Application Virtualization comparison & reviews

Summary
Rank
4th 1st 3rd
Score
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Analysis expand by Rory Monaghan by Rory Monaghan by Rory Monaghan
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General expand
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  • Fully Supported
  • Limitation
  • Not Supported
  • Information Only
Pros
  • + Wide range of 3rd party product support for packaging. Focus on accessibility for software developers. Promoted by Microsoft as their future solution.
  • + Highest rate of app compatibility of all virtualization products. The simplest packaging of all products, very little skill required. Native support for drivers. Ability to control isolation or integration of individual files and reg keys. Citrix Ready and SCCM Integrated. Has powershell cmdlets for automation.
  • + Integration with App Volumes and Horizon. Next to App-V, it's the most widely used product.
Cons
  • - Relatively low success rate. Steep learning curve for the product. Package mitigations require 3rd party products or use of Package Support Framework which is geared more toward developers than IT Pros.
  • - Doesn't have a very large online community outside of Software2's recipe library which is not free.
  • - Though packaging is pretty streamlined and relatively simple with a series of text files, making updates to large applications requires recompiling the .exe which can take a long time. Development was pretty slow and this was the last product to support 64-bit applications. Newer versions of Office or new Windows Operating System have limited functionality.
  Content  
  •  
Solution Summary
(score pending)
(score pending)
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Content Creator
(score pending)
(score pending)
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Vendor Specialist
(score pending)
(score pending)
  Assessment  
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Maturity
(score pending)
(score pending)
  Support Status  
  •  
Product is supported (Not End Of Life )
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Under active development
Yes
Yes
Yes
  Maturity  
  •  
Proven technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Public enterprise references in Europe
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Public enterprise references in US
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Official training classes available
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Official Certification program: VUE/Prometric
No
No
No
  •  
Public showcase of 25+ applications
No
No
Yes
  •  
Public showcase of 50+ applications
No
No
Yes
  •  
Large community resource
No
Yes
Yes
  Solution licensing  
  •  
Concurrent licensing
Available
Available
Available
  •  
Device licensing
Available
Available
Available
  •  
Unlimited licensing
Available
Available
Available
  •  
Per named user licensing
Available
Available
Available
  •  
Free for personal use
Technically Yes via Insider
No
No
  •  
Services Provider License Agreement
Yes
Yes
No
Virtualization Characteristics expand
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  Isolation  
  •  
Full virtualization/isolation of apps
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Full integration of apps in Operating System
No
Yes
No, three isolation modes available but none to run completely without isolation
  •  
Apps operate with minimal chance of conflicts
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Directory redirection
No
No
No
  •  
Registry redirection
No
No
No
  •  
File redirection
No
No
No
  •  
Files and registry virtualization
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Control isolation per file/registry value
No, can be excluded or included
Yes
No
  •  
Control isolation per folder/registry key
No, can be excluded or included
Yes
Yes
  •  
Intercommunication of virtual environments
Coming Soon
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization in user-mode
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization in kernel-mode
Limited, requires elevation
Yes
No
  Packaging  
  •  
Pre-launch and post-exit scripting
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Pre-launch and post-exit scripting, centrally managed
No
Yes
No
  •  
Set virtual app OS requirements
Set by Rev number, similar to MSI Schema property
Yes
Yes
  •  
Set virtual app OS requirements, centrally managed
No
Yes
No
  •  
Set virtual app OS requirements, centrally managed via GUI
No
Yes
No
  •  
Virtual app cannot override GPO
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual app can override GPO
No
No
No
  •  
Support for virtual app templates
Yes
Yes
No
  •  
Compression of virtual app package
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Packages can be signed (native tools)
Yes
No
Consider Performance Impact
  •  
(Virtual) reboot during packaging supported
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
No limit on package file size
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Unattended application packaging
Limited
Yes
Yes
  •  
Import of MSI packages for conversion
No
Simple apps only or with automation scripts
ThinApp Factory
  •  
User can virtualize apps
No
No
No
  •  
Import other virtual application formats
No
No
No
  •  
No need for clean OS during packaging
You can package multiple times but should be clean
Yes
Clean OS Required
  •  
Virtual package: Save as MSI
No
No
Yes
  •  
Package format is open source
Yes
No
No
  •  
Built-in package encryption
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Show custom message at virtual app launch
Not simple but can be created in PSF
Yes
Yes
  •  
Packager captures installer process
Yes
Yes
No
  •  
Packager captures all processes
Yes
Yes
Yes
  User Experience  
  •  
Windows Explorer context menu integration
No, claim to work but dont appear to work
Yes
No
  •  
User driven application repair
Yes
User can remove, re-add
No
  •  
User settings preserved between app launches
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
User settings can be stored on network
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Local user settings synchronized with the server
