Proxmox vs VMware
After Broadcom's licensing changes more companies migrate from VMware to Proxmox. We compare both and run the migration — as an authorized Proxmox reseller.
Why companies look for a VMware alternative
After the Broadcom acquisition, the VMware offer was simplified to a few subscription bundles and perpetual licenses were discontinued — existing customers move to a subscription billed per CPU core, often with a minimum core count per CPU and a higher total cost. For many mid-size and smaller companies this means a steep increase in spending and the loss of the “buy once” model. That is the main driver of growing interest in Proxmox.
What Proxmox VE is
Proxmox Virtual Environment is an open virtualization platform combining the KVM hypervisor (full VMs) and LXC containers, with clusters, high availability (HA), software-defined Ceph storage and the ZFS filesystem. Management is via a clear web interface. The software itself is free (open-source); a subscription adds the Enterprise repository and vendor support.
Proxmox VE vs VMware vSphere — comparison
| Area | Proxmox VE | VMware vSphere |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Open-source (AGPL), subscription optional | Commercial, subscription mandatory |
| Hypervisor | KVM + LXC containers | ESXi |
| Licensing | Per CPU socket (support subscription) | Subscription in bundles, billed per core |
| Perpetual licenses | N/A (software is free) | Discontinued by Broadcom — subscription only |
| High availability (HA) | Built into the cluster | vSphere HA |
| Software-defined storage | Ceph and ZFS built in | vSAN (separate component) |
| Backup | Proxmox Backup Server (integrated, dedup) | Third-party (e.g. Veeam) |
| Management | Web GUI + Datacenter Manager | vCenter Server |
Indicative comparison (as of 2026). Feature details depend on version and chosen plan.
Cost — two different models
VMware today is a per-core subscription sold in bundles. Proxmox VE is free, and the support subscription is counted per CPU socket (from €120 to €1100/CPU/year at the manufacturer list price). In practice, for many environments the total cost of ownership with Proxmox is significantly lower — without losing HA, clustering or backup. We calculate the exact difference on your configuration.
How a VMware → Proxmox migration works
- Inventory and plan — a list of VMs, networks, storage and dependencies; a schedule with minimal downtime.
- VM import — Proxmox VE has a built-in ESXi importer; alternatively disk migration via OVF/qemu-img.
- Network and storage — mapping VLANs and datastores onto Proxmox bridges and Ceph/ZFS.
- Testing and go-live — verifying performance, HA and backup on Proxmox Backup Server before the production cutover.
Why work with us
We are an authorized Proxmox reseller, and the Sztorm IT team has administered servers since 2003 (over 1350 servers, ISO/IEC 27001:2023 Lead Auditor). You get one partner for the license, migration and operations — with a VAT invoice in PLN.
See also Proxmox VE licenses, pricing and subscriptions.
People also ask
Is Proxmox a good alternative to VMware?
Yes. Proxmox VE is a mature, open-source virtualization platform with HA, clusters, Ceph, ZFS and built-in backup. After VMware's licensing changes under Broadcom, many companies migrate to Proxmox to cut costs without losing key features.
What did Broadcom change in VMware licensing?
Broadcom simplified the offer into a few subscription bundles, discontinued perpetual licenses and moved to per-core billing. For many companies this means a higher total cost and the end of one-time purchases.
Is migrating from VMware to Proxmox difficult?
With a good plan it is safe. Proxmox VE has a built-in ESXi VM importer; disks can also be migrated via OVF/qemu-img. The key steps are inventory, mapping networks and storage, and testing before the production cutover.
Will I lose HA and clustering after migration?
No. Proxmox VE offers clusters and high availability (HA) out of the box, with software-defined storage via Ceph and ZFS. Functionally these match the most common vSphere HA and vSAN use cases.
How much is Proxmox compared to VMware?
Proxmox VE is free; the support subscription is billed per CPU socket (€120 to €1100/CPU/year at the manufacturer list price). VMware is a per-core subscription in bundles. For many environments the total Proxmox cost is clearly lower — we calculate the exact difference on your configuration.
Will Proxmox backup replace my current solution?
Yes. Proxmox Backup Server provides integrated, deduplicated and encrypted backup of VMs and containers. It can be deployed alongside the migration so production has backups from day one.
Will you help with the whole migration?
Yes. We run the migration from inventory, through VM import and network/storage configuration, to testing and production go-live — as an authorized Proxmox reseller with a team running servers since 2003.
Ask for a Proxmox quote
Write or call — we will pick the right licenses/subscriptions and, if you want, handle the deployment.