# Proxmox vs Hyper-V after leaving VMware

> Proxmox VE or Hyper-V for a small UK estate leaving VMware: licence costs, Windows licensing, ESXi import, backup and the skills each one needs.

Source: https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/proxmox-vs-hyper-v-after-vmware · Last updated 21 October 2026 · WharfCloud

Published 21 October 2026. Reading time about 8 minutes.

## Short answer

For a small estate leaving VMware, both work. **Proxmox VE** is open source with an optional subscription priced per CPU socket (from €120 a year per socket in October 2026), runs on Linux, and has a built-in wizard that imports VMs straight from ESXi. **Hyper-V** comes with Windows Server, which you may already license per core: Standard covers two Windows Server VMs per licence, Datacenter unlimited. Choose Hyper-V if your estate is mostly Windows and your team knows Windows administration; choose Proxmox if you run a mix of Linux and Windows, want the lowest licence cost, and have (or buy in) Linux skills. Windows Server licences for your guests are needed either way.

## At a glance

Table: Proxmox VE and Hyper-V compared for a small estate (checked 21 October 2026)

|  | Proxmox VE | Hyper-V (Windows Server 2025) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Licence for the hypervisor | Open source (GNU AGPLv3); optional subscription | Part of Windows Server, licensed per core |
| Subscription or licence price | Per CPU socket per year: Community €120, Basic €370, Standard €550, Premium €1,100 (Proxmox list prices) | Windows Server Standard or Datacenter core licences, from your licensing partner |
| Features by price level | All features at every level; levels differ in support tickets and response times | Standard: 2 Windows Server VMs per licence. Datacenter: unlimited |
| Underlying OS | Debian Linux | Windows Server |
| Management | Web interface, command line and REST API | Windows tools such as Hyper-V Manager and Windows Admin Center |
| Import from VMware | Built-in ESXi import wizard (tested from ESXi 6.5 to 8.0) | Conversion tools or backup-and-restore through backup software |

## The Windows licensing point most comparisons miss

If most of your VMs run Windows Server, you need Windows Server licences for the physical host's cores whichever hypervisor you choose. Microsoft's pricing page says a Windows Server 2025 Standard licence covers two virtual machines plus one Hyper-V host, and Datacenter covers unlimited virtual machines.

So for a Windows-heavy estate, Hyper-V often adds no hypervisor cost at all: you are already paying for Windows Server. Proxmox saves money mainly when many VMs run Linux, or when the Windows VMs are few.

## Moving the VMs across

### To Proxmox VE

- Proxmox VE 8.2 (April 2024) introduced an import wizard that adds an ESXi host as an import source and imports VMs from it. Proxmox's documentation says this was tested from ESXi 6.5 to 8.0.
- A live-import option starts the VM during the import to cut downtime, though the source VM must be switched off and a failed import loses data written during it, so Proxmox recommends testing it first.
- Limits Proxmox lists: VMs on vSAN storage cannot be imported directly, encrypted disks must be decrypted first, and snapshots make imports slower.
- Windows VMs need VirtIO drivers for the best disk and network performance; Proxmox documents the extra steps to switch the boot disk.

### To Hyper-V

- Common routes are a conversion tool, or a backup product that can restore a VMware backup as a Hyper-V VM. Test each VM's boot, drivers and network settings after conversion.
- VMware Tools should come out and Hyper-V integration services go in; on current Windows Server releases these are built in.

## Backup

Backup is often what decides it. Hyper-V is supported by most established backup products. Proxmox has its own open-source Proxmox Backup Server, and Veeam added Proxmox VE support in Veeam Backup & Replication 12.2 in 2024. Check that your current backup product supports the destination, and test a full restore before you switch any production VM. Our [backup checklist](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/uk-small-business-backup-checklist) covers what to test.

## How to decide

Table: Which way your situation points

| Your situation | Leans towards |
| --- | --- |
| Mostly Windows VMs, Windows Server Datacenter already licensed | Hyper-V |
| Team knows Windows, not Linux | Hyper-V |
| Many Linux VMs, few Windows VMs | Proxmox VE |
| Want the lowest licence cost and can support Linux | Proxmox VE |
| Would rather not run hypervisors at all | Managed servers: we run the platform, you keep the workloads |

Not sure? Our [VMware exit assessment](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/vmware-exit) (from £1,365 for up to 25 VMs) compares your renewal quote with these alternatives over three years, VM by VM. Background on the licensing changes is in our guide to [leaving VMware after Broadcom](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/leaving-vmware-after-broadcom).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proxmox VE free?

The software is open source under the GNU AGPLv3. The subscription is optional and adds the enterprise repository and, from the Basic level up, support tickets. Proxmox's list prices in October 2026 start at €120 a year per CPU socket.

### Is Hyper-V free?

Hyper-V is a role in Windows Server, so its cost is the Windows Server licence. If you already license your hosts with Windows Server Datacenter for your Windows VMs, Hyper-V adds nothing.

### Do I still need Windows Server licences on Proxmox?

Yes, for any Windows Server VMs. Windows Server is licensed for the physical host's cores whatever hypervisor runs underneath.

### Can Proxmox import VMs directly from VMware ESXi?

Yes. Proxmox VE 8.2 and later include an import wizard for ESXi, tested from ESXi 6.5 to 8.0, with a live-import option to reduce downtime.

### Does Veeam support Proxmox?

Yes. Veeam added Proxmox VE support in Veeam Backup & Replication 12.2, released in 2024. Check the current release notes for supported versions.

## Sources

- [Proxmox: Proxmox VE subscription pricing](https://www.proxmox.com/en/products/proxmox-virtual-environment/pricing)
- [Proxmox VE wiki: Migrate to Proxmox VE](https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migrate_to_Proxmox_VE)
- [Proxmox press release: Proxmox Virtual Environment 8.2 with Import Wizard released](https://www.proxmox.com/en/about/company-details/press-releases/proxmox-virtual-environment-8-2)
- [Microsoft: Windows Server 2025 licensing and pricing](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing)
- [Veeam: Backup & Replication 12.2 release notes](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/rn/veeam_backup_12_2_release_notes.html)

---

WharfCloud is a trading name of Sunucu Internet Services Consultancy Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 12963678. Not VAT registered.
Support: engineers Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00 UK time. Critical incidents: A person responds to critical incidents within 1 hour (Every day, 07:00 to 23:00 UK time). Automated monitoring and automated recovery overnight and at weekends.
Contact: hello@wharfcloud.co.uk · https://wharfcloud.co.uk/contact