hyper-v-vs-vmware-workstation-pro

Hyper-V and VMware Workstation Pro are both server virtualization tools used to run guest operating systems on a single host machine. Hyper-V is a type-1 hypervisor designed to allow multiple virtual machines and is popular with mid-sized businesses that make use of other Microsoft technologies.  In contrast, VMware Workstation Pro is a hypervisor that supports a wide variety of operating systems and is most popular with mid-sized businesses that aren’t heavily based on Microsoft technology. 

Features

Hyper-V and VMware Workstation Pro can both be used to create and manage virtualized machines, but they also have some standout features that set them apart from each other.

In addition to being offered as a standalone tool, Hyper-V is built into Windows Server, making it easy to use and implement for network administrators that are familiar with Windows server.  Additionally, strong support features are provided for Hyper-V through Windows Active Directory, so businesses won’t have to worry as much about the security of their virtualized workloads. Hyper-V also offers good performance, with virtual servers being quick to create and maintenance not resulting in down time in most cases.  For businesses working with a primarily Windows environment, Hyper-V isw a strong choice.

VMware Workstation Pro supports a wide variety of operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and many Linux distributions.  Additionally, VMware Workstation Pro can function well on many host operating systems in addition to having flexibility in creating guest operating systems. For businesses looking to create a large amount of virtual machines on a single host, VMware workstation allows for up to 512 guests, which is higher than many competitors.  VMware Workstation Pro is a strong choice for businesses that need many guests per host, or who need to host MacOS virtual machines.

Limitations

Hyper-V and VMware Workstation are both competent tools for enterprise virtualization, but they also have some limitations that are important to consider.

Hyper-V allows for quick server creation and high security, but it doesn’t offer support for as many guest operating systems as competitors.  For businesses that need to support more obscure Linux distributions or MacOS, VMware Workstation may be preferred.  Hyper-V also only supports up to 384 virtual machines on a single host, so for businesses that need more it may not be an ideal choice.

VMware Workstation Pro offers support for many operating systems, but it can be trickier to learn compared to Hyper-V, which will be easy to use for administrators familiar with Windows servers.  Additionally, while VMware Workstation Pro’s security features are respectable, they aren’t as powerful as the security features Hyper-V provides through Windows Active Directory.

Pricing

Hyper-V offers a free pricing package with limited features. This package is ideal for smaller businesses with smaller virtualization needs. Pricing for Hyper-V is dependent on organizational requirements but can stretch as high as $4,000 or more. The cost of Hyper-V can also increase based on what support the business needs.

VMware Workstation Pro is available as a standalone product for $249.99, though this license only includes 30 days of support.  Additionally, the vSphere enterprise packages include VMware Workstation Pro along with other VMware software, licensing, and support. Licensing for the vSphere package starts at $995.00 and can reach as high as $5395.00. Support and software subscriptions start at $270.00 per year and can reach as high as $2769.00 per year.