Compare VMware ESXi and VMware vSphere 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (38.5% of reviews)
Mid-Market (43.6% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
VMware ESXi
Star Rating
(14)4.8 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (38.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VMware ESXiVMware vSphere
Star Rating
(596)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (43.6% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about VMware vSphereSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- Reviewers mention that VMware vSphere excels in scalability with a score of 9.2, allowing businesses to efficiently manage growing workloads, while VMware ESXi shines even brighter with a score of 9.5, making it a preferred choice for organizations anticipating rapid growth.
- Users report that the ease of setup for VMware ESXi is notably higher, scoring 9.2 compared to VMware vSphere's 8.6, which indicates that ESXi may be more user-friendly for those new to virtualization.
- G2 users highlight the superior quality of support for VMware ESXi, which received a score of 9.2, while VMware vSphere scored lower at 8.5, suggesting that users may find more reliable assistance with ESXi when issues arise.
- Users on G2 mention that both products have strong OS integration, scoring equally at 9.2, but VMware vSphere is noted for its advanced performance management features, scoring 9.0 compared to ESXi's 9.3, indicating a slight edge for ESXi in this area.
- Reviewers say that security is a standout feature for VMware ESXi, which scored an impressive 9.5, while VMware vSphere lagged behind at 8.9, suggesting that users may feel more secure with ESXi's robust security measures.
- Users report that while both products offer good resource-saving capabilities, VMware ESXi slightly outperforms with a score of 9.2 compared to VMware vSphere's 9.1, indicating a marginal advantage in optimizing resource usage.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
VMware ESXi
No pricing availableVMware vSphere
No pricing availableFree Trial
VMware ESXi
No trial information availableVMware vSphere
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.5
13
9.2
297
Ease of Use
9.0
13
8.9
460
Ease of Setup
9.4
13
8.6
404
Ease of Admin
9.0
10
9.0
239
Quality of Support
9.3
12
8.5
275
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
10
8.6
245
Product Direction (% positive)
9.1
13
8.1
296
Features by Category
Performance
9.4
11
9.2
134
8.9
11
8.9
132
8.8
11
8.7
135
Functionality
9.2
10
9.2
134
9.2
10
9.1
134
9.3
10
9.0
134
9.5
10
8.9
135
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
VMware ESXi and VMware vSphere are categorized as Server Virtualization
Unique Categories
VMware ESXi has no unique categories
VMware vSphere is categorized as Container Orchestration
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
VMware ESXi
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
VMware vSphere
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
30.8%
Telecommunications
15.4%
Food Production
15.4%
Accounting
15.4%
Manufacturing
7.7%
Other
15.4%
Information Technology and Services
16.2%
Government Administration
6.0%
Hospital & Health Care
5.7%
Telecommunications
5.3%
Financial Services
4.7%
Other
62.1%
Most Helpful Reviews
VMware ESXi
Most Helpful Favorable Review
ANSHUMAN R.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
It is simplified platform for virtualized environment.
Most Helpful Critical Review
Arthur H.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
There is nothing i dislike about using VMWare ESXi.
VMware vSphere
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Matthew G.
Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
This is the industry standard virtual server management system. It runs on a custom Linux OS (VMWare ESX) which eliminates the overheard hits you would get with Microsoft's Hyper-V offering. However, as opposed to Hyper-V, vSphere is not free. The increased...
Most Helpful Critical Review
Thanh T.
Verified User in Computer Software
Slow and seems to take up lots of resources
ANSHUMAN R.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
It is simplified platform for virtualized environment.
Matthew G.
Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
This is the industry standard virtual server management system. It runs on a custom Linux OS (VMWare ESX) which eliminates the overheard hits you would get with Microsoft's Hyper-V offering. However, as opposed to Hyper-V, vSphere is not free. The increased...
Arthur H.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
There is nothing i dislike about using VMWare ESXi.
Thanh T.
Verified User in Computer Software
Slow and seems to take up lots of resources
Alternatives
Discussions
VMware ESXi has no discussions with answers
Is ESXi software free?
4 comments
NA
ESXi has a free version! Basic features, perfect for personal use or testing. No advanced features or official support, but it's free forever. Paid editions...Read more
What is VMware vSphere standard?
2 comments
AS
vSphere 7 has been rearchitected with native Kubernetes for application modernization. Developers can’t afford infrastructure that slows them down –...Read more
What is VMware vSphere Hypervisor used for?
2 comments
AH
Virtual platform to host multiple images on a single machine which has limited resources.Read more
Hunting for software insights?
With over 2.5 million reviews, we can provide the specific details that help you make an informed software buying decision for your business. Finding the right product is important, let us help.
or continue with
Gmail.com addresses not permitted. A business domain using Google is allowed.
By proceeding, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
