# Parallels Desktop for Mac  Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra

> With the help of Capterra, learn about Parallels Desktop for Mac  Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Virtualization products and more.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/170006/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac/pricing

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# 

 Parallels Desktop for Mac Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons

Last updated on March 13, 2026

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.

[Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews)

Parallels Desktop for Mac

## What is Parallels Desktop for Mac ?

Desktop virtualization software that enables your employees to use Windows applications on a Mac without rebooting.

## What is Parallels Desktop for Mac used for?

[Virtualization](https://www.capterra.com/virtualization-software/)[Virtual Machine](https://www.capterra.com/virtual-machine-software/)

Overall rating

Based on 147 user reviews

Reviews sentiment

Positive

89%

Neutral

9%

Negative

2%

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
not available

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## Compare with a popular alternative

Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status.

### Parallels Desktop for Mac

4.4 (147)

VS.

[0.0](https://www.capterra.com/p/10011647/Charon-SSP/#reviews)

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Free Trial

Free Version

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

Ease Of Use

4.4 (147)

Ease Of Use

0.0 (1,928)

Value For Money

4.2 (119)

Value For Money

0.0 (1,575)

Customer Service

4.0 (100)

Customer Service

0.0 (1,547)

## Parallels Desktop for Mac alternatives

[0.0](https://www.capterra.com/p/10011645/Charon-AXP/#reviews)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

0%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Microsoft Azure](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/)

[4.6 (1,943)](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/reviews/)

Starting price

$31.39

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

96%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/)

[VirtualBox](https://www.capterra.com/p/169939/VirtualBox/)

[4.6 (885)](https://www.capterra.com/p/169939/VirtualBox/reviews/)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

94%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/169939/VirtualBox/)

Highest Rated

[Vinchin Backup & Recovery](https://www.capterra.com/p/180134/Vinchin-Backup-Recovery/)

[4.7 (152)](https://www.capterra.com/p/180134/Vinchin-Backup-Recovery/reviews/)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

94%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/180134/Vinchin-Backup-Recovery/)

[View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/170006/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac/alternatives/)

## Features

Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically.

Virtual Machine Encryption

4.8 (18)

44.44% of 18 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Encrypts all information within a virtual machine including data, files, OS and software programs.

Virtualization

4.6 (11)

81.82% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Create a virtual version of operating systems, storage devices, or computer network resources

Configuration Management

4.2 (10)

70.00% of 10 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Identify component attributes like servers, hardware, software, and manage relationships across all services

Desktop Virtualization

5.0 (1)

100.00% of 1 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Creates virtual version of end user's desktop environment or operating system

Parallels Desktop for Mac 4 features

Identify component attributes like servers, hardware, software, and manage relationships across all services

Creates virtual version of end user's desktop environment or operating system

Encrypts all information within a virtual machine including data, files, OS and software programs.

Create a virtual version of operating systems, storage devices, or computer network resources

Features

4.5 (147)

4.5

Based on 147 reviews

## Pricing

Value for money

4.2 (119)

### Starting price

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
not available

Value for money

4.2 (119)

4.2

Based on 119 reviews

## Support, customer service and training options

Customer Service

4.0 (100)

Support

-   Email/Help Desk
-   FAQs/Forum
-   Knowledge Base
-   Phone Support
-   24/7 (Live rep)
-   Chat

Training

-   In Person
-   Live Online
-   Webinars
-   Documentation
-   Videos

Deployment

-   Web
-   Android
-   iPhone/iPad

Typical users

-   Freelancers
-   Small businesses
-   Mid size businesses
-   Enterprises

Customer Service

4.0 (100)

4.0

Based on 100 reviews

## User reviews

Overall rating

4.4

Based on 147 reviews

Filter by rating

5(85)

4(46)

3(13)

2(0)

1(3)

Mentioned topic

Sorted by most recent

SS

Sarah S.

Senior Manager, Revenue Marketing

Information Technology and Services

### "Deceptive Billing and Disappointing Software"

1.0

Overall Rating

1.0

1.0

Ease of Use

1.0

1.0

Features

1.0

1.0

Customer Service

1.0

1.0

Likelihood to Recommend

0/10

May 19, 2025

Charging customers without explicit consent is unacceptable. I strongly caution others to look into more transparent and reliable alternatives.

Pros

It lets you run Windows on a Mac which is useful for testing web page experiences on different devices.

Cons

Parallels auto-renewed my annual subscription without clear notice or active consent, despite over a year of inactivity. I never received a renewal reminder and was denied a refund — a pattern echoed by many other users. The software itself feels outdated and sluggish, falling short of expectations. Rather than improving product value, the company appears to rely on aggressive billing tactics.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

BL

Ben L.

