Neverinstall vs Azure Virtual Desktop.
With Azure Virtual Desktop, your team builds, patches and scales the session hosts, on Azure or Azure Local. With Neverinstall, we run the desktop service on Azure, OCI, Google Cloud, AWS or your own servers.
Who runs the hosts, and where they run.
| Azure Virtual Desktop | Neverinstall | |
|---|---|---|
| Session hosts | Microsoft runs the broker and gateway. In standard host pools, your team creates, updates and scales session hosts and redeploys pooled hosts from updated images. | Neverinstall runs the broker, gateway, scaling and monitoring. Your team manages images and access policy. |
| Where desktops run | Azure regions or Azure Local. Azure Local still depends on Azure for brokering and is not supported in a multicloud setup. | Neverinstall Cloud, your account on OCI, Google Cloud, Azure or AWS, or your own servers with Neverinstall Private Cloud. |
| Operating systems | Windows 11 and 10 Enterprise, single and multi-session, and Windows Server 2016–2025. | Windows and Linux desktops, dedicated or multi-session. |
| Identity | Users must be in Microsoft Entra ID. | SAML or OIDC single sign-on, including Entra ID, Okta and Google. |
| Browser client | The Windows App web client has no multiple monitors, USB redirection or Teams media optimization. Those need the installed app. | Any modern browser, with H.264 4:4:4, multiple monitors, microphone, webcam and printing. Standard RDP clients and thin clients also connect. |
| Protocol and transport | RDP, with RDP Shortpath in the installed app. | Standard RDP to the desktop. In the browser, sessions run over WebTransport on 4 separate streams for video, input, audio and bulk data, and fall back to WebSocket where WebTransport is blocked. |
| Billing | Each user needs an eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows license. Virtual Machines, storage and networking are billed on Azure, and Azure Local adds its own fees. | One price per user per month, starting with a single group on monthly billing. Infrastructure and third-party licenses are listed separately. |
Azure facts are from Microsoft Learn, checked September 2026.
Porter
Porter evaluated Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 alongside Neverinstall and chose Neverinstall for its contractor desktops.
- Evaluated
- Azure Virtual Desktop
- Windows 365
- Chose
- Neverinstall
Run one group beside Azure.
- Pick the group
Choose a team, its applications and its working hours. We build the image, connect Entra ID and attach FSLogix profiles.
- Run their working day
The group works on Neverinstall on its usual devices, including sign-in, printing, conferencing and reconnecting after a dropped connection.
- Compare the bill
You get the pilot results and a quote for the same users, set beside your Azure bill and the staff time behind it. Once the pilot is accepted, a group can go live in 1–2 days.
Continue your evaluation
Questions from Azure teams.
Can we keep Entra ID sign-in?
Yes. Neverinstall supports SAML and OIDC single sign-on, including Entra ID, with your existing groups and sign-in policies.
Can we keep FSLogix profiles?
Yes. FSLogix profile containers are supported on Windows desktops, so users keep their settings and files when their group moves.
Can desktops stay in our Azure account?
Yes. Desktops can run in your Azure account, and Azure bills that infrastructure to you.
Whether those charges count toward an Azure commitment depends on your agreement with Microsoft.
Do we need Microsoft 365 or Intune?
No. If you already use Intune, Windows desktops can be enrolled in it.
Can we run Linux desktops?
Yes. Linux desktops run beside Windows desktops and are managed from the same Management Console.
Who supports the service?
Neverinstall engineers support it 24×7, the same team that builds it, with response targets in your contract.
Bring your Azure bill.
Send the bill, your host pools and the groups on them.