Since Broadcom's acquisition reshaped VMware pricing, the question for most mid-market IT teams is not whether to act but which direction to go. The options split into two camps: stay on VMware but pay less, or leave VMware for another platform. This guide ranks all eight, then helps you narrow to a shortlist.
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The solutions at a glance
| Solution | Keeps VMware? | Relative cost | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed VMware (VCSP) | Yes | $ | Low | Fast savings, zero re-platforming |
| Proxmox VE | No | $ | Medium | Cost-conscious, Linux-comfortable teams |
| Microsoft Hyper-V | No | $$ | Medium | Windows-heavy Microsoft shops |
| Nutanix AHV | No | $$$ | Medium | On-prem HCI, operational simplicity |
| Azure VMware Solution | Yes | $$$$ | Low | Azure-committed orgs |
| Google Cloud VMware Engine | Yes | $$$$ | Low | GCP-committed orgs |
| AWS (VMC or EC2) | Either | $$$$ | Low–High | AWS-committed orgs |
| OpenShift Virtualization | No | $$$ | High | Cloud-native, container-forward teams |
Cost markers are relative licensing/run cost, not total project cost. A cheap license with a hard migration can cost more all-in than a pricier platform that moves easily, which is why effort sits next to cost in the table.
If you want to keep VMware
Managed VMware (VCSP providers). The lowest-friction path. Providers such as 11:11 Systems, Expedient, and TierPoint run vSphere at scale pricing, so you keep every tool and workflow while cutting the bill against a Broadcom-direct renewal. Workloads move with vMotion or HCX, no conversion. Start with the providers directory.
Hyperscaler VMware (AVS, GCVE, VMware Cloud on AWS). Full vSphere running inside Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS. Excellent for data-center exits and DR on a deadline, but VMware licensing stays in the bill, so these win on speed and integration rather than raw savings. See VMware to Azure and VMware to AWS.
If you want to leave VMware
Proxmox VE. Open source, lowest licensing cost, strong for teams comfortable with KVM and Linux. Optional paid support keeps it enterprise-viable. Best raw-cost story of the group.
Microsoft Hyper-V. Often effectively free on the hypervisor if you license Windows Server Datacenter. The natural fit for Windows-dominant Microsoft shops. See the VMware to Hyper-V guide.
Nutanix AHV. Hyperconverged infrastructure with a polished operations model and built-in migration tooling (Nutanix Move). Higher licensing cost, but strong operational simplicity for on-prem HCI.
Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization. Runs VMs alongside containers on Kubernetes. The most future-facing option for teams already going cloud-native, and the highest effort to adopt.
Narrowing to a shortlist
- Renewal is weeks away: managed VMware or a hyperscaler VMware service buys time with minimal risk.
- Hardware refresh is due anyway: a replatform (Proxmox, Hyper-V, Nutanix) is the moment to capture long-term savings.
- Heavily Microsoft: Hyper-V first, then compare.
- Cost is the only driver: Proxmox and managed VMware tend to lead.
- Cloud-native ambitions: OpenShift or native hyperscaler.
Compare them on your numbers
See the full side-by-side in the VMware alternatives matrix, estimate any path in the free cost calculator, or have a Bridgepointe advisor build a priced, vendor-neutral comparison from your actual inventory with a free assessment.