Architect

Information Technology and Services

### "Parallels is graphically excellent and very intuitive! (at a financial cost)"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

7/10

April 14, 2025

For the short time that I used it, Parallels was definitely a smooth experience because they do a great job planning for what the users might want/need to accomplish in their VM deployment.

Pros

Parallels makes it very easy to create/deploy and use a VM on my MacBook! The VM graphics are the smoothest I've ever seen for a VM running on a client device!

Cons

The cost is a deterrent, most definitely! Additionally, the default integrations are slightly concerning from a privacy perspective. I need to do more research but, some of the Parallels features made me feel like I wasn't in control of some of the synchronization of things on my MacBook.

Alternatives considered

[VMware Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/212917/VMware-Fusion/)

Reasons for choosing Parallels Desktop for Mac

Because of the ease and intuitive steps during the initial setup. And because of the smoothness of the graphics.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

PE

Pete E.

Head of IT Services

Education Management

### "Easy to use tool for VMs on Mac"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

March 25, 2025

The product let's me use Windows and Linux VMs easily, with a user friendly control panel. Setting up new VMs is a simple process, as is making a copy. Best thing is the ability to package a VM for someone else.

Pros

It's really fast and easy to use, and integrates seamlessly with MacOS.

Cons

It's expensive for an annual subscription.

Switched from

[VMware Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/212917/VMware-Fusion/)

Parallels makes it easier to migrate VMs, and it integrates with the MacOS.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

JI

Jean-Louis I.

President

Design

### "Works Amazingly for Running Windows on a Mac"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

October 14, 2024

Work amazing well. Engineering software like SolidWorks runs fine and the ability to drag and drop file between my virtual Windows computer and MacOS works flawlessly.

Pros

Being able to run Windows on Mac is a must since I have some engineering software that only works on Windows. I previously used BootCamp to dual boot Windows and MacOS on my MacBook but withe Apple's new processors that was no longer possible. I have been very pleasantly surprised by how this works.

Cons

Having to pay an annual fee is a pain. I wish there was a one-time purchase option instead.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

CR

Chaz R.

Manager

Automotive

### "Shady business practices, bloated and unusable"

1.0

Overall Rating

1.0

1.0

Ease of Use

1.0

1.0

Features

1.0

1.0

Customer Service

1.0

1.0

Likelihood to Recommend

0/10

March 20, 2024

Shady business practices for a product that's become bloated and unusable. Make sure to turn off auto-renew on your payment center. It's on by default. The "Your Subscription is about to renew" email was sent out more than 24 hours after the company took my funds. I, of course, was denied a refund. This is the hallmark of a shady business. Do not give them money. There are much better alternatives out there.

Pros

The name is pretty apt for what the product is.

Cons

Mostly with the company's auto-renewal practices, and denial of a refund request. Hallmark of a shady company. The product itself used to be brilliant. Each successive version has become more bloated. Incompatibility issues are also present.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Tommy W.

CTO, senior system architect

Computer Software

### "Running Windows on a Mac (intel or M chips), the EASY way!"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

December 19, 2023

It just works. Like magic. Ok, maybe not magic - but it's perfect and the easiest and fastest way to run virtual machines (Windows 11) on the Mac, even in an integrated environment. Feels just perfect.

Pros

The super fast installation, quick set up and deployment. It just works, fast and the integration with the Mac OS host OS is well made, always working and over the years, never an issue - even with the betas. Some betas broke it, Parallels fixed it in a few days.

Cons

NOTHING! It's a perfect product, a match made in heaven for Mac!

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

SG

Serge G.

Direction

Computer Software

### "Logiciel bâclé avec des versions en régression"

1.0

Overall Rating

1.0

1.0

Ease of Use

1.0

1.0

Features

1.0

1.0

Customer Service

1.0

1.0

Likelihood to Recommend

0/10

December 11, 2023

J’ai acheté la v17 pour créer des machines virtuelles MacOS dans un Mac sous Monterey. Mauvaise, très mauvaise solution, une vraie galère à installer, pas d’options d’installation, pas de paramétrage, une taille d’écran fixe. J’ai mis à jour en v18, croyant que cela allait s’améliorer. J’ai perdu le copier/coller entre la machine virtuelle et ma machine physique. J’ai pu agrandir la taille du disque, pas par paramétrage, non, par bidouille lors de l’installation. J’ai passé mon Mac sous SONOMA. Désastre ! La taille d’écran de ma machine virtuelle était toujours fixe, mais cette fois avec une taille calquée sur la taille de mon écran physique. Comme j’utilise un 3840×1080, l’écran affiché était long et étroit, c’était inutilisable ! Pas assez échaudé, j’ai mis à jour Parallels Desktop en v19 et créé une machine virtuelle MacOS sous SONOMA. La fenêtre de virtualisation est enfin de taille réglable ! Par contre, il m’est désormais interdit de choisir ma taille de disque, la possibilité en a été retirée par Parallels dans la version du logiciel que j’utilise (Achat unique). RÉGRESSION ! J’ai adressé 2 messages à Parallels, je n’ai pas obtenu la moindre réponse. J’ai tenté de me faire rembourser (c’est dit sur leur site), mais rien ne permet de le faire ! Bref : Mauvais logiciel, régressions, pas de SAV, c’est terminé pour moi avec ces incompétents à la limite de la malhonnêteté !

