Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)
Application server software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
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$1,800 per year
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What is Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a remote application and desktop delivery platform that publishes Windows applications and desktops to users over remote display protocols. It is used by IT teams to provide secure access to line-of-business apps for on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-hosted Windows environments. RAS includes centralized management, load balancing, and gateway capabilities to broker user sessions and deliver apps to multiple endpoint types. It focuses on simplifying deployment and administration compared with building a full remote access stack from separate components.
Centralized app and desktop publishing
RAS provides a single console to publish applications and desktops, manage user access, and control delivery settings. It supports common enterprise identity and access patterns (for example, directory-based user/group assignment) to streamline administration. This aligns with organizations that need consistent delivery of Windows apps without exposing full server access. It reduces the need to assemble separate tools for brokering, gateway, and session management.
Built-in gateway and load balancing
RAS includes components for secure remote access and session brokering, including gateway functionality and load balancing across session hosts. This helps IT teams distribute user sessions and improve availability without relying on a separate application delivery controller for basic scenarios. The architecture supports scaling out by adding additional hosts and publishing agents. It is practical for mid-sized deployments that want an integrated stack.
Broad endpoint access options
RAS provides client access options for multiple device types and can deliver either full desktops or individual applications. This supports common use cases such as remote work, contractor access, and BYOD where endpoints vary. Centralized delivery can also simplify patching because applications run on managed Windows servers rather than on each device. It fits environments that need Windows app access beyond the corporate network.
Not a web application server
Despite being grouped with application server software, RAS does not function as a Java/.NET web application server or HTTP reverse proxy. It is designed for remote presentation of Windows apps/desktops rather than hosting and serving web applications. Organizations looking for servlet/Jakarta EE runtimes, API hosting, or web traffic management need separate infrastructure. This can cause category confusion during evaluation.
Windows and RDS dependency
RAS deployments typically rely on Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services (RDS) roles and licensing. This increases cost and operational coupling to Microsoft infrastructure compared with Linux-first application platforms. It also means application compatibility is largely tied to Windows-hosted workloads. Teams with predominantly Linux or container-native stacks may find limited fit.
Operational complexity at scale
While RAS aims to simplify remote app delivery, production deployments still require careful design for high availability, certificates, networking, and performance tuning. User experience depends on WAN conditions and host sizing, which can require ongoing monitoring and capacity planning. Advanced security requirements (for example, conditional access, segmented access, or deep auditing) may require additional tooling and integration work. Large, globally distributed environments may need more specialized architecture than the default setup.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Subscription (concurrent-user licensing) Free tier/trial: 30-day full-featured trial (no credit card required); trial includes up to 50 concurrent users in the deploy-it-yourself trial or 30-day instant web demo. Example costs: One-year subscription — $120 per concurrent user per year (Parallels states a one-year subscription costs $120 per concurrent user); minimum purchase of 15 concurrent-user licenses (example minimum cost = $1,800 per year for 15 users). Parallels also documents prepaid subscription terms available for 1, 2, or 3 year periods and states support is included with subscriptions. Purchase channels & notes: Parallels sells RAS via its website (trial/contact sales), resellers, and through cloud marketplaces (Azure, AWS). Pricing may vary by channel; Parallels EULA and product pages indicate fees are listed on the website and subscriptions may be sold through resellers. Discount options: Not explicitly stated on Parallels public product pages; contact sales or reseller (unsure).
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
