Citrix has added the ability to remotely manage macOS systems through its Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) suite, but at the same time, some customers are expressing dissatisfaction with changes in licensing policies.

The new feature allows users to access macOS systems hosted by MacStadium through Citrix or through bare-metal servers from AWS. This is especially useful for developers and multimedia professionals, who get access to more powerful Macs for software testing or intensive media editing without having to purchase the hardware themselves.

Despite this expansion, some customers report dissatisfaction with the changes to Citrix’s licensing policies. Gartner, which recently published its Magic Quadrant report for DaaS, points to growing customer dissatisfaction, according to The Register. They criticize a lack of flexibility in contracts, fixed terms and limited room for negotiation when changing volumes. In addition, many customers feel a lack of empathy during negotiations.

Citrix’s new licenses, which only cover two product packages, will not appeal to all customers either. According to Gartner, companies should carefully consider which features of the new licenses they actually need, as some customers report that certain features remain unused.

Market movements in the DaaS sector

Citrix remains one of the leaders in the DaaS market, alongside AWS, Microsoft and VMware spin-off Omnissa. AWS rose to the leadership position after adding support for Microsoft 365 applications, although Gartner notes that AWS does not yet offer multi-session capabilities. Microsoft has the largest installed user base but struggles with weaker on-premises DaaS solutions.

According to The Register, Omnissa is being praised for its extensive portfolio and suitability for the healthcare sector, with newcomers such as Parallels and Dizzion taking over Visionary’s position, according to Gartner’s latest report.