Virtual desktops and published applications are central to secure hybrid work. Two of the most common choices are Citrix DaaS and Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). They are not mutually exclusive — Citrix can run on top of Azure — but understanding their strengths will help you choose the right architecture.
What each platform is
Citrix DaaS is Citrix’s cloud-delivered control plane for virtual apps and desktops. The workloads themselves can run in your data centre or in any major public cloud, and Citrix provides the brokering, policy, HDX remoting protocol, monitoring and secure access.
Azure Virtual Desktop is Microsoft’s desktop and app virtualisation service running in Azure. Microsoft manages the control plane, and AVD supports Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session, letting many users share one VM.
Side-by-side comparison
| Citrix DaaS | Azure Virtual Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Where workloads run | On-premises and any major cloud | Azure (and Azure Local) |
| User experience | HDX protocol, strong for graphics, poor networks and peripherals | RDP-based with continuing improvements |
| Management & policy | Very granular, mature tooling | Azure-native tooling, simpler feature set |
| Secure access | NetScaler gateway and zero-trust options | Entra ID, Conditional Access |
| Licensing | Citrix subscription plus infrastructure | Included access rights with many Microsoft 365 licences; pay for Azure compute |
| Best fit | Complex, multi-site or multi-cloud estates | Microsoft-centric organisations wanting simplicity |
When Citrix is the better choice
- You run workloads across data centres and more than one cloud.
- Users work over variable networks, or need demanding graphics and peripherals.
- You need very granular policy, session recording or advanced monitoring.
- Your team already has deep Citrix skills and processes.
When AVD is the better choice
- You are standardised on Microsoft 365 and Azure.
- You want the simplest management model and fewer vendors.
- Multi-session Windows 11 can reduce your VM count and cost.
Using both together
Many organisations run Citrix on Azure: Azure provides the infrastructure and Windows multi-session, while Citrix adds HDX, advanced policy and multi-cloud management. This is a common path when consolidating data centres into Azure without losing the Citrix experience users rely on.
Cost: look at the whole picture
Compare total cost, not list prices: licences you already own, compute (and how well you auto-scale and power-manage hosts), storage for profiles, networking, management effort and user productivity. Right-sizing and scaling plans often matter more than the platform choice. Our digital workspace team can model both options for your user base.
Frequently asked questions
Can Citrix run on Azure Virtual Desktop?
Yes. Citrix offerings can use Azure infrastructure and Windows multi-session while adding Citrix's HDX protocol, policy and management capabilities.
Is Azure Virtual Desktop cheaper than Citrix?
Not always. AVD access rights are included with many Microsoft 365 licences, which can lower cost, but total cost depends on compute, storage, scaling, management effort and the features you need.
What is Citrix DaaS?
Citrix DaaS is Citrix's cloud-hosted service for delivering virtual apps and desktops, with workloads running on-premises or in public clouds.