7 Best Free VDI Software Solutions for 2023

October 23, 2023

free vdi software

As your business advances, so should your technology.

That being said, it’s now absolutely crucial that your organization provide a way for its employees to access their desktops virtually, no matter where they are.

Regardless of where your team is, if you want to give them remote access to desktops, laptops, and other operations systems the right way, you’re going to want to implement virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) software.

When you do, your employees will have access to any of the applications and information they need when they’re out of the office, all through a secure portal so they don’t have to sacrifice security for productivity.

With remote work on the rise, it’s no surprise that VDI tools are growing in popularity. Like any new software, certain options can be outside of your company’s budget. Thankfully, there are several free VDI software solutions available, giving you peace of mind without having to spend a pretty penny.

We compiled a list of the top eight free virtual desktop infrastructure software solutions that will fit perfectly into your budget.

7 best free VDI solutions in 2023

The list below contains real-user reviews from the best free VDI solutions on the market. To be included in this list, not only do you have to be a free application, but you also:

  • Support device portability and let users access desktop from multiple devices
  • Provide users with a virtual desktop they can access remotely
  • Meet security and compliance regulations

* This list is based on G2 data collected on October 18, 2023. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.

1. Google Compute Engine

Google Compute Engine is a customizable compute service that lets users create virtual machines with pre-built configurations. The presence of custom machine types eases the creation of virtual machines with optimal vCPU and memory. It also ensures confidential computing with data encryption features. The platform provides new customers with $300 in free credits. 

What users like best:

“Google Compute Engine lets me spin up VMs quickly and easily, and at a price point that makes it affordable, both to scale in number and in power. When I need to scale up my hardware, it only takes two minutes to get back online, which takes a lot of the anxiety of waiting out of the experience."

- Google Compute Engine Review, Brian R.

What users dislike:

"In my experience, there are custom instances that are added to the Google Compute Engine in the background and I don't believe we are informed about it. And these custom instances can cost us a lot and it's only until the monthly bill arrives that we realize what exactly cost us so much!"

- Google Compute Engine Review, Tarun P. 

2. Kasm Workspaces

Kasm Workspaces is a virtual desktop infrastructure, remote application server, and browser isolation solution that uses a modern scalable and resilient design to provide a web-based remote desktop/application environment with ease.

Users are able to deploy Kasm Workspaces on a single server in minutes with only one command or a distributed configuration for scalability and redundancy. Kasm Workspaces can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or in a hybrid configuration.

What users like best:

“As someone who has been using Kasm Workspaces for a couple of months, I can confidently say that it has exceeded my expectations. Their container streaming platform has proven to be an essential tool for my work as a software engineer, mainly since I primarily use a Chromebook.

One of the standout features for me has been their enterprise-class orchestration. It ensures that the delivery of containerized workloads is seamless and efficient, which has been a major asset in my day-to-day work.

Another aspect of Kasm Workspaces I appreciate is the data loss prevention feature. It gives me peace of mind knowing that my sensitive data is protected and it's a valuable addition to the platform.

In my experience, Kasm Workspaces has been a reliable and secure platform for streaming containerized apps and desktops to end-users. It has significantly impacted my work, and I would highly recommend it to any business or organization looking for a top-notch solution."

- Kasm Workspaces Review, Jeremiah H.

What users dislike:

“While Kasm Workspaces' core images and the KasmVNC technology are open-source, the heart of Kasm Workspaces - meaning the server stack - is not. This means that right now, the only people who can inspect the central part of the product for security vulnerabilities would be third-party security researchers that are hired for a one-time audit."

- Kasm Workspaces Review, Aaron

3. Cameyo

Cameyo is a cloud-hosted virtual app delivery platform that makes it easy for businesses to host desktop applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. The platform provides a fully managed digital workspace, which enables organizations to deliver Windows and internal web applications to any device. 

What users like best:

“Cameyo has quickly helped us deliver Windows applications to our fleet of Chromebooks using Progressive Web Application (PWA) technology. It integrates well with Google Workspace and Google Groups for provisioning users. From the user side, we chose to push icons to both the Chromebooks and Windows desktops, but you can also distribute URLs or configure a portal of applications. The support folks are quick to respond and flexible, too."

- Cameyo Review, Scott Lawrence L.

What users dislike:

“There is slight input and visual delay. It is unrealistic to expect the experience to be the same as sitting at your own dedicated computer, but the delay is still there. I'd also like to see more usage information for their all cloud solution."

- Cameyo Review, Jacob A.

4. Workspot - Enterprise Desktop Cloud

Workspot - Enterprise Desktop Cloud is an enterprise VDI platform that helps organizations deploy virtual applications and desktops across multiple clouds and cloud regions. The platform also features global observability capabilities to provide businesses with real-time, actionable alerts. Users can also use built-in end-user surveys for gauging user satisfaction. 

