOWNLOAD NOW
    893,311 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    See our list of best Application Virtualization vendors.

    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.