AVD vs. Windows 365

Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365? | Arxus

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Azure Virtual Desktop vs. Windows 365: which VDI is the best fit for your organization?

Looking for a virtual desktop infrastructure for your business? You'll quickly come across two Microsoft products: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365. But which one is better? That depends on your specific needs, because both solutions have their strengths and limitations. Dieter Kempeneers, our VDI specialist, outlines the differences and similarities. And helps you make the right choice.

Wed, 12 November 2025

Dieter Kempeneers

Modern Workplace Architect, Arxus

The key differences between AVD and Windows 365

To make the right choice, you need to be familiar with both VDI platforms. Each has its own strengths: one is quick and easy to set up, while the other focuses on complete control and flexibility. But how do you know which one to choose?

We've highlighted the five most important differences for you, using a number of practical use cases.

1. Setup time – Quick start or full configuration?

The most striking difference between AVD and Windows 365 is the time it takes to set everything up. Building an Azure Virtual Desktop environment requires a lot of time and expertise, because you are building a custom architecture. If you need complete control and customization, AVD is definitely worth the investment.

A standard Windows 365 setup, on the other hand, is ready to use in less than 30 minutes, even without in-depth technical knowledge. Perfect for projects where speed is crucial. Or when you suddenly need to scale up for a new team. The downside? You don't have the same customization options as with AVD.

2. Access for externals – How do you handle BYOD?

It is a golden rule in security: only grant access to company data from managed devices. But what about external consultants who work on their own laptops? Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is practical, but it also creates risks since you have no control over that device. In situations like this, Windows 365 clearly has the upper hand. It allows you to quickly set up a secure and fully managed Cloud PC for external users. Does your organization work with Microsoft Intune? Then you can easily activate all security policies directly.

Is this also possible with Azure Virtual Desktop? Absolutely, but the approach is different. Instead of setting up a separate, personal Cloud PC, you usually add the external user to an existing host pool. This requires more configuration and is a lot less plug-and-play than Windows 365.

3. RemoteApp vs. Cloud Apps

Sometimes your users don't need a full remote desktop, but only access to one specific application. Both AVD and Windows 365 offer a solution for this, but they approach it differently. RemoteApp from Azure Virtual Desktop focuses on flexibility and customization. You have complete control and can customize the streaming experience in great detail. But to fully leverage that potential, you need a lot of VDI expertise.

Windows 365 Cloud Apps is all about ease of use. The solution is much more accessible, allowing you to get started quickly even without in-depth knowledge of VDI infrastructure. However, you sacrifice quite a bit in terms of control over the backend. But that usually doesn’t pose a problem as it makes managing your[DK1] environment much easier.

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4. Multisession – Everyone separately or all at once?

Got call center employees who all use the same application? Or students who need to be able to access the server at the same time? Or just want multiple users to be able to work on the same virtual machine at the same time? Then multisession via Azure Virtual Desktop is an absolute must-have feature, in our opinion. It's not only efficient, but also really cost-effective.

Windows 365 does not support multisession, but its Frontline Shared mode offers an interesting alternative. It allows you to grant a group of twenty (or even two hundred) people access with just five licenses. An important difference is that, unlike multisession, Frontline Shared doesn't allow your users to log in simultaneously. But, when configured correctly, it’s often still the most cost-efficient option.

5. Integrations and automations

Is your organization already operating on an elaborate Azure environment? And does your IT team want to maintain complete control over the backend? Then your decision is made. Since Azure Virtual Desktop operates within your own environment, you can fully script, automate, and integrate with a variety of other Azure resources.

If deep integration into your existing cloud infrastructure is important, AVD remains an excellent choice.

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Questions about Microsoft VDI? Our experts are happy to help | Arxus

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Introducing Cloud Apps: remote app streaming for Windows 365

Application virtualization is nothing new. With RemoteApp from Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), users have been able to stream remote applications to their personal devices for years. But from now on, you'll get to enjoy that same flexibility with Windows 365: enter Cloud Apps. Curious about the possibilities of this feature? Ready to discover how you can integrate it into your organization? Dieter Kempeneers, our VDI specialist, dives straight into it.