Horizon Cloud Service vs Workspace ONE UEM comparison

Horizon Cloud Service and Workspace ONE UEM are both solutions in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category. Horizon Cloud Service is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while Workspace ONE UEM is ranked #7 with an average rating of 7.5. Horizon Cloud Service holds a 2.7% mindshare in VD, compared to Workspace ONE UEM’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Horizon Cloud Service users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of Workspace ONE UEM users who would recommend it.

Horizon Cloud Service

Read 11 Horizon Cloud Service reviews

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1,233 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Workspace ONE UEM

Read 102 Workspace ONE UEM reviews

9,254 Views
1,388 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

Horizon Cloud Service

Workspace ONE UEM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Workspace ONE UEM and Horizon Cloud Service operate within the enterprise management and virtualization category. Workspace ONE UEM holds the upper hand in cost-effectiveness, while Horizon Cloud Service excels in virtualization capabilities.

Features: Workspace ONE UEM provides shared device mode, REST APIs for automation, and flexible provisioning. Horizon Cloud Service supports advanced user configuration, multiple cloud deployments, and dynamic environment management.

Room for Improvement: Workspace ONE UEM could enhance Apple device management, expand integration options, and improve email security controls. Horizon Cloud Service may benefit from simplifying its complex setup, improving integration with non-VMware environments, and reducing virtualization costs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Workspace ONE UEM offers simple installation and robust customer support. Horizon Cloud Service supports scalable deployment but requires technical expertise, with good support available for users.

Pricing and ROI: Workspace ONE UEM's pricing is attractive and promotes high ROI through efficient device management. Horizon Cloud Service demands a higher initial investment but promises significant ROI via its superior virtualization attributes.

To learn more, read our detailed Horizon Cloud Service vs. Workspace ONE UEM Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Horizon Cloud Service vs. Workspace ONE UEM

February 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

Horizon Cloud Service

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

11th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) (4th)

Workspace ONE UEM

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

Remote Access (6th), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (2nd), Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) (11th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category, the mindshare of Horizon Cloud Service is 2.7%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workspace ONE UEM is 2.5%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Workspace ONE UEM	2.5%
Horizon Cloud Service	2.7%
Other	94.8%

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Featured Reviews

SivaKuppala

Enterprise Architect at Wipro Limited

Centralized management enhances multi-cloud flexibility with cost efficiency improvements

The cost of Horizon Cloud Service is high, however, it could be optimized. The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help. Improvements in application performance, especially for resource-heavy applications like intensive 3D workloads, are needed. More built-in automation for routine tasks like patching and upgrading could reduce administrative effort.

Read full review

Vishal Bhatia

Trainer/Consultant at Koenig Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Effective product tracking and monitoring enhances daily operations despite needing documentation improvement

The documentation part of Workspace ONE UEM can be confusing. The documentation is not comprehensive compared to other VMware solutions or Microsoft documentation. Most people struggle to connect the dots when looking at the documentation. Even the training material and PowerPoint slide decks that trainers use are sometimes too confusing or overwhelming, with too much content but not enough clarity. The support side has recently become weaker compared to what it used to be with VMware. This is another area that needs improvement. Since working with Workspace ONE UEM from when it was AirWatch, it has improved significantly over the last five years. However, there are still some gray areas and scope for improvement, especially in documentation and workflow between different aspects of the solution.

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 product’s on-premise version has the ability to create an image of any updates or changes in the system."

"The interface is much easier to use compared to Microsoft and other VDI vendors that are well known on the market. I like VMware so much more than the others. With Horizon Cloud, you don't need to spend a lot of money upfront to buy the infrastructure. You can use it the on the cloud, so it lowers the barriers to entry. It's easier to test it and get started. Some clients stay in the cloud, but others prefer to go on-premise. It depends on the nature of the client."

"I honestly liked the application itself because it was just like using a desktop. You could copy and paste, inside and outside, and you could use multiple monitors. You could access it anytime, anywhere, no matter whether you were in the office or out of the office. I could leave the office, go somewhere, go back in, and everything would be there. I could just leave it up and running. I absolutely love this feature in VMware Horizon Cloud."

