Overview

Amazon WorkSpaces brings cloud-hosted desktops, streamed applications and a secure browser to remote and hybrid teams. It is strongest for organizations already using AWS that need persistent user environments, multiple workload types or integration with existing identity and VDI management tools. Its flexibility is useful, but costs depend on the service, region and provisioned resources rather than one simple per-user rate.

WorkSpaces Personal keeps the same desktop, installed applications, files and settings available at sign-in. Application streaming can draw on general-purpose, compute-optimized, memory-optimized or GPU instance families, while secure browser provides a narrower, controlled way to reach browser sessions hosted in AWS.

Key features

Persistent desktops and storage

Personal offers AlwaysOn monthly subscriptions and AutoStop hourly metering plus a monthly base fee. AutoStop can suit desktops that are not used continuously, but hourly charges mean the bill varies with use. Persistent SSD-based user storage is sized by bundle and includes automatic backups. Amazon S3 or Amazon FSx can retain selected settings and files between sessions.

Application delivery and controls

WorkSpaces applications supports image building and streaming across several instance families, including GPU options, making it more adaptable than a desktop-only service for teams delivering applications with different resource needs. Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise licenses can be brought to WorkSpaces DaaS, or customers can purchase Microsoft Office bundles from AWS.

WorkSpaces DaaS supports AD and non-AD domain-joined desktops, AWS IAM Identity Center brokering with providers such as Entra ID, and Intune endpoint management. It also works with VDI management software from Citrix, Dizzion, Leostream, Omnissa and Workspot. TLS 1.2 is required, TLS 1.3 is recommended, and supported cipher suites provide perfect forward secrecy. Secure browser streams encrypted pixels and offers controls for transfers, printing, clipboard use and domain access.

Service commitments and lifecycle

AWS states a financially backed service-level agreement based on monthly uptime percentage and lists 99.9%. Two timelines matter for planning: WorkSpaces Pools stopped accepting new customers on July 31, 2026, though existing customers may use it until December 31, 2027; support for PCoIP-based WorkSpaces Personal ends October 31, 2027.

Pricing

WorkSpaces is paid, with a stated starting price of $25/mo, but the examples show how much billing varies by offering and configuration. WorkSpaces Personal AutoStop Ubuntu Linux Power in US West/Oregon is $7.25 per month plus $0.66 per hour, with an 80 GB root volume and 10 GB user volume. This can suit intermittent Linux use, but the base price alone does not represent the full cost. The AlwaysOn Windows Standard example in the same region is $44.00 per month per machine, with 175 GB root and 100 GB user volumes; it is more predictable for continuously available desktops, at a higher fixed monthly commitment.

WorkSpaces applications Windows single-session user fee is $4.19 per user per month, plus provisioned instance-hour charges. It suits application delivery where users need Windows Server streaming sessions, but instance pricing varies by type, size and operating system. Secure browser standard.regular in US East/Northern Virginia is $7.00 per monthly active user, including up to 200 streaming hours; each additional hour costs $0.035. Regional pricing varies.

The Free Tier runs for up to three months: either two Standard AutoStop desktops with 40 combined monthly hours or five Performance AutoStop Ubuntu desktops with 100 combined monthly hours. Those seat and usage caps make it useful for a small evaluation, not an uncapped production deployment.

Platforms

Clients cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iPad, Android and Chromebook, as well as supported web browsers. That range accommodates mixed-device teams, though organizations using PCoIP-based Personal desktops need a migration plan before support ends in 2027.

Who it's for

WorkSpaces fits AWS-oriented teams that want persistent desktops with managed storage and backups, need application streaming across CPU and GPU resource classes, or must connect desktop delivery to existing identity, endpoint-management or VDI tools. It is less compelling for buyers who need a single transparent per-seat price, or who cannot accommodate the stated Pools and PCoIP end dates.

Pros and cons

Flexible delivery: Persistent desktops, application streaming and secure browser cover different access needs without forcing every user into the same model.
Useful stack integrations: Support for directory and non-directory joins, IAM Identity Center, Intune and several VDI management products can fit established enterprise operations.
Variable cost structure: AutoStop and per-hour streaming can align charges with usage, but base fees and instance-hour costs make budgeting less straightforward than a flat rate.
Bounded trial capacity: The Free Tier offers a time-limited way to evaluate the service, but its combined-hour limits and small desktop counts constrain broader pilots.
Transition dates: Pools is closed to new customers and PCoIP Personal support has an end date, creating planning work for affected deployments.

Alternatives

Dizzion Cloud PC is worth considering for a dedicated persistent desktop with Core or Complete tiers and CPU or GPU workload configurations; its pricing is available by contacting Dizzion.

Ace Cloud Hosting Desktop as a Service offers an Enterprise (Team Desktops) plan at 352.19 USD per month, billed per user/month, for 100 users on Windows Server 2022; it may suit teams seeking that defined team configuration, though WorkSpaces offers broader delivery options in these facts.

Infosaic Cloud Virtual Desktop has a Light plan at 11.95 USD per month with 3 GB RAM, 4 virtual cores, an 80 GB system drive and a 10 GB data drive, and a Basic plan at 18.95 USD per month. It is an alternative for buyers comparing fixed desktop configurations and stated monthly prices.

MacinCloud offers Pay-As-You-Go starting at US$4/day, billed by the day, with RDP, a static IP and no admin or root access; consider it when that access model and daily billing fit better.

Raff Hosted Virtual Desktops prices its single-user 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM and 80 GB NVMe configuration at 45.99 USD per month, combining a Windows-included server charge and one user licence. It is an alternative for buyers who want that specified single-user setup.

Shadow PC offers Neo Lite at 29.99 USD per month for 120 hours, sessions up to four hours, 1440p and a 256 GB SSD, or Neo at 37.99 USD per month. Its capped-hour plans may suit users comparing defined session allowances.

V2 Cloud lists Basic Users from $35.00/mo for workloads such as front-desk, data-entry, call-center and administrative tasks; consider it for those stated user workloads.

Vagon Cloud Computer charges by the hour, including a Sand configuration at $0.25/hour with 2 cores, 3.1 GHz and 4 GB RAM. It is an alternative for buyers comparing hourly cloud-computer use.

Compare more options in Cloud PC Services, Desktop as a Service Software and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software.

Verdict

Choose Amazon WorkSpaces when an AWS-oriented organization needs persistent desktops or application delivery that can connect to its identity, endpoint-management and VDI stack. Its breadth of delivery models and persistent storage are the main reasons to choose it; the configuration-dependent bill and the Pools and PCoIP timelines are the main reasons to look elsewhere or plan a transition carefully.

	Amazon WorkSpaces	Tehama Secure Virtual Desktop
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	$4.19/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Linux, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	—

Amazon WorkSpaces vs Tehama Secure Virtual Desktop

Amazon WorkSpaces

Tehama Secure Virtual Desktop