N/A
No
No
  •  
Localized client interface available
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
User can easily terminate virtual environment
Yes
Yes
No
  Upgrade  
  •  
Virtual app rollback
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual app upgrade, centrally managed
Yes
Yes
Yes, it can be
  •  
Virtual app upgrade while in use
No
No
No
  •  
Virtual app upgrade using deltas
Yes
Yes
Yes, with AppSync
  •  
App updates via HTTP/S protocol
Technically via URI for Store but limited in how you can deploy
Yes
Can use AppSync utility with ThinApp but its not very flexible
  Compatibility  
  •  
Support for protocol handlers
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Supports roaming user profiles
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Window class isolation
Yes
No
Yes
  •  
Compatible with DRM solution
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Package apps with kernel mode drivers
No
Yes
Not Possible
  •  
Virtualization of user mode services
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization of boot time services
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization of services that require privilege
Can run as LocalSystem,LocalService or Network Service Accounts
Yes
Yes
  •  
COM virtualization
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
COM+ virtualization
No
Yes
No
  •  
DCOM virtualization
Yes
Yes
Yes, in most cases
  •  
Named pipes isolation
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Network stack isolation
No
No
No
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Support for WinSxS
Requires remediation
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization of fonts on desktops
Yes, easier with 3rd party tools
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtualization of fonts on terminal server
Yes, easier with 3rd party tools
Yes
Yes
  •  
Start virtual app via RunAs
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Compatible with Windows UAC
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Support for Windows long filenames
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Virtualization of .NET framework
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
MS-DOS app on x32 platform
Not Supported
Not Supported
Yes
  •  
Win16 application on x32 platform
Supported
Supported
16-bit app do not work in new versions of ThinApp
  •  
Win16 application on x64 platform*
Not Supported
Not Supported
Not Supported
  •  
Win32 application on x64 platform
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Win64 application on x64 platform
Supported
Supported
Supported
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Support for virtual drive letters
Not Supported
Not Supported
Supported
  •  
Support for virtual printer drivers
Not Supported
Not Supported
Supported
  •  
Virtualize internationalization & code page
Not Supported
Not Supported
Supported
  •  
Support for virtual drive serial numbers
Not Supported
Not Supported
Supported
  •  
Run multiple versions of IE simultaneous
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual IE 6-10 runs on Win7
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual IE 11 runs on Win7
No
No
Yes
  •  
Virtual IE 6-10 runs on Win7 with local IE 11
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual IE 6-10 runs on Win10
No
Yes
32-bit IE 10 will not work on Windows 8.1 with ThinApp
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Virtual IE 11 runs on Win10
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual IE 6-10 runs on Win10 with local IE 11
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Run virtual app in Windows compatibility mode
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Virtual MS Office 201x without local components
No
Yes for 2010, newer versions wont work on newer Windows OS
Significant limitations with Office 2013 and 2016 on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 with ThinApp
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Virtual host name resolution
No
No
No
  •  
Original Microsoft Windows APIs used by virtual app
Yes
Yes
Some
  •  
Supported in combination with AppLocker
Yes
Yes
Supported
Architecture expand
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  General  
  •  
Create a High Available platform
N/A
Yes
Yes
  •  
Load balancing is part of solution
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
Build in secure client-server communication
N/A
Yes
Yes, if using a server solution. ThinApp is primarily for producing standalone portable apps
  Deployment  
  •  
Stream only initial app launch data at startup
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Native integration with a SCCM\MECM
Yes
Yes
  •  
Native integration with a CMS
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Streaming source based on client IP-subnet
N/A
No
No
  •  
Streaming source centrally managed
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
Offline virtual app usage
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Mobile device enabled
No
No
No
  •  
Virtual app can run embedded inside browser
No
No
No
  •  
Virtual app runs from removable storage, no installs
No
No
Yes
  •  
Virtual app + user settings run from removable storage, no installs
No
No
Yes
  •  
User settings can be stored on cloud storage
No
Yes
  •  
Package is portable, import from removable storage
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
App streaming via HTTP/S protocol
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
App streaming via proprietary protocol
N/A
No
No
  •  
App streaming via SMB
N/A
Yes
Yes
  •  
Solution is client- or agentless
Yes
No
Yes
  •  
Multiple concurrent client or agent versions on the same platform
No
No
Yes
  •  
Memory sharing in multi-user environment
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Client-side persistent cache
Yes
Yes
No
  •  
Centralized shared cache
No
Yes
No
  •  
Block caching by WAN acceleration devices
N/A
Yes
Yes
  •  
Usable with a Content Delivery Network
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
Self provisioning web portal
Yes
Yes
Yes, if integrated with Horizon
  Infrastructure  
  •  
Run virtual apps without directory service req.