"VMware Horizon Cloud is easy to use and the full development cloud is very good. The main features of VMware are included. It's a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure software that allows you to permit the virtual desktops and applications to any device from the single unified management control. These are managed from the dedicated remote session desktop."

"Its advanced management features are the most valuable, especially power management. One of the really important things was to be able to have power management in a consumption world. This means that unlike a Microsoft environment, you could actually turn off virtual desktops or have them start up and shut down. If you're consuming resources in the public cloud, you want to be able to do that because when you're not using those, such as at the weekend, you want to be able to turn them off. So, the advanced options for managing the BDIs are very important."

"The product allows a VPN connection, adding extra value to its features."

"The most valuable feature of VMware Horizon Cloud is all of its capabilities together."

"Horizon Cloud Service provides deployment flexibility across multiple clouds with a scalable architecture that easily scales virtual desktops and applications up or down based on demand."

More Horizon Cloud Service pros

"One of the features that I enjoyed most was the integration with Azure AD because I could use VMware Identity Manager to standardize the User Principal Name coming from Active Directory. You have Azure AD Connect to do that. In between, if you have vIDM handling it, you can easily get the synchronization of users into your VM and standardize the User Principal Name. If you require quality assurance for handling it, you can actually count on the vIDM to do so. That was one of the main things I enjoyed about the product."

"We can impose cybersecurity requirements."

"It has good stability."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the multi-platform support."

"Zero Trust implementation is a great feature."

"The Client Control feature in VMware Workspace ONE is most valuable for managing client devices, including mobile devices and laptops. Another impactful feature is the per-service tooling, allowing access to the data centre on a per-application basis. We use the complete VMware stack, integrating Horizon for application delivery and Carbon Black for endpoint protection. We have outsourced our device management, which streamlines our IT tasks as our supplier handles them competitively."

"The performance is good, and it is easy to configure."

"It is a stable solution. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."

More Workspace ONE UEM pros

Cons

"The cost of Horizon Cloud Service is high, however, it could be optimized. The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help."

"It can be very expensive to scale up because each part of scaling up requires you to have new components of the infrastructure."

"In the design phase, sometimes the tools for designing Horizon solutions have issues when they're calculating the number of nodes and platforms needed to support the VDI systems."

"Logging into VMware Horizon Cloud could be made easier. Additionally, the VMs could be better in their performance."

"The licensing model needs to be adjusted, as a cloud license is currently required even for on-premises devices."

"It is very expensive. Its price needs to be improved. They can do a better job with external resources such as a USB or a hard drive. When I tried to connect using these external resources, it failed a lot of times. I had to do a shared connection with a local laptop and then connect from a network standpoint, rather than through VMware Horizon point. They definitely have weaknesses with external connections. A lot of companies probably don't let people use external connections because it defeats the purpose of having a cloud solution and keeping the data in a secure area. You can copy to an external device, and you can lose the data. A lot of companies may not focus on this feature, but if you are providing it, you should make it work."

"The licensing model is complex, particularly for hybrid deployments, and simplifying it could help."

"The application remoting features have some room for improvement."

More Horizon Cloud Service cons

"I'd like to see expanded device support, particularly for IoT things like SCADA devices."

"One thing VMware needs to improve is compatibility with different operating systems."

"There are some bugs that our team needs to work around. It required some API integration required because visitor integration was not there. For example, we are currently working on a tunnel issue, and VMware doesn't have this solution."

"The console comes bunched together as a package and inbuilt. Its called Workspace ONE. Whenever we have an issue, we contact the service provider, and instead of a fix, we are just getting the next version of Workspace ONE."

"it's very dependent on an active directory"

"The solution needs to adapt to the cloud based reality of the current world model. Some customers may have reluctance to this, but it is the next level for all of the big providers. Azure, AWS and Google are all on the forefront of cloud-based solutions."

"The documentation is not comprehensive compared to other VMware solutions or Microsoft documentation."

