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Parallels Desktop for Mac

Parallels Desktop for Mac

Overview

What is Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Parallels® Desktop for Mac is used to run Windows on Intel or Apple silicon. Users can switch between Mac and Windows applications, while retaining the macOS appearance, or use the familiar Windows desktop aesthetic.

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Recent Reviews
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Parallels Desktop Standard Edition

$99.99

On Premise
per year

Mac App Store

$99.99

On Premise
per year

Parallels Desktop Pro Edition

$119.99

On Premise
per year

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.parallels.com/products/desk…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $99.99 per year
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Product Details

What is Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Parallels® Desktop for Mac is used to run Windows on Intel or Apple silicon. Users can switch between Mac and Windows applications, while retaining the macOS appearance, or use the familiar Windows desktop aesthetic.


The application's 3D performance can fuel demanding graphical applications, games, and a wide array of OSes, including Windows and Linux VMs.


As a subscription license bonus, Parallels Toolbox offers 40+ practical tools to simplify everyday tasks like recording the screen, cleaning the drive, taking screenshots, or downloading a video.


Parallels Desktop for Mac Features

Application Virtualization Features

  • Supported: Application support
  • Supported: Ease of deployment
  • Supported: Security

Parallels Desktop for Mac Screenshots

Screenshot of Parallels Desktop running Windows applications, on a Mac.Screenshot of the ability to switch between operating systems without rebooting.Screenshot of Coherence Mode, which minimizes distraction.Screenshot of file sharing between Mac and Windows.Screenshot of application development and testing in Windows, Linux, and virtual macOS (Pro & Business Edition).Screenshot of license management in Parallels Desktop (Business Edition).

Parallels Desktop for Mac Videos

Windows on a Mac with Parallels Desktop 19
Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac Business Edition

Parallels Desktop for Mac Integrations

Parallels Desktop for Mac Competitors

Parallels Desktop for Mac Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsWindows, Linux, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Parallels Desktop for Mac Downloadables

Frequently Asked Questions

Parallels® Desktop for Mac is used to run Windows on Intel or Apple silicon. Users can switch between Mac and Windows applications, while retaining the macOS appearance, or use the familiar Windows desktop aesthetic.

Parallels Desktop for Mac starts at $99.99.

Oracle VM VirtualBox, VMware Fusion, and CrossOver are common alternatives for Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Reviewers rate Usability highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of Parallels Desktop for Mac are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(84)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-6 of 6)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
February 22, 2024

Desktop virtualization with power and ease.

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 51-200 employees
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Support Rating
8
We have had rare occasions to contact support about the product. Most questions were easily answered from the knowledge base. When we have had to contact support they were able to provide us with a couple of different solutions and enough resources about how to accomplish said solutions that solving the problem was easy enough.
March 10, 2020

Copy, Paste, Drag and Drop between PC and Mac Apps or Different Versions of OS X

Jonah Dempcy | TrustRadius Reviewer
Jonah Dempcy
Web & Mobile Developer
Bluefire Productions (Computer Software, 1-10 employees)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Support Rating
10
The Parallels documentation and support websites are great. I have not had much use for them, but a cursory check shows richly documented features aimed at both the layperson and the power user or software developer. Their website is well-designed and information is easy to find, and their list of known issues as well as bugfixes on point releases is clear and transparent. They aren't trying to hide any of the limitations of their software, and seem to be regularly updating it to fix new bugs that arise with Mac OS X updates.
January 24, 2020

Life Saver

NL
nancy lauer
Owner
Open Doors Morocco (Hospitality, 1-10 employees)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Support Rating
10
The price isn't extravagant - it's affordable. It enables me to use Windows X on my Mac seamlessly. I allows me to use the desktop version of my accounting system that is only available in Windows.
October 31, 2019

Parallels Lets Your Users Dump Windows with Coherence Mode

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Pharmaceuticals Company, 5001-10,000 employees
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Support Rating
4
So, this rating is a little skewed toward older behavior from Parallels, as I haven't had to contact them recently. However, in an older version of Parallels, an "update" included pop-ups urging users to upgrade to the latest version, implying that their current version wouldn't work for the latest MacOS. I found it very frustrating to be getting ads for a new version of the software in a version I had already paid for. I contacted support about this and got a generic, uncaring response. It was pretty disappointing.
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