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vSphere Logo

Server virtualization software for managing applications

Table of Contents

vSphere - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

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All user reviews are verified by in-house moderators and provider data by our software research team.  Learn more

vSphere overview

What is vSphere?

vSphere is a server virtualization software designed to help businesses manage applications and modernize workflows using virtual machines, Kubernetes, and containers. Enterprises can protect their hybrid cloud infrastructure against malware, ransomware, and other threats using built-in security capabilities. vSphere allows organizations to manage the entire application lifecycle including maintenance of software, firmware, and patching upgrades from within a unified interface. Businesses can incorporate graphics processing units (GPUs) to deliver artificial intelligence and machine learning infrastructures, and deploy Kubernetes clusters according to requirements. The system captures host-level configuration settings and automatically sends alerts to supervisors about compliance issues. Using vSphere, teams can handle virtual machine templates, optical disc images, scripts, and virtual appliances. Other features include access management, cloning, virtual machine encryption, data migration, power management, content library, and versioning.

Who uses vSphere?

By industry, vSphere reviewers are most commonly professionals in information technology and services (29%). The most frequent use case for vSphere cited by reviewers is virtualization (97% of reviewers).

What do users say about vSphere pricing?

Some reviewers feel that vSphere offers good value for money for medium and large companies, and they appreciate the inclusion of management tools and the competitively priced Essentials suite. However, many users report that high licensing costs, expensive add-ons, and complex pricing structures make it difficult for small businesses and startups to justify the investment.

Starting price

576.96per user /
per year

Alternatives

with better value for money


Pros & Cons

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Consolidation

Versatility

Oversight

Affordability

Transition

Navigation

vSphere’s user interface

Ease of use rating:

vSphere pros, cons and reviews insights

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To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 

Overall rating

Reviews sentiment

 
 
 
1-2(1)
3-4(136)
5(294)

What do users say about vSphere?

Users say vSphere enables efficient virtualization and centralized management of servers, helping them reduce hardware costs, optimize resources, and easily scale environments. They find its robust features—like high availability, vMotion, and flexible infrastructure management—essential for enterprise operations, though they note a steep learning curve and complex initial setup. They appreciate the ability to manage multiple VMs from a single interface and report reliable performance in daily use.

Reviewers indicate that vSphere’s pricing and licensing are expensive, especially for small businesses, and some mention challenges with the web client’s speed and missing features. They feel customer support is generally helpful but can be slow or costly, and say documentation and setup guidance could be improved.

Select to learn more


Who uses vSphere?

Based on 431 verified user reviews.

Company size

Small Businesses

Enterprises

Midsize Businesses

Top industries

Information Technology and Services
Computer Software
Computer & Network Security
Telecommunications
Others

Use cases

Virtualization
Virtual Private Server
Network Monitoring
Big Data
Machine Learning

vSphere's key features

Most critical features, based on insights from vSphere users:

Virtual machine monitoring
Data migration
Server monitoring
Configuration management
Performance management
Dashboard

All vSphere features

Features rating:

API
Data cleansing
Data management
High volume processing
Load balancing
ML algorithm library
Model training
Virtual machine encryption
Dedicated virtual resources
Bandwidth monitoring
Version control
Namespace management
Data discovery
Monitoring
Templates
Virtual server

vSphere awards

vSphere alternatives

vSphere logo

Starting from

576.96

/user

Per year

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Inuvika OVD Enterprise logo
visit website

Starting from

8.55

Per month

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Atlantic.Net Cloud Platform logo
visit website

Starting from

0.01

Per month

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
SAS Viya logo
visit website

Starting from

Empty state illustration for "No pricing info"

No pricing info

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support

vSphere pricing

Pricing plans

Pricing details:

Free plan
Free trial
Subscription

vSphere Essential Kit

576.96

/user

Per year

Features included:

  • All-in One Solution
  • Server Virtualization and Consolidation
  • Simplify Software Upgrades
  • Vsphere Hypervisor (Esxi) and Vcenter Server Essentials

vSphere Essential Plus Kit

5,596

Per year

Features included:

