Microsoft's native cloud VDI — the only platform with Windows 10/11 multi-session
Azure Virtual Desktop is Microsoft's cloud-native VDI platform, and it holds one card no competitor can match: exclusive access to Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session. This means one VM can host dozens of users simultaneously — dramatically reducing cloud compute costs vs. any other VDI platform. If your organization already runs Microsoft 365, you're likely entitled to AVD at no additional software cost. For Microsoft-centric organizations, AVD is the most cost-effective cloud VDI platform on the market.
Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly Windows Virtual Desktop) is a fully managed desktop and application virtualization service built natively into Microsoft Azure. Unlike third-party VDI platforms that layer on top of Azure, AVD has privileged access to Windows multi-user capabilities that Microsoft doesn't license to any other vendor. Organizations with Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Windows 10/11 Enterprise, or RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) can run AVD with no additional Microsoft software licensing. The primary cost is Azure compute — and with the right VM sizing, reserved instances, and auto-scale policies, AVD can be significantly cheaper than Citrix or Horizon for standard knowledge worker workloads.
Deployment model: Azure Cloud Only (Azure Stack HCI for on-prem variant). Pricing model: Azure consumption + optional management layer. Typical price range: Compute from $0.05/hr (B2s); no per-user Microsoft software fee with M365. Pricing is negotiable at volume — Compare Select benchmarks quotes against real transacted deals before you sign.
Only AVD can run Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise multi-user — multiple users sharing one Windows desktop VM. This is not available on any other VDI platform.
Microsoft-owned FSLogix provides a profile management solution that attaches user profiles as virtual disks — eliminating roaming profile corruption and login delays.
Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive run natively optimized in AVD sessions — media processing offloads to the endpoint rather than the server, reducing VM overhead significantly.
Automatically scale host pool VMs up and down based on session demand — paying only for active compute and eliminating idle VM costs during off-hours.
Full Microsoft Conditional Access policies apply to AVD sessions — the same zero-trust framework used for SaaS apps extends natively to virtual desktops.
Publish individual Windows applications without delivering a full desktop — presenting them as if they were running locally on the user's device.
| Alternative | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Citrix DaaS | Citrix adds the HDX protocol and security analytics on top of AVD. Many large enterprises run Citrix-on-AVD for protocol performance without on-prem infrastructure. |
| AWS WorkSpaces | WorkSpaces runs on Amazon's cloud. AVD is Microsoft-native and supports Windows multi-session. AVD usually wins for Microsoft shops; WorkSpaces for AWS-centric teams. |
| Parallels RAS | Parallels RAS adds a management layer on top of AVD, simplifying admin for teams without deep Azure expertise. Often a good bridge for MSPs and mid-market. |
Likely yes. Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Premium, Windows 10/11 Enterprise E3/E5, and active RDS Subscriber Access Licenses all include AVD rights. Compare Select will audit your current entitlements before recommending any additional purchase.
Microsoft charges nothing for the AVD control plane. You pay for Azure compute (VMs), storage, and networking. A Standard_D2s_v5 VM supporting 4–6 knowledge workers costs roughly $0.10–0.15/hr. With auto-scale and reserved instances, a 200-user deployment typically runs $8,000–$15,000/month in Azure spend.
It depends on your requirements. If your users need advanced protocol performance, client access from unusual devices, or you want Citrix's security analytics, Citrix-on-AVD is a proven architecture. If your team lacks Azure expertise and wants simpler management, Parallels RAS on AVD is a strong option.
Compare Azure Virtual Desktop against every alternative in our VDI / DaaS / App Delivery comparison, or browse the full vendor directory. Ready for pricing? Talk to a Compare Select advisor — our guidance is free and vendor-neutral.