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.
Parallels Desktop iconParallels Desktop
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Virtualization tool enabling seamless operation of Windows and Linux on Mac. Support for Windows 11 on Apple Silicon with resource customization.

More about Parallels Desktop
More about Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop alternatives page was last updated Apr 10, 2025
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  1. VirtualBox icon

    VirtualBox

     2900 likes
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    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.

    63 VirtualBox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Oracle Solaris
    VirtualBox Manager

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3. Zalando icon  Zalando integration
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Portable
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Hypervisor

    VirtualBox VS Parallels Desktop

     
    Comments about VirtualBox as an Alternative to Parallels Desktop
    Most Recent Comment
    John Fastman
    Positive Dec 17, 2016
    8

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

    Léana
    May 13, 2022
    0

    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).

    ChristianFerretti
    Positive Mar 26, 2021
    0

    free, lighter, even if less simple to use

    Parallels Desktop Icon
    VirtualBox icon

    • Most users think VirtualBox is a great Parallels Desktop alternative.

    • VirtualBox is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Parallels Desktop.

    • VirtualBox is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Parallels Desktop.

    • VirtualBox is Free and Open SourceParallels Desktop is Paid and Proprietary
    • VirtualBox is Lightweight and Privacy focusedParallels Desktop is not according to our users
  2. Wine icon

    Wine

     716 likes
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    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.

    45 Wine alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Wine screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Run Windows software
    2.  Compatibility Layer
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Ad-free

    Wine VS Parallels Desktop

     

    • Most users think Wine is a great Parallels Desktop alternative.

    • Wine is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Parallels Desktop.

    • Wine is Free and Open SourceParallels Desktop is Paid and Proprietary
    • Wine is LightweightParallels Desktop is not according to our users
  4. QEMU icon

    QEMU

     287 likes
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    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.

    43 QEMU alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    QEMU with the free OS ReactOS

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Portable
    3.  GPU Acceleration
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Support for scripting
    7.  User mode emulation
    8.  Emulation

    QEMU VS Parallels Desktop

     
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    CrossOver icon
    CrossOver

    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 vir...

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  6. VMware Workstation Pro icon

    VMware Workstation Pro

     386 likes
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    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...

    36 VMware Workstation Pro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Pro screenshot 1

    VMware Workstation Pro Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multiple languages
    3.  Container Virtualization
    4.  Support for Android Things
    5.  Bundled with macOS

    VMware Workstation Pro VS Parallels Desktop

     
  7. Proton icon

    Proton

     104 likes
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    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.

    39 Proton alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Steam
    Proton screenshot 1

    Proton Features

    1.  Run Windows software
    2.  Run Windows Games
    3.  Compatibility Layer
    4.  Emulation
    5.  Ad-free

    Proton VS Parallels Desktop

     
  8. VMware Workstation Player icon

    VMware Workstation Player

     247 likes
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    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.

    37 VMware Workstation Player alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    VMware Workstation Player screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Workstation Player has been pashed out now that VMware Workstation Pro icon VMware Workstation Pro is free for personal use: VMware makes Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro free for personal use

    VMware Workstation Player Features

    1.  Container Virtualization

    VMware Workstation Player VS Parallels Desktop

     
  10. virt-manager icon

    virt-manager

     77 likes
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    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.

    30 virt-manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    virt-manager screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  VNC Viewer
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  SSH
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Live migration

    virt-manager VS Parallels Desktop

     
  11. VMware Fusion icon

    VMware Fusion

     115 likes
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    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...

    40 VMware Fusion alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    VMware Fusion screenshot 1

    VMware Fusion VS Parallels Desktop

     
  12. UTM icon

    UTM

     22 likes
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    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.

    56 UTM alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Multi System Emulator
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Container Virtualization

    UTM VS Parallels Desktop

     
    Comments about UTM as an Alternative to Parallels Desktop
    Guest
    Positive Feb 22, 2025
    0

    Its Open Source Unlike Parallels Desktop Its Also Open Source So Its More Trustable

    Parallels Desktop Icon
    UTM icon

    • UTM is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Parallels Desktop.

    • UTM is Free and Open SourceParallels Desktop is Paid and Proprietary
    • UTM is Privacy focused and LightweightParallels Desktop is not according to our users
  13. CrossOver icon

    CrossOver

     72 likes
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    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.

    43 CrossOver alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    CrossOver screenshot 1

    CrossOver Features

    1.  Compatibility Layer
    2.  Run Windows software

    CrossOver VS Parallels Desktop

     

    • Some users think CrossOver is a great Parallels Desktop alternative, some don't.

    • CrossOver is the most popular commercial alternative to Parallels Desktop.

    • CrossOver is Paid and ProprietaryParallels Desktop is also Paid and Proprietary
  14. Windows Sandbox icon

    Windows Sandbox

     20 likes
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    a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.

    55 Windows Sandbox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows Sandbox screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Sandbox
    2.  Container Virtualization

    Windows Sandbox VS Parallels Desktop

     
  15. Boxes icon

    Boxes

     27 likes
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    A simple GNOME application to access virtual systems. It is based on a design from Jon McCann and Jakub Steiner.

    24 Boxes alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Boxes screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Portable
    6.  Container Virtualization
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Gtk
    9.  VNC Viewer

    Boxes VS Parallels Desktop

     
12 of 56 Parallels Desktop alternatives