Parallels Desktop for Mac
Remote desktop software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
Take the quiz to check if Parallels Desktop for Mac and its alternatives fit your requirements.
$54.99 per year
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Real estate and property management
- Retail and wholesale
What is Parallels Desktop for Mac
Parallels Desktop for Mac is desktop virtualization software that runs Windows, Linux, and other operating systems as virtual machines on macOS. It is used by individuals and teams that need Windows-only applications, cross-platform testing, or access to corporate Windows environments from a Mac. The product focuses on local VM performance and macOS integration rather than providing a hosted remote desktop service. It is typically licensed per user via subscription or perpetual options depending on edition and availability.
Runs Windows locally on Mac
It enables users to run Windows applications on a Mac without relying on a separate remote PC or a remote session. This can reduce dependency on network quality compared with tools that primarily deliver remote control. It supports multiple guest operating systems and common VM workflows such as snapshots and resource allocation. For users who need consistent access to Windows apps, local virtualization can be simpler than maintaining remote endpoints.
Strong macOS integration features
Parallels Desktop integrates Windows apps into macOS workflows (for example, launching Windows apps from macOS and sharing files between environments). It supports common device and peripheral passthrough use cases (such as USB devices) that can be harder to manage over remote sessions. These integrations help users treat the VM as an extension of the Mac rather than a separate remote machine. This is useful for mixed macOS/Windows productivity and development setups.
Developer and testing utility
The product is commonly used for software testing and development that requires multiple OS environments on a single Mac. It supports creating and managing multiple VMs, which can help reproduce issues across OS versions without separate hardware. This local approach can be more predictable than remote desktop sessions when testing UI behavior or device interactions. It fits individual developers and small teams that need repeatable environments.
Not a remote desktop platform
Parallels Desktop is primarily a local virtualization product, not a remote desktop or remote support service. It does not provide the same out-of-the-box capabilities for unattended remote access, technician workflows, or multi-tenant support operations that purpose-built remote desktop tools offer. Organizations looking for centralized remote access management may need additional products or infrastructure. This can make it a less direct fit when the main requirement is remote control of distributed endpoints.
Mac-only host requirement
It runs on macOS hosts, so it is not a cross-platform host solution for Windows or Linux desktops. Standardizing on it across a mixed fleet can be difficult if many users do not have Macs. This constraint can increase tooling fragmentation for IT teams. It also limits applicability for organizations that want a single remote access tool across all endpoint types.
Resource and licensing overhead
Running a VM requires significant CPU, memory, and storage, which can impact performance on lower-spec Macs. Users also typically need separate operating system licensing (for example, Windows) and must manage OS updates and security inside the VM. Compared with connecting to an existing remote machine, this can add administrative overhead. Costs can increase when multiple users each require their own VM setup and licenses.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Home) | Subscription: $99.99 per year (shown on main product pages); One-time/perpetual license: $219.99 (shown on product/buy pages). Official Parallels blog/guide also lists a Standard subscription price of $54.99/yr (see notes). | For home/personal use. 8 GB vRAM, 4 vCPUs. Subscription or one-time perpetual license (current-version only). 30-day money-back guarantee. Regional/educational discounts may apply. |
| Pro (Power users / Developers) | Subscription: official blog/guide lists $65.99 per year; product pages show Pro as subscription but numeric price varies by region/flow. | For developers, creators, and power users. Up to 128 GB vRAM & 32 vCPUs (Intel), command-line tools, developer integrations, unlimited phone/email support. Free 14-day trial available. |
| Business (Teams / Small businesses) | Subscription: official blog/guide lists $97.49 per year; product/buy pages indicate Business is subscription and show "Contact us" for bulk/enterprise benefits. | Centralized administration, license management, Jamf/Intune integration, volume licensing, business billing, provisioning, CI/CD automation. Contact sales for 10+ licenses and Enterprise details. |
| Enterprise | Pricing: Contact sales (no public list price on official site). | IT-managed deployments with management portal, golden image deployment, encrypted VMs, SSO/SAML, granular policy controls. Contact Parallels sales. |
Notes: All pricing data above is taken from Parallels' official website (parallels.com) pages (product, buy, and Parallels blog/guide). Some official pages display different numeric subscription amounts for the same editions (example: main product page/prominent banner shows $99.99/yr for Parallels Desktop; the Parallels blog "Parallels Desktop Guide" lists subscription prices as Standard $54.99/yr, Pro $65.99/yr, Business $97.49/yr). Because these differing figures appear on Parallels' own site, there is ambiguity depending on region, promotions, or page context; see Parallels official pages for the current price shown to your region.
Seller details
Parallels International GmbH
Bellevue, Washington, United States
1999
Private
https://www.parallels.com/
https://x.com/parallels
https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallels
