What Is the Difference Between Omnissa Horizon and Workspace ONE?

Updated

Horizon and Workspace ONE solve different layers of the same problem. Horizon delivers virtual desktops and applications across cloud and on-premises environments (Horizon 8 and Horizon Cloud). Workspace ONE manages and secures endpoints and the overall workspace experience (Workspace ONE UEM and Workspace ONE Experience Management). If your need is "give users a hosted desktop or app," start with Horizon. If your need is "manage, secure, and improve the experience of devices and the workspace," start with Workspace ONE. Many organizations use both together.

The core distinction in one table

Dimension Horizon Workspace ONE
Primary job Virtual desktops and apps Unified endpoint management and workspace management
Named products Horizon 8, Horizon Cloud Workspace ONE UEM, Workspace ONE Experience Management
Deployment scope Cloud and on-premises Endpoint and workspace management across the estate
Typical question it answers "How do users access a desktop or app that isn't installed locally?" "How do we manage, secure, and improve the experience of all endpoints?"
Where it sits Delivery layer Management and experience layer

The distinction is about function, not hierarchy. Horizon is the delivery mechanism for virtual desktops and apps. Workspace ONE is the management and experience layer for endpoints and the workspace.

Horizon: virtual desktops and apps

Horizon covers virtual desktops and applications across cloud and on-premises. Omnissa lists two named offerings:

  • Horizon 8 — the on-premises-oriented option.
  • Horizon Cloud — the cloud option.

Choose Horizon when the requirement is to deliver a desktop or application to users rather than install and run it locally on each device. The choice between Horizon 8 and Horizon Cloud is a deployment decision: on-premises versus cloud. The site does not publish detailed feature or pricing comparisons between the two, so confirm specifics with Omnissa before committing.

Workspace ONE: unified endpoint management and workspace management

Workspace ONE is described as unified endpoint management and workspace management, with two named components:

  • Workspace ONE UEM — manage and secure all endpoints from a single platform.
  • Workspace ONE Experience Management — part of the digital employee experience focus, aimed at enhancing productivity with personalized work experiences.

Choose Workspace ONE when the requirement is to manage and secure endpoints across the estate and to improve the digital employee experience, rather than to deliver a hosted desktop.

How they combine

Omnissa positions these as "industry leading solutions that work better together" under one platform. A practical way to read the combination:

  • Horizon handles delivery of virtual desktops and apps.
  • Workspace ONE handles endpoint and workspace management plus experience management.
  • Together they support what Omnissa calls the autonomous workspace — a workspace that is more automated and governed.

The site's framing is "More AI. More control." and "govern digital work for people and AI." That framing is about governance and visibility across digital work, which is a platform-level message rather than a Horizon-only or Workspace ONE-only claim.

A concrete example

Suppose a team needs a standardized desktop for contractors, and IT also needs to manage and secure the laptops those contractors use.

  • Horizon provides the virtual desktop or app delivery.
  • Workspace ONE provides endpoint management and the experience layer.

If the requirement were only "manage and secure our existing laptops," Horizon would not be the starting point. If the requirement were only "deliver a hosted desktop," Workspace ONE alone would not be the delivery mechanism.

How to decide

  • Start with Horizon if the core need is virtual desktops and apps, and then decide between Horizon 8 and Horizon Cloud based on on-premises versus cloud.
  • Start with Workspace ONE if the core need is unified endpoint management, workspace management, or digital employee experience.
  • Plan for both if you need delivery plus management and experience in one environment.

Omnissa's site includes an "Explore pricing" entry point and a "Contact us" path, but the provided material does not state prices or whether any offering is free or requires login. Treat pricing and access terms as things to confirm directly with Omnissa.