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Head-to-head · Software-Defined Networking Software

VMware NSX vs OpenStack Neutron

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score VMware NSX #1 in Software-Defined Networking Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit VMware NSX
OpenStack Neutron #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software 8.4/10 Open source ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit OpenStack

VMware NSX leads on 0 checks, OpenStack Neutron on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreVMware NSX · 9.3/10

VMware NSX scores higher on our rubric for software-defined networking software: 9.3 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

VMware NSX is the better fit for virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking. OpenStack Neutron is the better fit for openStack cloud networking.

  • VMware NSX fits best

    Virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking

  • OpenStack Neutron fits best

    OpenStack cloud networking

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Side by side

Feature VMware NSX 9.3/10 Visit ↗ OpenStack Neutron 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.4
Ranking #1 in Software-Defined Networking Software #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software
Best for Virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking OpenStack cloud networking
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Pricing on request Open source
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Linux
Support Docs Docs, Community
Integrations 9 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features VMware NSX 2/2 · OpenStack Neutron 2/2
Policy segmentation ✓ ✓
Northbound API ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Control-plane model Hybrid Hybrid
Supported protocols GENEVE, VLAN, VXLAN, REST, HTTPS, IPFIX, Syslog, IPsec, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, IPv4, IPv6 VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, Geneve
Managed device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Combines overlays, routing, firewalls, VPN, NAT, DHCP, and load balancing
  • Micro-segmentation isolates workloads through centralized, policy-based controls
  • Integrates with VMware, OpenStack, AWS, Azure, Ansible, and Terraform
  • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
  • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
  • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking
Cons
  • Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult
  • Closed-source software is not suited to open-source-first teams
  • Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler networking requirements
  • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
  • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
  • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need
Our verdict

VMware NSX is a software-defined networking and security platform for enterprise data centers, private clouds, and public-cloud workloads. It provides logical Layer 2 overlay networking with GENEVE, distributed and gateway firewalls,…

Read the review →

OpenStack Neutron provides networking as a service for OpenStack clouds. It exposes APIs for creating and managing networks, subnets, ports, addresses, routers, and related services. The component is aimed at teams operating OpenStack…

Read the review →
  1. VMware NSXSoftware-Defined Networking Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. OpenStack NeutronSoftware-Defined Networking Software 8.4Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • VMware NSX — where it wins

    • Combines overlays, routing, firewalls, VPN, NAT, DHCP, and load balancing
    • Micro-segmentation isolates workloads through centralized, policy-based controls
    • Integrates with VMware, OpenStack, AWS, Azure, Ansible, and Terraform

    Where it doesn't

    • Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult
    • Closed-source software is not suited to open-source-first teams
    • Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler networking requirements

  • OpenStack Neutron — where it wins

    • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
    • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
    • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
    • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
    • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need

More comparisons

All Software-Defined networking software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update