  • Business Continuity and Always-Available IT
  • Cross Switch Vmotion
  • Improve Service Levels and Application Quality
  • Save on IT Hardware Costs
  • Strengthen Security and Data Protection
  • Vcenter Server Essentials. Vsphere Data Protection. Vsphere High Availability (HA)
  • Vsphere Hypervisor (Esxi)
  • Vsphere Vmotion
  • Vsphere Vshield Endpoint and Vsphere Replication

vSphere Standard

1,268

Per year

Features included:

  • Entry-Level Solution
  • High Availability
  • Next-Gen Infrastructure Image Management
  • Reduce Hardware Cost
  • Vshield Endpoint and Vsphere Replication
  • Vsphere Hypervisor (Esxi) Vmotion

vSphere Enterprise Plus

4,350

Per year

Features included:

  • Data-at-Rest Encryption
  • High Availability
  • Run Modern Applications
  • VM Encryption and Vsphere Replication
  • Vmotion
  • Vshield Endpoint
  • Vsphere Hypervisor (Esxi)
  • Vsphere Trust Authority

User opinions about vSphere price and value

Value for money rating:

Of 84 reviews that provide robust commentary on vSphere's price and value, 30% mention it in a positive light.

Some reviewers feel that vSphere offers good value for money, especially for medium and large companies that require a robust production environment. They appreciate the inclusion of management software, SDN, and SDS in the overall offering, and find the Essentials suite competitively priced for smaller clients. Users think the free version (ESXi) is beneficial, and some find the initial high cost justified by the long-term benefits and reliability. They also value the frequent updates and good customer service.

However, many users report that vSphere is expensive, particularly for small businesses and startups. They indicate that the high licensing costs, additional fees for add-ons, and the need for compatible hardware can be significant barriers. Some reviewers mention that the best features are only available in the higher-priced tiers, making it difficult to access the full functionality without substantial investment. Users also note that the pricing structure for support and the complexity of licensing can be problematic. They say that while the product is reliable, the overall cost can be hard to justify, especially for those with budget constraints.

, and

To see what individual users think of vSphere's cost and value, check out the review excerpts below.

“Premium versions offer real value, so if you need more than 4-5 servers and a rock solid production environment you should invest in vSphere.”
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John P.

Presales & Technical Support Manager

“They VSAN scales poorly in terms of ROI, as more often than not you need the All-Flash VSAN, which after 2-3 copies of the data yields low capacity at double or triple the cost of the (already expensive) Flash Media.”
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Eran B.

CTO, EMEA

“The tiers of the product make it almost impossible to get the best parts of it without buying the best tier and spending the most money”
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David R.

Data Management Supervisor

vSphere integrations (7)

Integrations rated by users

We looked at 431 user reviews to identify which products are mentioned as vSphere integrations and how users feel about them.

Datadog logo
Datadog

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

vSphere customer support

What do users say about vSphere customer support?

Customer support rating:

We analyzed 35 verified user reviews to identify positive and negative aspects of vSphere customer support.

The majority of users highlight fast, knowledgeable, and helpful support when reaching out with issues or questions.

Broad user base appreciates the ease of contacting support via multiple channels and the abundance of helpful documentation.

A minority of users report slow initial responses, language barriers, and inconsistent quality from first-tier support.

Support options

Faqs/forum
Knowledge base

To see what individual users say about vSphere's customer support, check out the review snippets below.

“The best part of this is their support, you can call them or submit a ticket and their team of experts will call back and help you.”

HV

Hector V.

Systems Engineer

“The support it is also really great. If you have a active support, they help with any issue really quickly and with a good solution.”

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Yuri M.

IT Infrastructure Specialist

“I've had two support cases where my first contact didn't even know what the product was (vCenter Server Support Assistant) Suffer through till higher tiers and they will fix your issue, but if it isn't down expect it to take a minimum of days. ”

BM

Brandon M.

System Administrator

vSphere FAQs

Q. What type of pricing plans does vSphere offer?

vSphere has the following pricing plans:
Starting from: $576.96/year
Pricing model: Subscription

These products have better value for money


Q. Who are the typical users of vSphere?

vSphere has the following typical customers:
Freelancers, Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Non Profit, Public Administrations, Small Business


Q. What languages does vSphere support?

vSphere supports the following languages:
English


Q. Does vSphere offer an API?

No, vSphere does not have an API available.


Q. What level of support does vSphere offer?

vSphere offers the following support options:
FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base

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