Proxmox VE (KVM + LXC) 

A mature, popular open-source virtualisation platform (KVM for VMs, LXC for containers) with a strong web UI, clustering, HA, Ceph integration, snapshots, and a big community—commonly adopted as a “get off VMware” option.

• Pros
  • Very strong feature set for the cost (HA, live migration, snapshots, integrated backup tooling ecosystem).
  • Flexible storage options (ZFS, Ceph, iSCSI/NFS, etc.).
  • Broad hardware compatibility and lots of real-world operational knowledge in the community.
  • Vendor and Third Party support options. 
• Cons
  • Direct Support is via subscription tiers.
  • Some VMware-to-Proxmox migrations require more planning/validation (drivers, tooling differences).

HPE Morpheus VM Essentials 

HPE’s VMware-alternative stack combining KVM-based virtualisation with Morpheus-style management/automation. Positioned for organisations wanting a more “enterprise vendor” route with unified workload management and lifecycle operations.

• Pros
  • Vendor-backed approach; aligned to enterprises that want support, roadmaps, and a single throat to choke.
  • Emphasis on centralised management and automation (particularly relevant in mixed/hybrid environments).
  • Designed as a VMware alternative with an “operations” lens, not just a hypervisor.
• Cons
  • Newer offering relative to Proxmox/Hyper-V; smaller community footprint and fewer long-lived field patterns.
  • Pricing and packaging can be less transparent than Proxmox.
  • Practical fit can depend on how much you value the Morpheus management layer vs “just virtualisation.” which is open-source.

Microsoft Hyper-V (Windows Server Datacenter) 

Microsoft’s hypervisor, typically consumed via Windows Server Datacenter licensing for virtualisation-heavy hosts. Best fit when you’re already a Windows shop and want tight integration with Microsoft management/security tooling.

• Pros
  • Excellent fit for Microsoft-centric environments (AD, Windows Server, System Center, Azure Arc, etc.).
  • With Datacenter licensing, you get unlimited Windows Server VM rights on properly licensed hosts (often the economic driver).
  • Mature platform with long enterprise history.
• Cons
  • The economics depend heavily on whether your guests are Windows Server and how you license cores.
  • Linux support is fine, but the platform is still most compelling in Windows-first estates.
  • Feature/UX preferences vary; some teams find it less “turnkey” than VMware for certain workflows.
  • It's Microsoft.

Approximate pricing

Scenario: 3 nodes × 2 sockets each (6 sockets total), 30 cores per node, ~30 guests total.

Key caveats (important):

• Proxmox and HPE VM Essentials are commonly priced per socket per year (subscription/support).
• Hyper‑V itself is included with Windows Server, but in practice you price Windows Server Datacenter (licensed per physical core) to get unlimited Windows Server guest rights.
• Exact GBP will vary by reseller discounts, support tier, and exchange rates.

Pricing table (GBP, approximate)

In Summary

For businesses looking to move away from VMware without the high overhead of proprietary licensing, Proxmox VE stands out as the most compelling choice because it offers a mature, enterprise grade feature set, including built-in high availability, live migration, and integrated backup, at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.

While Microsoft Hyper-V is the natural path for Windows-heavy shops, its licensing complexity and core-based pricing can quickly become expensive, and while HPE VM Essentials provides a solid vendor-backed alternative, it lacks the massive, battle-tested community ecosystem that Proxmox has built over the years, and under the hood it's open-source virtualisation. 

Ultimately, if an organisation is comfortable managing a Linux-based hypervisor or outsourcing support for it, then Proxmox provides the best balance of flexibility and stability; it allows you to avoid vendor lock-in and "breaking the bank" on per-core or per-socket taxes, provided you value a platform that is open, highly customisable, and supported by a global network of experts.