Private Cloud TCO Calculator: Cozystack vs VMware, Nutanix & 8 Alternatives [2026]
Last updated: · dataset v0.2.0 · FX pinned 2026-07-01 · prices as of Q3 2026 · methodology & sources
Compare the 5-year total cost of ownership of a Cozystack private cloud against 10 on-prem platforms — VMware, Nutanix, OpenShift, Proxmox, OpenStack, CloudStack, OpenNebula, Virtuozzo, Harvester and Rancher — with a public methodology and a source on every number, including the cases where the competitor is cheaper.
All 10 platforms vs Cozystack — 200 VMs, 5 years, default assumptions
| Platform | Platform 5-yr TCO | Cozystack 5-yr TCO* | Savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware VCF | $1,124,837 | $342,915 | $781,922 (70%) | month 1 |
| Nutanix NCI Pro | $729,445 | $342,915 | $386,530 (53%) | month 1 |
| OpenShift Virtualization Engine (OVE) | $374,618 | $342,915 | $31,703 (8%) | month 32 |
| Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure | $861,429 | $342,915 | $518,513 (60%) | month 1 |
| Proxmox VE | $533,514 | $342,915 | $190,598 (36%) | month 10 |
| OpenStack (self-managed) | $467,569 | $342,915 | $124,653 (27%) | month 14 |
| Apache CloudStack | $405,976 | $342,915 | $63,061 (16%) | month 22 |
| OpenNebula | $393,324 | $342,915 | $50,408 (13%) | month 25 |
| Harvester (SUSE) | $395,581 | $342,915 | $52,666 (13%) | month 25 |
| Rancher (+ Harvester) | $332,646 | $224,315 | $108,331 (33%) | month 8 |
* Including one-time migration from that platform. Estimates only — not a quote. Red rows are cases where the competitor wins at defaults — see each comparison page for the break-even.
Frequently asked questions
How does this TCO calculator work?
Pick a scenario (50 / 200 / 1,000 VMs or custom), up to three competitors and a region. The model prices exactly three articles: software (licenses + vendor support from sourced data), one-time migration (a fixed setup plus a marginal $/VM) and personnel (a days-per-month staffing model). Hardware and facilities are identical on both sides and excluded. Every default shows its source, date and source nature.
Does Cozystack always win?
No — and the calculator says so. Against low-cost open-source support subscriptions (Proxmox, OpenStack, CloudStack) Cozystack is more expensive at default assumptions; the result card turns red and says it openly. Cozystack wins where expensive per-core licensing dominates — VMware VCF/VVF, Nutanix. Publishing the losing cases is part of the methodology.
Where do the prices come from?
Vendor list prices, third-party reported street prices (always labeled), and derived estimates — each figure carries its source and date, pinned to Q3 2026 with dataset v0.2.0. Found an inaccuracy? We correct within 10 business days and keep a public changelog.
Can I get the result as a document?
Yes — the calculator exports a PDF with the full breakdown, a diff of everything you changed against defaults, a sensitivity analysis and the complete source appendix. No email required to see results.
All comparisons
- VMware vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO and exit cost
- Proxmox vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO comparison
- OpenShift Virtualization vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- Nutanix vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO with quote sensitivity
- OpenStack vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO and ops staffing
- Apache CloudStack vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- OpenNebula vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- Virtuozzo vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- SUSE Harvester vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- Rancher (with Harvester) vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
- Methodology, formulas and sources