Parallels Desktop AlternativesTop Virtualization & Compatibility Layer Tools like Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop is described as 'Virtualization tool enabling seamless operation of Windows and Linux on Mac. Support for Windows 11 on Apple Silicon with resource customization' and is a very popular Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Parallels Desktop for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD and Flathub apps. The best Parallels Desktop alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Parallels Desktop are Wine, QEMU, VMware Workstation Pro and Proton.
filter to find the best alternatives
Parallels Desktop alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools, but if you're looking for Compatibility Layer Tools or Remote Desktop Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Mac + Open Source and Mac + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Parallels Desktop.- Virtualization Tool
- Paid • Proprietary
- 63 VirtualBox alternatives
Open source VirtualBox offers powerful x86/AMD64 virtualization available freely under GNU GPL v2. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris hosts. Supports a vast array of guest OS like Windows, Linux, Solaris. Portable, lightweight, ad-free, with dark mode.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Oracle Solaris
Comments about VirtualBox as an Alternative to Parallels Desktop
Most Recent CommentLéanaI like it because it's FOSS, however, it's really glitchy. It has a lot of display issues with my guest OSs (screen flickering, black screen).
ChristianFerrettifree, lighter, even if less simple to use
- 45 Wine alternatives
An advanced, free open-source tool enabling Windows applications to run on Linux and other systems without emulation. It offers configuration options, supports diverse operating systems, and benefits from continuous updates and robust community support to enhance Windows app compatibility.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- Flathub
- 43 QEMU alternatives
QEMU, an open-source hypervisor, performs hardware virtualization, emulates CPUs using dynamic binary translation, and supports various architectures. It runs diverse unmodified guest OS, provides device models, and offers mixed translation modes for efficient execution.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
France
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- 36 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives
VMware Workstation Pro Lets You Run Multiple Operating Systems as Virtual Machines (including Windows VMs) on a Single Windows or Linux PC. VMware Workstation Pro is the industry standard for running multiple operating systems as virtual machines (VMs) on a single Linux or...
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
VMware Workstation Pro Features
- 39 Proton alternatives
Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on Linux kernel operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Linux
- Steam
Proton Features
- 37 VMware Workstation Player alternatives
VMware Workstation Player builds on the industry leading foundation of Workstation Pro, and delivers a streamlined user interface for creating and running operating systems and applications in a virtual machine.
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
DiscontinuedWorkstation Player has been pashed out now that
VMware Workstation Pro is free for personal use: VMware makes Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro free for personal use
VMware Workstation Player Features
- 30 virt-manager alternatives
Comprehensive desktop tool for managing virtual machines using libvirt, supporting KVM, Xen, and Linux Containers. It offers performance stats, resource allocation and virtual hardware configuration with VNC and SPICE clients for graphical consoles.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
Australia
Platforms
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- 40 VMware Fusion alternatives
Seamlessly run your favorite Windows applications and devices, on any Intel-based Mac. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion is the easiest way to switch to Mac—letting you bring all of your Windows applications with you, making the most of your Windows software...
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- 56 UTM alternatives
UTM is a full featured system emulator and virtual machine host for iOS and macOS. It is based off of QEMU. In short, it allows you to run Windows, Linux, and more on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
- International
Platforms
- Mac
- iPhone
- iPad
- visionOS
Comments about UTM as an Alternative to Parallels Desktop
Its Open Source Unlike Parallels Desktop Its Also Open Source So Its More Trustable
- 43 CrossOver alternatives
Cross-platform utility enables seamless installation and execution of Windows applications on macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. No Windows license required—facilitates easy app management with a few clicks, eliminates the need for virtual machines and reboots, delivering efficient compatibility layer operation.
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Linux
- Android
- Chrome OS
CrossOver Features
- 55 Windows Sandbox alternatives
a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.
- 24 Boxes alternatives
A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
Czechia
EU
Platforms
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- GNOME
Unlike Parallels, Virtualbox is free, open source and runs natively on Windows, Mac and Linux. What's not to like?