If your organization is reviewing VMware costs, renewal options, or possible alternatives, the first step should be simple:
Run the numbers.
That is why Nubius Solutions built the True Cost of VMware Calculator.
Run the True Cost of VMware Calculator
The calculator helps VMware users estimate licensing costs over a three-year period and compare those costs against an enterprise-grade alternative platform. It is designed for organizations that need a practical cost baseline before deciding whether to renew, negotiate, migrate, or evaluate a two-tier infrastructure strategy.
Why We Built the Calculator
Many VMware customers are taking a closer look at infrastructure costs.
Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware changed the commercial model for many organizations. Subscription licensing, product bundling, discontinued legacy products, and changed renewal economics have all made VMware cost analysis more important than it used to be.
But the real question is not simply whether VMware works.
In many environments, VMware remains a strong and proven platform. The better question is whether every workload still justifies the same platform economics.
Some workloads may still belong on VMware. Others may be better candidates for an alternative platform. For many organizations, the right answer may not be a full replacement. It may be a more deliberate workload strategy.
That starts with understanding the cost baseline.
What the Calculator Does
The True Cost of VMware Calculator helps estimate VMware licensing costs across three common scenarios:
- Renewing an existing VMware environment
- Facing a forced upgrade from discontinued or legacy VMware products
- Planning a new VMware environment
The calculator allows users to adjust assumptions and override values where needed, so the estimate can better reflect their own environment.
It then compares estimated VMware licensing fees over a three-year period against the licensing cost of an OpenNebula Premium Subscription.
We use OpenNebula as the comparison point because it is a mature, enterprise-grade virtualization and cloud management platform that organizations often evaluate when looking for VMware alternatives.
Users can also download a summary report for internal review and planning.
Why the Number Matters
The calculator does not tell you what to do.
It gives you a starting point.
Once you understand the estimated cost, you can ask better questions:
Which workloads truly require VMware?
Which workloads are consuming premium licensing without requiring premium platform capabilities?
Which workloads could be evaluated for an alternative platform with acceptable risk?
Could a two-tier strategy reduce cost while preserving stability for mission-critical systems?
That is where the real value of the calculator is found. It helps move the conversation from general concern to practical analysis.
Cost Is Only Part of the Decision
The true cost of VMware is not only the license line item.
It is also the opportunity cost.
Every dollar allocated to infrastructure licensing is a dollar not available for other priorities, including cybersecurity, AI initiatives, application modernization, backup and resilience, cloud services, storage, staffing, or other operational needs.
That does not mean VMware is the wrong choice.
It means the decision should be intentional.
If a workload truly requires VMware, the cost may be justified. If a workload does not, the organization should at least understand what other options may be available.
Start With the Baseline
You do not need a completed migration plan to benefit from the calculator.
If VMware cost is on your radar, the first step is simply to understand the numbers. From there, you can decide whether to renew, negotiate, classify workloads, evaluate alternatives, or build a more deliberate infrastructure roadmap.
Run the True Cost of VMware Calculator and use the results to support a more informed VMware decision.