Apache CloudStack vs Xen Orchestra

Apache CloudStack9.3Visit Xen Orchestra7.8Visit

Higher score Apache CloudStack #1 in Virtualization Management Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit site

vs

Xen Orchestra #14 in Virtualization Management Software 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Xen Orchestra

• Apache CloudStack fits best

  Open-source multi-hypervisor cloud management

• Xen Orchestra fits best

  XCP-ng and XenServer administrators

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Side by side

Feature	Apache CloudStack 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Xen Orchestra 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.8
Ranking	#1 in Virtualization Management Software	#14 in Virtualization Management Software
Best for	Open-source multi-hypervisor cloud management	XCP-ng and XenServer administrators
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted, Browser extension	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Linux	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations	4 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache CloudStack 4/4 · Xen Orchestra 4/4
Live migration	✓	✓
High availability	✓	✓
Disaster recovery	✓	✓
API access	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Supported hypervisors	BareMetal, Hyper-V, KVM, LXC, vSphere via vCenter, XenServer, Xen Project	XCP-ng; XenServer
Managed host limit	Not checked yet	3 hosts
Our review
Pros	Supports BareMetal, Hyper-V, KVM, LXC, vSphere, and Xen environments Combines HA, live migration, orchestration, and recovery workflows Offers REST-like, AWS-compatible, Terraform, and Ansible integrations	Centralizes pools, hosts, VMs, storage, and networks Combines backup, replication, immutability, retention, and health checks Offers REST API, CLI, and infrastructure-as-code automation
Cons	Self-hosted deployment leaves infrastructure operations with the adopter Its broad infrastructure scope may exceed smaller virtualization needs Administration spans compute, network, storage, tenancy, and recovery	Essential limits deployments to three hosts Enterprise requires at least four hosts Self-hosted deployment requires appliance or source installation
Our verdict	Apache CloudStack is an open-source Infrastructure-as-a-Service platform for deploying and managing public, private, and hybrid clouds. It is designed for cloud providers, managed service providers, telecommunications companies, and… Read the review →	Xen Orchestra is a web-based management and automation platform for XCP-ng and XenServer infrastructures. It is designed for administrators who need centralized control of pools, hosts, virtual machines, storage, and networks, along with… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache CloudStack — where it wins

  • Supports BareMetal, Hyper-V, KVM, LXC, vSphere, and Xen environments
  • Combines HA, live migration, orchestration, and recovery workflows
  • Offers REST-like, AWS-compatible, Terraform, and Ansible integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment leaves infrastructure operations with the adopter
  • Its broad infrastructure scope may exceed smaller virtualization needs
  • Administration spans compute, network, storage, tenancy, and recovery

• Xen Orchestra — where it wins

  • Centralizes pools, hosts, VMs, storage, and networks
  • Combines backup, replication, immutability, retention, and health checks
  • Offers REST API, CLI, and infrastructure-as-code automation

  Where it doesn't

  • Essential limits deployments to three hosts
  • Enterprise requires at least four hosts
  • Self-hosted deployment requires appliance or source installation

• Apache CloudStack9.3/10 · Free plan

  A capable self-hosted choice for organizations managing varied virtualized environments.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• Xen Orchestra7.8/10 · Free plan

  A self-hosted control plane for managing, protecting, and automating XCP-ng and XenServer.

  Visit Xen OrchestraFull verdict →