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In 2026 the way we do virtualization is changing fast. When Broadcom bought VMware it made things more expensive because now people have to pay for subscriptions and extra services. This makes VMware Horizon really hard to use for desktop infrastructure, which is what a lot of companies use. The cost of licenses is too high it is hard to set things up. It is not easy to make changes as the company grows. Because of this businesses are looking for options that are more flexible. Some companies are starting to use Desktop as a Service like vDeskWorks, which makes it easy to have desktops that work well for people who work from home or, in the office. This way companies do not have to deal with all the problems that come with virtual desktops.

Why Switch from VMware Horizon in 2026?

The main reason people want to make a change is because their expenses are going up. Horizons pricing, which is based on the number of users often makes operational budgets go up by 30 to 50 percent especially when a lot of people are using it. This is made worse by the fact that it's hard to integrate with different cloud environments and other hardware, which takes up a lot of IT resources just to keep everything running. Advanced DaaS platforms are different, from Horizon because they have security features, zero-trust protocols and flexible billing that is based on how much people actually use the service. Companies are using models more and more. So they need VDI solutions that work on Windows, Mac and mobile platforms. This way people can be productive from anywhere and, at any time. They can use Desktop Infrastructure or VDI solutions, on Windows, Mac and mobile platforms to get work done.

What Defines a Top VMware Horizon Alternative?

When you are looking for an alternative it should work on a lot of different devices. This way you do not need to use a Virtual Private Network. You can get to what you need. Security is very important so it has encryption. It also follows rules like the General Data Protection Regulation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act from the beginning.

The alternative can handle a lot of users because it can add or remove resources as needed. You only pay for what you use so you are not surprised by the cost. It should be easy to manage with interfaces that let you set things up and keep an eye on them quickly. Importantly the alternative is reliable because it is always available and has data centers all over the place. This is what companies, like G2 and Gartner say about it.

Top 5 VMware Horizon Alternatives in 2026

When you look at the options vDeskWorks is the one that stands out. This is because it works well with Azure it has strong security to keep everything safe and you only pay for what you use. This makes it perfect for businesses that have a lot of people working from home.

Citrix Virtual Apps is also very good. It is great at streaming applications. Can handle a lot of different protocols. This makes it a good choice for teams that use a lot of software programs.

Amazon WorkSpaces is really good if you already use Amazon Web Services. It can automatically. Remove resources as needed which is great for businesses that do a lot of work in the cloud.

Microsoft Windows 365 is a choice if you already use Microsoft Office. It works well with these programs so it is a natural fit, for businesses that use a lot of Microsoft products. Rounding out the group Parallels RAS is an option. It gives to medium enterprises a way to access remote desktop services without spending a lot of money. This is because Parallels RAS has an efficient gateway. So Parallels RAS is perfect for, to medium enterprises that need to watch their costs.

Why vDeskWorks Stands Out as Your Go-To DaaS Provider?

vDeskWorks takes things to a new level. It is not a replacement for something else. vDeskWorks is a notch virtual desktop solution. It sets up Windows environments on Azure infrastructure in just a few minutes. This is a strong system. vDeskWorks uses the hardware you already have. It also lets you use applications, from almost any device. The best part is that you do not have to spend a lot of money upfront to get started with vDeskWorks.

This company that offers Desktop as a Service or DaaS for short really helps people save money. They can cut the cost of owning something by up to 40 percent compared to Horizon. This is because they do not have any fees.

The DaaS provider also makes sure that everything is secure. They use a kind of login that requires more than one step they protect data all the time and they control what people can do based on where they are.

This DaaS provider has facilities around the world. They have places in than 20 areas, which helps teams that are spread out work together with very few problems.

People who use this DaaS provider are very happy. For example a chief information officer, from a financial services company said that it only took them a hours to switch from Horizon. Normally this would take weeks. This really changed the way they work. The chief information officer was talking about the DaaS provider and how it helped them.

Here is a great example. A healthcare network with 5,000 users made the switch to vDeskWorks. This was done with little disruption. The result was a reduction in outages. Outages went down by 70 percent. This really helped the healthcare network to work overall. The switch, to vDeskWorks made the healthcare network more efficient.

Quick Migration Roadmap

Begin by evaluating your current Horizon environment to pinpoint priorities and gaps. Next, launch a pilot program with vDeskWorks for a single team, taking advantage of the complimentary trial to test real-world performance. Proceed with a staggered implementation, transferring applications incrementally to maintain continuity. Once prepared, execute the full handover, backed by dedicated guidance from the vDeskWorks team. Finally, refine your setup through ongoing monitoring to ensure optimal results and adaptability.