Skip to content
VMware Users Seek Alternatives Amid Licensing Changes

VMware Users Seek Alternatives Amid Licensing Changes

First seen 7 Oct 2026, 21:33 UTC • •
API

Article Content

Browse articles
ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 8, 2026 at 20:34 UTC
  • •90% of VMware users are exploring alternatives due to rising licensing costs.
  • •54% are motivated by the end of support for perpetual licenses.
  • •Operational complexity and vendor management are significant barriers to change.

A recent survey indicates that 90% of VMware users are considering alternatives due to significant increases in licensing costs following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. The survey, conducted by Rimini Street and Unisphere Research, involved nearly 300 organizations, with 54% citing the end of support for perpetual license holders as a key reason for exploring other options. Some users reported cost increases of up to 1,500%. Challenges such as operational complexity (40%) and managing multiple vendors (38%) are barriers to transitioning away from VMware. The survey also highlights a trend towards multi-hypervisor strategies, with 60% of respondents considering diverse virtualization environments. Additionally, 66% of those surveyed are looking into third-party support options. VMware Cloud Foundation adoption remains low, with 48% of respondents having no plans to migrate assets to it.

Start a free Starter trial for enhanced analysis

Ask AI about this cluster

Updated 3d ago How this analysis works

More articles in this cluster (2)

Extracted Entities (2)

1 / 2

Common questions

Why are VMware users considering alternatives?
Users are facing significant licensing cost increases, with some reporting hikes of up to 1,500%.
What challenges do organizations face when switching from VMware?
Operational complexity and the need to manage multiple vendors are major barriers for 40% and 38% of respondents, respectively.
What strategies are organizations adopting instead of VMware?
Many are considering multi-hypervisor strategies and third-party support options to regain cost control and flexibility.