"Windows 10 management is there, but VMware only recently developed that part, and it's not fully mature. Patch management and other integrations are there as well as the application-pushing part, command line, mandatory commands, etc. Some out-of-the-box solutions should be available to better integrate a broader range of applications and handle application push. That's the roadmap we should look at."

More Workspace ONE UEM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"VMware Horizon Cloud is an expensive solution. This solution is approximately 30 percent more than Microsoft Azure Cloud. There can be extra costs."

"VMware Horizon Cloud is a low-cost solution. The model that they have is consumption-based. However, some features are expensive."

"I rate VMware Horizon Cloud pricing a ten out of ten."

"Initially, the product is cheap, but it starts to get expensive when users try to scale out."

"For what you get, it is very compelling. You've got to look at the total cost of ownership of this type of piece of software in terms of being able to utilize it as a cloud service. I don't have to run everything on-premises. When you look at the total cost of just being able to use it and then being able to point it to any public or private cloud, it is very compelling. You have one less thing to manage."

"It is too expensive as compared to other solutions because of which we don't use it that much. We tend to go more for Hyper-V or Azure just because VMware licensing is quite up there. We sway people away from VMware Horizon Cloud. We have some clients who already have it. They stay on it for a little while, and then most of them end up moving off when we provide them a better solution that isn't as license heavy cost-wise."

"There is a license required for the use of this solution and there are different tier levels available."

"I have no opinion about the pricing of the product."

"AirWatch would benefit from reducing the license pricing per user per month. Microsoft bundles everything, and then that bundling makes the product free for the customers."

"VMware Workspace ONE is not cheap; it's quite expensive. However, in the end, they gave us a reasonable price."

"The solution runs at roughly around $36/user for a year."

"We pay approximately thirty to thirty-five euros per device per month for the complete suite, and this is a fixed cost with one, three, or five-year licensing in advance. I would rate the pricing a four out of ten, making it affordable."

"It's definitely a bit on the expensive side. It is more for smaller organizations and not large, massive enterprises. I am not sure about any additional costs. As far as we could tell, the billing was what the billing was."

"VMware Workspace ONE can fit any organization because if you need more devices there are only additional fees."

"Its pricing was okay for our company."

More Workspace ONE UEM pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Performing Arts

10%

Media Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	41
Midsize Enterprise	21
Large Enterprise	58

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VMware Horizon Cloud?

The cost is considered normal, not remarkable but not outrageous. In terms of expense, compared to other virtualization products, I would rate it as a six.

See all answers

What needs improvement with VMware Horizon Cloud?

The licensing model needs to be adjusted, as a cloud license is currently required even for on-premises devices. Horizon Cloud Service should continue improving their protocol and work with other h...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for VMware Horizon Cloud?

Our primary use case focuses on virtual desktop and application hosting. This is spread across different industries. We have a large number of employees, and we are one of the largest GSIs globally...

See all answers

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 it easy to control security and manage the usage of mobile apps when you have a ...

See all answers

How does VMware Workspace One compare with VMware Horizon 7?

VMware Workspace One has a powerful set of helpful features. The solution offers very good documentation, the initial setup is easy, and the product is very stable and reliable. I think the fact th...

See all answers

What do you like most about VMware Workspace ONE?

The platform provides a stable environment for operations and quickly creates new environments. Additionally, it offers efficient flexibility.

See all answers

Comparisons

Azure Virtual Desktop vs Horizon Cloud Service

Compared 12% of the time

Horizon 8 vs Horizon Cloud Service

Compared 11% of the time

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

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs Horizon Cloud Service

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle VDI vs Horizon Cloud Service

Compared 5% of the time

More Horizon Cloud Service Competitors

Microsoft Intune vs Workspace ONE UEM

Compared 22% of the time

Jamf Pro vs Workspace ONE UEM

Compared 6% of the time

SOTI MobiControl vs Workspace ONE UEM

Compared 5% of the time

IBM MaaS360 vs Workspace ONE UEM

Compared 5% of the time

Horizon 8 vs Workspace ONE UEM

Compared 4% of the time

More Workspace ONE UEM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Horizon Cloud Service

