Parallels Desktop Alternatives

Parallels Desktop is described as 'gives Mac users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as macOS. Parallels Desktop is optimized for Intel and Apple M1 chip' and is a very popular Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Parallels Desktop for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Android. The best alternative is VirtualBox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Parallels Desktop are Wine, QEMU, Proton and VMware Workstation Pro.

Parallels Desktop alternatives are mainly Virtualization Tools but may also be Compatibility Layer Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Parallels Desktop.

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Parallels Desktop

132

Freemium • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Mac

Parallels Desktop gives Mac users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical...

Learn more about Parallels Desktop

VirtualBox
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Solaris
60 alternatives to VirtualBox
VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as...
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VirtualBox Features
1. LightweightVirtualBox consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Container VirtualizationVirtualBox can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
3. PortableVirtualBox can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Multiple languages
VirtualBox vs Parallels Desktop opinions
Most users think VirtualBox is a great alternative to Parallels Desktop.
rivolta8959
I 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).
Comment•
0

JohnFastman
Unlike Parallels, Virtualbox is free, open source and runs natively on Windows, Mac and Linux. What's not to like?
Positive comment•
7

ChristianFerretti
free, lighter, even if less simple to use
Positive comment•
0
Wine
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Compatibility Layer Tool
Mac
Linux
Android
Android Tablet
BSD
28 alternatives to Wine
Wine is a free, open source application for running Windows software on operating systems that are normally not supported. With Wine, you can install and run these applications just like you would in Windows.
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Wine Features
Run Windows software
Emulation
Wine vs Parallels Desktop opinions
Almost everyone thinks Wine is a great alternative to Parallels Desktop.
QEMU
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
42 alternatives to QEMU
QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization.
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QEMU Features
1. PortableQEMU can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. LightweightQEMU consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Support for scriptingQEMU supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
4. Privacy focusedQEMU is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Container VirtualizationQEMU can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
6. Command line interfaceQEMU either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
GPU Acceleration
Security focused
User mode emulation
Emulation
Proton
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Compatibility Layer Tool
Linux
Steam
26 alternatives to Proton
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.
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Proton Features
Run Windows software
Run Windows Games
Emulation
VMware Workstation Pro
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Windows
Linux
39 alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro
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...
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VMware Workstation Pro Features
1. Container VirtualizationVMware Workstation Pro can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
Multiple languages
Support for Android Things
Bundled with macOS
VMware Workstation Pro vs Parallels Desktop opinions
Most users think VMware Workstation Pro is a great alternative to Parallels Desktop.
virt-manager
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Linux
BSD
26 alternatives to virt-manager
The virt-manager application is a desktop user interface for managing virtual machines through libvirt. It primarily targets KVM VMs, but also manages Xen and LXC (linux containers). It presents a summary view of running domains, their live performance & resource utilization...
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virt-manager Features
1. Container Virtualizationvirt-manager can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
2. Lightweightvirt-manager consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Command line interfacevirt-manager either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
4. Privacy focusedvirt-manager is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
VNC Viewer
SSH
Customizable
Security focused
Live migration
VMware Workstation Player
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Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Windows
Linux
38 alternatives to VMware Workstation Player
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.

VMware Workstation Player has no features, suggest some!
Boxes
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Virtualization Tool
Linux
BSD
Flathub
21 alternatives to Boxes
A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner.
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Boxes Features
1. Privacy focusedBoxes is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Container VirtualizationBoxes can make use of isolated user spaces called "containers" to run applications.
3. LightweightBoxes consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Command line interfaceBoxes either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
5. PortableBoxes can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
VNC Viewer
Security focused
VMware Fusion
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Virtualization Tool
Mac
39 alternatives to VMware Fusion
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...

VMware Fusion has no features, suggest some!
CrossOver
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Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Compatibility Layer Tool
Mac
Linux
Android
Chrome OS
27 alternatives to CrossOver
CrossOver allows you to install many popular Windows applications and games on your Intel OS X Mac or Linux computer.

CrossOver has no features, suggest some!

CrossOver vs Parallels Desktop opinions