Side by side
Citrix XenServer vs ZStack
Both stand on virtualization management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose XenServer if your organization needs virtualization on dedicated x86 servers, with live migration, high availability, and GPU pass-through. Its stated focus on Citrix alignment, operational simplicity, lifecycle management, and security may also suit those priorities. Look elsewhere if your host hardware does not meet its requirements or you need a free plan.
Visit Citrix XenServerZStack offers a broad set of self-hosted infrastructure products, with capabilities spanning private cloud, storage, and containers. Check product-specific deployment and availability limits before choosing.
Visit ZStackThe facts
| Citrix XenServer | ZStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | citrix.com | zstack.io |
| On virtualization management software | #16 of 34 | #12 of 34 |
Citrix XenServer: what it does well
- High availability can restart VMs on another host after a host failure.
- Live migration supports host maintenance with minimal or no downtime.
- Resource pools can contain up to 32 hosts.
- GPU pass-through supports NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs.
- New installations require TLS for management-interface connections.
What to know first
- Hosts require dedicated 64-bit x86 servers with x86-64-v3 CPU support.
- There is no free plan; pricing is available on request.
- The 90-day trial does not include official support.
- NVIDIA vGPU support for XenServer 9 is preview-only and not fully supported.
ZStack: what it does well
- ZCF combines compute, storage, networking, containers, and security.
- ZStone provides block, file, and object storage.
- Cloud Enterprise supports hybrid-cloud backup and recovery.
- Native RESTful API is available.
What to know first
- ZLR enterprise disaster recovery is marked coming soon.
- ZStack Cloud Standard is available only in selected regions.
- ZSphere's listed free period is three months.
Alternatives to Citrix XenServer Alternatives to ZStack The whole list