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Supported in Novell NDS environment
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Supported in Novell eDirectory environment
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
No need for license service
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
No need for file share
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
No need for dedicated server
Yes
Yes
Dedicated Server Not Required
  •  
Enterprise scalable deployment platform included
Yes
Yes
Can deploy portable exe and use Reg utility to publish shortcuts
  •  
Data store supports: MS SQL Express Edition
N/A
Yes
Not Applicable
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Data store supports: MS SQL
N/A
Yes
Not Applicable
  •  
Data store supports: Oracle
N/A
No
Not Applicable
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Data store supports: IBM DB2
N/A
No
Not Applicable
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Data store supports: MySQL
N/A
Yes
Not Applicable
  •  
Data store is XML based
N/A
No
Not Applicable
  Client platform  
  •  
Support for EN localized operating systems
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Support for EN/DE/FR/ES localized operating systems
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Support for JP/Simple Chinese localized operating systems
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2008 - RDSH
No
No
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2008R2 - RDSH
No
No
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2012 - RDSH
No
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2012R2 - RDSH
No
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2016 – RDSH
No
Supported
Experimental
  •  
Windows Server 2019
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows Server 2019 - RDSH
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 7
MSIX Core
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 7 x64
MSIX Core
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 8.0 x86
Not Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 8.0 x64
Not Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 8.1 x86
Not Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 8.1 x64
Not Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 10 x86
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
Windows 10 x64
Supported
Supported
Supported
  •  
macOS, run virtual apps on MacOS
No
No
  •  
Android, run virtual apps on Android
No
No
  •  
iOS, run virtual apps on iOS
No
No
  •  
Linux, run virtual app native on Linux
No
No
CrossOver (limited)
  Cloud  
  •  
Usable in SaaS scenario
Not streamed but can be published via Web
Yes
No
  •  
Vendor offers cloud hosted service
With MSIX App Attach
Yes
No
  •  
Native integration with cloud hosted storage product(s)
No
No
No
  •  
Amazon Workspaces
No
Yes
Management expand
0%
0%
0%
  General  
  •  
Central management platform
No
Yes
Yes, if using VMware Horizon to deploy ThinApp apps you have a management platform.
  •  
File type associations centrally managed
No
Yes
No
  •  
File type association managed by user
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Integrate with Programs and features
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
URL redirection to virtual IE; locally configured
No
Yes
Supported
  •  
URL redirection to virtual IE; centrally managed
No
Yes
ThinApp updated .admx
  •  
URL redirection to other virtual browser
No
No
Yes
  •  
Management platform is included
No
Yes
No
  Access Control  
  •  
Role based administration
N/A
Yes
Role based administration possible when integrated with VMware Horizon
  •  
Limit application usage by AD security groups
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Limit application usage by AD computer objects
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Limit application usage by AD OU
No
Yes
No
  •  
Machine targeting, centrally managed
No
Yes
Can be with VMware Horizon
  •  
Machine targeting, target OS, centrally managed
No
Yes
Can be with VMware Horizon
  •  
Machine targeting, targets OS/language/service pack, centrally managed
No
No
Can be with VMware Horizon
  •  
Offline virtual app usage can be time limited
No
Yes
Yes
  Audit  
  •  
Virtual app license metering
No
Yes
No
  •  
Virtual app usage tracking
No
Yes
VMware Horizon can show deployments but not really usage.
  •  
Event logging on client
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Event logging on server
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
Virtual app debugging/diagnostics
Yes
No
Yes
  •  
Pre-packaging diagnostics
Yes
Yes
No
  •  
Post-packaging diagnostics
No
Yes
No
  •  
Virtual app debug options build-in
Yes, PSF
No
Yes
  Scripting and Automation  
  •  
Manage with command line
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Manage with API/WMI
No
Yes
Yes
  •  
Manage client with PowerShell
Yes
Yes
Yes
  •  
Manage server with PowerShell
N/A
Yes
No
  •  
SDK available
Yes
Yes
Yes

Matrix Score

  •  
  •  
  • Microsoft
  • Numecent
  • VMware
  •  
  • 4 th
  • 1 st
  • 3 rd
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