Best VMware Alternatives to Consider in 2025
With the evolution of virtualization technology, many businesses and individuals are exploring VMware alternatives that can offer unique features at more affordable prices. Today, different options are available, depending on your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, open-source flexibility, or specialized capabilities, the market has different alternatives that can provide excellent performance and a wide range of virtualization features. Here are five of the best options to consider.
Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure
Virtuozzo Hybrid infrastructure is a cloud platform designed for service providers, enterprises, and software vendors, which OpenStack fully manages. The platform offers an efficient and secure solution tailored for cloud-native applications, artificial intelligence, and machine learning projects. Virtuozzo Hybrid integrates virtualization, orchestration, and storage technologies into a single hyper-converged platform, simplifying cloud management, ensuring rapid deployment, and saving capital.
The platform includes KVM-based virtualization, Kubernetes orchestration, storage based on software, and S3-compatible object storage. It also consists of an in-built load balancer, management tools that help streamline operations and are very easy to use, and a backup. It allows users access to resources through a self-service portal, allowing for quick provision and monitoring of computing, network services, and storage.
Key use cases include building private or public clouds, running cloud-native applications, and providing disaster recovery solutions. Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure also supports virtual machines, persistent storage for Kubernetes, and high-availability configurations for critical applications. Integration with Storware Backup and Recovery adds a layer of security to data stored and processed on the Virtuozzo infrastructure.
This platform’s advanced features help businesses reduce complexity and operational costs. Its secure, software-defined networking uses VXLAN encapsulation for isolated environments, while built-in analytics and alerting enhance performance monitoring. A unified management console simplifies control of all infrastructure layers.
Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure supports easy scalability, allowing businesses to grow incrementally by adding servers or disks. Data redundancy protects against hardware failure, supporting VM volumes, NFS, and S3 storage types. Compatibility with third-party systems, such as WHMCS and CloudBlue, offers flexible integration options. The multi-tenant architecture isolates shared environments while full Windows guests support adequate desktop and server deployments.
Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure, designed with unimaginable hardware and software capabilities, provides users with ready-to-use cloud solutions that improve performance, enhance reliability, and lower the cost of ownership.
VergeOS
Verge.io, founded in 2010 and based in Clarkston, Michigan, is dedicated to simplifying the complexity and high costs often associated with modern IT infrastructure. Verge.io aims to revolutionize data center operations by providing a streamlined, efficient solution. Its primary offering, VergeOS, is an integrated operating system that combines virtualization, storage, and networking into a single platform. This system maximizes existing hardware use while ensuring high data resiliency and performance levels.
The company’s vision stems from a belief that IT infrastructure has become unnecessarily complex and expensive. Verge.io started by breaking away from the traditional, fragmented IT model that relies on separate, siloed components for each function.
Instead, they created VergeOS, a single piece of software that runs on standard, affordable hardware powered by AI and machine learning for self-management and optimization. This innovative approach allows IT generalists, even those without specialized knowledge, to deploy entire virtual data centers quickly and easily without costly hardware or time-consuming setups.
One key benefit of VergeOS is its ability to extend the lifespan of hardware. By removing the reliance on specific hardware compatibility lists and optimizing resources through AI, VergeOS helps businesses avoid the costly cycle of frequent hardware upgrades. This reduces capital expenditures and cuts operational costs, making IT infrastructure more accessible to companies of all sizes.
Verge.io is changing the IT landscape by providing a more straightforward, affordable solution that reduces the complexity of traditional systems. This empowers businesses to manage their data centers more effectively and efficiently.
Proxmox VE
Proxmox VE is a platform that manages virtual machines, VMs, and containers designed to help businesses and individuals set up and manage virtualized environments simply and cost-effectively. It is a completely integrated solution that combines virtualization and technology into a single platform, allowing versatility and a wide range of use cases.
Promox VE can manage virtual machines and containers using the Kernel-based Virtual Machine for VMs and LXC. It can also use Linux Containers for lightweight, faster, and container-based virtualization. This feature makes it an excellent choice for those who want to get the best of both functions. Promox VE offers a web-based interface for efficiently managing virtual environments. It is designed to simplify tasks that require a lot of manual effort and act as an interface for users who want more control over their systems.
The platform allows for high availability and clustering, which is crucial for companies looking to ensure that their systems are always resilient and online. You can integrate Proxmox VE with backup solutions to protect your data and setups. To learn more about Proxmox VE backup solution read Proxmox Backup Server vs. Storware Backup and Recovery.
Although Proxmox VE is a free platform, it provides subscription options and features for those who want a wider range of assistance. Proxmox is open-source. Therefore, it is a popular choice for companies looking for scalable virtualization solutions without paying exorbitant fees for proprietary software.
Nutanix
Nutanix is a technological company that has revolutionized IT infrastructure, particularly its hyper-convergence (HCI) solutions.
Previously, the traditional silo system was expensive and ineffective, not allowing the different parts of the company’s infrastructure to communicate. However, Nutanix has solved this by integrating the system, making it easier for businesses to manage their IT resources.
Nutanix has evolved to support hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Therefore, companies can manage their on-site infrastructure, cloud resources, and edge devices without using different platforms. Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and Nutanix Prism help to manage and monitor virtual environments using machine learning, performance optimization, and security features.
Meanwhile, Nutanix is also flexible. Its software is not tied to specific hardware. Instead, it can run on equipment from different suppliers. This includes Dell and Lenovo and cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft Azure. Thus, businesses have the freedom to choose the best solutions for them.
In recent years, Nutanix has expanded its offerings. It now offers tools for database management, cloud cost optimization, and remote or edge environments. Thus, it plays a significant role in helping businesses simplify their processes and improve efficiency as IT ecosystems become more complex.
OpenMetal
OpenMetal is a technology company that provides cloud-based solutions and management services to businesses of various sizes worldwide. Its primary goal is to give users easier access to open-source technologies, empowering individuals and teams to contribute to tech communities. The platform aims to benefit users by positively impacting the future of IT.
OpenMetal’s key feature is its strong commitment to open-source technologies. It has made OpenStack and other open-source systems accessible for teams of different sizes. The platform helps grow the technological ecosystem built on collaboration and shared knowledge.
OpenMetal stands out by providing cost-effective solutions that combine the best of various technologies. These solutions combine the flexibility and power of bare metal, the ease of public cloud, and the security and control of private cloud infrastructure. Building and maintaining a private cloud had previously been costly and complex. Thus, only large enterprises with substantial resources could access this resource. OpenMetal changes this by offering hosted private cloud solutions, enabling organizations of all sizes to leverage the benefits of private cloud technology without heavy investments.
In addition to its hosted private cloud solutions, OpenMetal also provides dedicated bare metal servers. This ensures businesses have a wide range of options to meet their specific IT needs. Ultimately, OpenMetal’s mission is to empower organizations with high-performance, cost-effective infrastructure that competes with traditional public cloud services. It does this while simplifying cloud management and fostering open-source contributions.
Conclusion
The growing demand for VMware alternatives has led to the emergence of different solutions tailored to various business needs. Platforms like Virtuozzo Hybrid, Verge.io, Proxmox VE, Nutanix, and OpenMetal offer a range of benefits, from cost-efficiency and simplicity to robust scalability and advanced cloud capabilities.
Choosing the right option depends on budget, infrastructure requirements, and desired features. Businesses can enhance their IT environments by evaluating these alternatives. This would also help reduce complexity and improve companies’ overall performance.
For every option, including VMware, Storware provides reliable data backup. You can easily book a free session with our engineer and see how to protect your data from cyberattacks, accidental or intentional deletion or other worst-case scenarios.