January 2026

Download Horizon Cloud Service product report

Buyer's Guide

Workspace ONE UEM

January 2026

Download Workspace ONE UEM product report

Also Known As

VMware Horizon Cloud, VMware Horizon DaaS

VMware Workspace ONE, VMware AirWatch, Workspace ONE Assist, VMware Identity Manager, Workspace ONE Access, VMware Horizon Air

Overview

The VMware Horizon Cloud Service delivers feature-rich virtual desktops and applications using a purpose-built cloud platform that is scalable across multiple deployment options, including fully managed infrastructure from VMware, public cloud infrastructure from Microsoft Azure, or on-premises hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI). The service supports a cloud-scale architecture that makes it easy to deliver virtualized Windows desktops and applications to any device, anytime. And, with a flexible subscription model and turnkey solutions, organizations can easily get up and running and scale quickly.

Omnissa

VMware Workspace ONE is an intelligence-driven digital workspace platform that delivers any app on any device. It integrates access control, multi-platform endpoint management, and application management. With the VMware Workspace ONE platform, IT teams can deliver a digital workspace that includes the devices and apps of the company’s choice, but with security and control.

VMware Workspace ONE is available:

As a cloud service
On-premises
Hybrid

VMware Workspace ONE Key Features

Simple app authentication: VMware Workspace ONE allows end-users to have password-less single sign-on, giving them access to virtually any app (mobile apps, web apps, cloud apps, and Windows apps).
Unified Endpoint Management options: VMware Workspace ONE aims to support all devices, offering convenience, access, security, and management that will work for any business.
Conditional access: VMware Workspace ONE provides a powerful policy engine to help you make dynamic decisions regarding end-user access rights and to protect sensitive information.
Automated app management: With VMware Workspace ONE the application delivery process can be automated, which improves security and compliance. Software packages can be automatically installed, updated, and removed, and automated workflows can also be created.

VMware Workspace ONE Benefits

Some of the benefits of using VMware Workspace ONE include:

Less IT intervention necessary: Because VMware Workspace ONE has simple app authentication, end-users can help themselves by selecting the applications they need rather than having IT intervene.
Smoother employee onboarding: Transform employee onboarding by enabling self-service access to the apps your end-users need to complete their job duties.
Compliance: VMware Workspace ONE helps end-users reach compliance by using advanced device restrictions.
Real-time visibility: You can have real-time visibility with application, device, and console events that provide detailed information for system monitoring. You can also view logs in the console or export pre-defined reports.

Workspace ONE Components

Workspace ONE Access
Workspace ONE UEM
VMware Workspace ONE® Intelligence
VMware Unified Access Gateway
Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub

Reviews from Real Users

Below is some feedback from our PeerSpot users who are currently using the solution:

PeerSpot user Patrick B., Cybersecurity Architect at a tech services company, says, "Its UI is extremely easy to use whether you're an advanced user or a novice user. When I first opened it up and had to learn the product, I was easily a novice. By the end of the third month, I was digging into the backend of the system and using it as a highly advanced user to accomplish what I needed to accomplish, and I was able to do it through the UI mostly."

Roshan T., Partner Manager North America at a tech company, mentions how satisfied he is with the product, saying, "You can put all your applications on a mobile device, be it a phone or tablet. It is secure and easy to use. Because it is centrally managed, you don't have to do any configuration on the phone. I just got the phone and connected to the central applications. I just downloaded one thing and everything got rolled out. Email, calendar, and other things were deployed centrally. If you don't have AirWatch, you have to configure your phone manually. For example, you need to deploy and configure your email manually and then synchronize everything. It is much simpler when a mobile device is centrally managed."

Omnissa

Sample Customers

Marriott, Sprint

Australian Sports Commission, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Lomond School, Merck, United Bank, Medical College of Wisconsin, Latymer Upper School, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Dowling Aaron Inc., Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Harrogate Grammar School, Duke University Football, Delta Air Lines, Adventist Health System, Giochi Preziosi, Cramlington Learning Village, Intermountain Healthcare, Safexpress, TAG Aviation

Buyer's Guide

Horizon Cloud Service vs. Workspace ONE UEM

February 2026

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