Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Broadcom shifted VMware toward a simplified, subscription-based product lineup after acquiring the company, prompting reports of higher costs and difficult migration choices from some customers. The European Commission approved the acquisition in 2023 with a targeted interoperability remedy; it did not rule on every licensing change introduced afterward. A separate EU information-request proceeding and complaints from customer groups have since brought VMware licensing back into focus, but neither is a final finding that Broadcom’s pricing is unlawful.
What changed in VMware licensing and pricing?
In December 2023, Broadcom announced a simplified VMware portfolio and a shift toward subscription products, alongside trade-in incentives for customers exchanging perpetual products. Broadcom said the changes responded to customer and partner feedback that its offerings and sales approach were too complex. That is the company’s stated rationale; it does not establish that customers saved money or that every customer’s costs increased.
The practical issue for a customer is not just the headline subscription price. The products and entitlements included in a new bundle, the licensing metric, support and update terms, and the timing of an existing agreement’s renewal can all affect the total cost and what the customer receives. The evidence available here does not provide comparable customer-specific quotes or a general price increase that applies across VMware users.
Why are customers and their representative groups objecting?
Reported customer experience
Belgian business-technology group Beltug said it gathered feedback from around 20 organizations before meeting the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) on 23 July 2026. Its public summary, dated 17 August 2026, describes members reporting substantial price increases, optimizing their VMware environments, evaluating alternatives, and starting migration programmes. Beltug also says some organizations may not see the full impact until older contracts come up for renewal.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
This is a consultation with a small group of organizations—not a representative market survey or a market-wide price statistic. The participants came from sectors including healthcare, banking, insurance, education, government, payroll, and critical infrastructure. Beltug characterizes migration as possible in theory but operationally complex, risky, and expensive, which helps explain why a customer may face a difficult choice even when alternatives exist.
Concerns about cloud-provider programmes
Beltug says DG COMP asked about the end of bring-your-own-licence rights for certain hosting providers and the termination of VMware Cloud Service Provider and White Label programmes. End users may not see these changes directly, but they can affect the services or commercial arrangements available through a hosting provider. Beltug cautions that contract timing can delay when customers feel the effects.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Separately, the European cloud-services group CISPE filed a complaint about planned changes to Broadcom’s European cloud-provider ecosystem and sought interim measures. As reported by ITPro, CISPE alleges that licensing changes, bundling, up-front payment demands, and minimum commitments increased costs; it has claimed increases of more than 1,000% in some instances. That figure is CISPE’s claim, not an independently verified rate for VMware customers generally. ITPro also reports that Broadcom rejected the allegations.
These accounts document reported experiences and allegations, not findings that the practices are unlawful. In a statement quoted by ITPro, Beltug CEO Danielle Jacobs said VMware changed prices, licensing, and ordering processes in 2024 with too little information and time for customers to adapt. That is Jacobs’s assessment, not a court or regulator’s finding.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What did the European Commission decide when it reviewed the acquisition?
The Commission’s merger review concerned whether Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware could harm competition through the combined company’s control of products that work together. One focus was interoperability between VMware server virtualization software and hardware, particularly rival Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs). In its 2025 Competition Merger Brief, the Commission cited Broadcom’s 60–70% share in the Fibre Channel HBA market in 2021; that figure is about HBAs, not VMware’s share of virtualization software.
The Commission raised serious doubts during its review and issued a Statement of Objections on 12 April 2023. On 12 July 2023, it declared the transaction compatible with the internal market subject to a targeted interoperability remedy involving VMware virtualization software and rival Fibre Channel HBAs. The decision summary was published in the Official Journal on 23 May 2025.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
That conditional merger approval was not an endorsement of every later VMware licensing practice, nor did it settle complaints about subsequent subscription, partner, or pricing changes. In its 2025 account, the Commission said respondents had anticipated higher prices or reduced support for perpetual-license customers unless they moved to subscriptions. For merger-control purposes, it treated those concerns as a change in commercial strategy relating to VMware’s pre-existing market power, rather than structural changes caused by the acquisition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the EU examining now?
A separate proceeding concerns a Commission information request in Case AT.40924 – VMware software licensing. The EU court record identifies a Commission decision of 26 February 2026 requiring documents under Article 18(3) of Regulation 1/2003. Broadcom and VMware International challenged aspects of the request and sought interim relief concerning its reach to documents outside the EU and legal advice protected under non-EU rules.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
The court record concerns the scope of that document request and the interim-relief application. It is not a final substantive determination that Broadcom’s pricing is unlawful. CISPE’s complaint and request for intervention are also separate from the merger decision; a complaint is not proof that the Commission has found an infringement.
How should a VMware customer weigh renewal against migration?
There is no universal answer without the customer’s contract, workload requirements, and migration options. A lower-looking renewal quote may not be comparable if its entitlements, support, or licensing metric differ; migration may avoid some licensing costs but introduce operational risk and expense. Compare the same scope and time horizon before deciding.
- Establish the renewal baseline. Record the full renewal cost, licensing metric, included products and entitlements, support and update terms, and any bundled components. Compare those terms with the current agreement rather than comparing headline prices alone.
- Check existing rights and deadlines. Identify what perpetual-license rights remain, what support or updates are included, and when the current contract renews. Ask the provider or reseller to explain any change in entitlement or programme access in writing.
- Map the migration scope. Identify the workloads, integrations, and operational dependencies that would need to move. Estimate migration effort, risk, downtime exposure, and the resources needed to run and support an alternative environment.
- Test partner and hosting dependencies. Determine whether services depend on a particular provider, bring-your-own-licence arrangement, or cloud-provider programme, and how a programme change would affect the customer’s contract and service.
- Compare scenarios through the same period. Put renewal and migration costs side by side over a consistent period, including implementation and operating costs as well as licensing. Account for the cost of delaying a decision until a later renewal, without assuming that either option will be cheaper.
The available evidence identifies these as relevant decision factors but provides no comparable vendor quotes, customer-specific savings calculation, or tested migration results. Customers should therefore treat generalized price claims as context, not as a substitute for reviewing their own terms and workloads.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
