❌ – Don’t virtualize modern .NET Core/5+/6+ apps. ❌ Any 64-bit app with low-level OS access – VPN clients, antivirus, hardware drivers. ❌ Browser-based apps – Chrome, Firefox, Edge virtualized will break plugins/updates. ❌ Large-scale modern VDI – Use App-V, FSLogix, or native install instead. ❌ Anything requiring long-term support – ThinApp’s future is uncertain.
| Feature | ThinApp | Microsoft App-V | Cameyo | Turbo.net (formerly Spoon) | |---------|---------|----------------|--------|----------------------------| | Agent required | No | Yes (client) | Optional | Optional | | Server required | No | Yes (management server) | Cloud | Cloud or on-prem | | 64-bit sandbox | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Modern UI support | Poor | Good | Good | Good | | EOL risk | High (Broadcom) | Medium (part of Windows) | Low | Low | | Ease of packaging | Medium-hard | Medium | Easy | Medium | | Cost | $$ (per user/device) | $$$ (with MDOP or Windows license) | $$ | $$ | vmware thinapp full
In many cases, ThinApp packages run as a standard user without local admin privileges (unless the app requires kernel-mode drivers). ❌ – Don’t virtualize modern
A simple app can balloon to 100+ MB (because it includes VC++ runtimes, .NET, etc.). First launch is slower due to sandbox creation. ❌ Large-scale modern VDI – Use App-V, FSLogix,