Pros

Les promesses de virtualisation MacOS en plus de la virtualisation de Windows.

Cons

Installation sans paramétrage possible Limitations importantes en v17, v18 et v19 Régression des possibilités entre la v18 et la v19 Aucun SAV

Switched from

[VMware Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/212917/VMware-Fusion/)

Pour virtualiser MacOS en plus de windows.

Reasons for choosing Parallels Desktop for Mac

Les promesses de virtualisation MacOS en plus de windows.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

AU

Anonymous User

Responsable S.A.T.

Information Technology and Services

### "Virtualización sencilla "

4.0

Overall Rating

4.0

4.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

0.0

0.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

October 27, 2023

Pros

En mi caso es una herramienta imprescindible para poder ejecutar Microsoft Windows en mi sistema Apple

Cons

No hace falta tener grandes conocimientos, pero necesitas los básicos para poder instalar la máquina virtual.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

GJ

Gordon J.

Senior SAP Consultant

Computer Software

### "Parallels Desktop for Mac Integrates Seamlessly with Windows"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

September 12, 2023

Overall, great solution in this increasingly world where more and more companies are moving to the cloud. The would definitely needs more options to be able to access the cloud safely.

Pros

\- One of our SAP clients operates in different countries across Africa and decided to go cloud and Parallels Desktop for both Mac and Windows was the perfect solution for all the users and administrators. We set up all SAP databases in the various localities and had the users login via Parallels and so far so good. - Parallels Desktop for Mac a simple and secure option for accessing remote servers either in windows or any other operating system. The application is simple and lightweight and doesn't consume much of your computer resources. This means that you do not need a powerful computer to use Parallels Desktop for Mac to access a much more powerful server. - The set up and installation is quite easy and straightforward with all the Parallels setups readily available from their website. Additionally, the process of putting in the configuration to access a specific server is also not hectic.- Parallels Desktop for Mac is definitely more secure than its counterparts like Remote Desktop. You can st up different access levels for different users depending on what they need to do in the system, like administrator users can be given all the access rights and other non-admin users can be set up only to access what they need to access.

Cons

\- I have had a few connection issues with Parallels Desktop for Mac where users are not able to print from SAP through parallels. Also, if the internet connection is not stable on the user's side, this is prone to a lot of complains from the users especially if the users cannot be able to differentiate whether the issue is Parallels or SAP

Alternatives considered

[Remote Desktop Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/152245/Remote-Desktop-Manager/)

Reasons for choosing Parallels Desktop for Mac

Parallels Desktop is more secure and less prone to hacking.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

AA

Andrew A.

Owner / Field Techician

Computer Hardware

### "Parallels software, a Mac professional best choice in virtualization... "

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

5/10

August 15, 2023

It's a positive experience, when running Windows 10 or 11 on a Mac computer, Parallels creates a very stable and usable virtualization.

Pros

The ability to either go in full Window mode or use both Windows and Mac OS on the main desktop, allowing one to switch very easily between OS platforms.

Cons

It's low ability to run all Windows drivers through the Windows virtualization on the Mac, for example, for when using certain USB driven devices that need full driver support.

Reasons for choosing Parallels Desktop for Mac

There really aren't many alternative in the virtualization software for running Windows on the Mac, and Parallels continues to update and improve its product in a changing market.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

[View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/170006/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac/reviews/)

Popular comparisons

[Microsoft Azure vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/16365-170006/Azure-vs-Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac) [VirtualBox vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/169939-170006/VirtualBox-vs-Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac) [Vinchin Backup & Recovery vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170006-180134/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac-vs-Vinchin-Backup-Recovery) [NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/161328-170006/NAKIVO-vs-Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac)

[Google Cloud vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170006-268690/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac-vs-Google-Cloud-Platform) [Amazon EC2 vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170006-219781/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac-vs-EC2) [Iperius Backup vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/129287-170006/Iperius-Backup-vs-Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac) [VMware Fusion vs Parallels Desktop for Mac](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170006-212917/Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac-vs-VMware-Fusion) 

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