What users like best:

“With a small IT Staff, we were struggling to keep up with the demands of end users day to day tasks and managing our VDI environment. Workspot - Enterprise Desktop Cloud has taken the VDI load off our hands and has made it a simple process to spin up new users. This has allowed out department to focus more and provide better support without adding staff."

- Workspot - Enterprise Desktop Cloud Review, Tim J.

What users dislike:

“In certain small edge cases, the connection client is not up to par with other offerings. For instance, connecting via a Chromebook. Running it on Windows is highly encouraged. The knowledge base they have could use some more content, both for admins and for end users."

- Workspot - Enterprise Desktop Cloud Review, Derek G.

5. 10ZiG Manager Thin & Zero Client Management Software

10ZiG Manager Thin & Zero Client Management Software is a world-market leader in VDI endpoint device software and hardware. The 10ZiG Manager™ endpoint management software remotely controls any endpoint running on a 10ZiG OS via one centrally managed and easy-to-use platform.

IT Administrators can easily configure, deploy, and manage large volumes of VDI endpoints located in multiple cities across the world – regardless of where that particular admin is located. Some of its features include cloud enablement, power management, task scheduling, automatic configuration, distributed firmware versioning, role-based access, reporting, shadowing, and more.

What users like best:

“We have over 100 of these units and we couldn't do business without some sort of management console. The 10Zig console just works. Very little configuration and we are up and running. With other products, we fiddle forever just to get them to recognize. We love these units. They are easy to configure, very stable, and just work. The best feature is the ability to set up templates. I can configure 10 units in about an hour and because our configurations are so complicated it requires touching each one. That is super fast. Our old units took about an hour each. Pushing out updates is effortless and convenient.”

- 10ZiG Manager Thin & Zero Client Management Software Review, Thomas A.

What users dislike:

“I wouldn't say that I personally don’t like it, but the manager GUI does seem a bit outdated. There are some cosmetics that might make it more popular with younger admins. I don't mind the look, the sleeker the better for me but it's probably the only thing I could see someone nagging on.”

- 10ZiG Manager Thin & Zero Client Management Software Review, Shay H.

6. Inuvika OVD Enterprise

Inuvika OVD Enterprise is a digital workspace platform for businesses looking to deliver Windows and Linux apps as well as shared desktops. The platform supports cloud, on-premise, and public and private cloud deployment. The software features an easy-to-use web admin console and integrates with leading enterprise solutions. 

What users like best:

“The best thing about Inuvika OVD Enterprise is that we can use Linux and Windows applications side by side. We have been using Inuvika OVD Enterprise for many years since they were a startup company. It has been very supportive of the platform and we have worked well together throughout our time. I can say that it is a very functional system for our end users."

- Inuvika OVD Enterprise Review, Cranstin M.

What users dislike:

“The only complaint I have about Inuvika OVD Enterprise is the administration interface can feel a little "dated" and all over the place at first, however once you have become familiar with it you quickly forget about this, and you can focus on streaming your apps to end users."

- Inuvika OVD Enterprise Review, Marius V.

7. Nerdio Manager for MSP

Nerdio Manager for MSP provides easy IT automation for Managed Service Providers and their customers. Nerdio Private Cloud is a fully integrated platform that delivers comprehensive IT infrastructure at your fingertips, including virtual hardware, software, security, BDR, and 24/7 tech support for any issue that may arise.

What users like:

“I've been with Nerdio for many years, and they've been an outstanding partner to our "small business" environment. They are responsive when needed, and informative to our many questions as the world of technology evolves. They have helped us navigate some tricky challenges, and I appreciate that they kept us apprised as solutions were sought. I would highly recommend them.”

- Nerdio Manager for MSP Review, Bekki K.

What users dislike:

“Overnight/early morning tech support is overseas and sometimes they’re hard to hear on phone calls.”

- Nerdio Manager for MSP Review, Alea M.

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Maximum productivity from anywhere

When you want to ensure that your remote employees can access their desktop, laptop, and all of the necessary applications, a virtual desktop infrastructure is the way to go. And with all of these free software solutions, you can take advantage of this modern luxury in a way that fits within your budget.

Once you’ve chosen the right free VDI solution, learn more about the ten steps to VDI implementation as well as the common mistakes to avoid.


This article was originally published in 2020. It has been updated with new information.

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Find free VDI software

Discover free VDI software that provides remote access within your budget.

free vdi software
Find free VDI software

Discover free VDI software that provides remote access within your budget.

7 Best Free VDI Software Solutions for 2023 VDI tools allows remote workers access desktops, operating systems, and other information they may need. Explore best free VDI software in this article. https://learn.g2.com/hubfs/free-vdi-software-list@2x.png
Mara Calvello Mara Calvello is a Content Marketing Manager at G2. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University). Mara's expertise lies within writing for HR, Design, SaaS Management, Social Media, and Technology categories. In her spare time, Mara is either at the gym, exploring the great outdoors with her rescue dog Zeke, enjoying Italian food, or right in the middle of a Harry Potter binge. https://learn.g2.com/hubfs/IMG_6361.jpeg https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-calvello-83648b47/

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