Application Virtualization: How It Works, Key Benefits, and Best Solutions for 2026

Application virtualization is growing in popularity as people increasingly use personal devices for everything from school to work, and as teams adopt Macs alongside Windows PCs. But many critical business and academic tools are still Windows-only applications or Linux-based.

Application virtualization solutions help close that gap. They let you run apps from another OS on your device, without forcing you to buy hardware, buy a second laptop, or replace your device with a full desktop.

One quick clarification before we get into the details: Parallels Desktop runs full operating systems locally on a Mac. At the same time, Parallels RAS delivers remote apps and desktops from servers to any device. That local-versus-remote distinction matters when comparing user experience, security posture, and day-to-day reliability.

TL;DR

• If you need speed and offline reliability, application virtualization via local VM environments is often the simplest path.
• If you need centralized control and data residency, remote app delivery and hosted applications can be a better fit.
• For many Mac-first environments (and mixed os fleets), a hybrid application delivery approach keeps users productive while IT stays in control.

If you keep those three points in mind, the "right" model usually becomes obvious once you map it to how your team actually works.

What application virtualization is (and isn't)

Application virtualization is the process of running apps from another OS in an isolated environment so they behave as their developers intended. For most readers, the practical question is simpler: how application virtualization works in real life, and whether it feels fast enough for daily work.

In its modern iteration, application virtualization no longer requires dual booting, extra hardware, or IT-heavy setups. Instead, local virtual machines (VMs) make it possible to run applications directly on your Mac or PC, including Windows apps on Mac when you need them. If your goal is to run Windows apps on Mac without relying on a second machine, this is usually the cleanest starting point.

Crucially, in a local model, those applications execute locally. They use your Mac or PC's CPU, memory, graphics, and storage, not a remote server. There is no session to stream, no constant internet dependency, and fewer moving parts between you and your work.

How application virtualization works

Application virtualization adds a virtualization layer between your physical device and the operating system on which your apps were built. That layer creates application isolation (often via a VM), which keeps the "other OS" separated from your primary OS while still making it usable.

Application virtualization is often discussed as if it were a single approach, but there are different delivery models.

Two common ones show up in enterprise it virtualization, education virtualization, and individual workflows:

• Packaged or streamed applications: Apps are abstracted from the OS and delivered to users on demand, often from a central server. Execution typically occurs remotely, and the user sees the app streaming to their device. These are often described as packaged applications, even when the experience feels more like a stream than a "package."
• Hosted execution on local VMs: A full operating system runs locally on the user's device inside a local VM, and applications execute inside that environment. Software like Parallels Desktop for Mac enables Windows or Linux apps to run on a Mac through full OS virtualization.

Both models can "virtualize an app," but the feel is different. If you want local performance and fewer network variables, local execution usually wins. If you need centralized governance, streamed or hosted delivery usually wins.

Key benefits of application virtualization

Application virtualization benefits show up fast when you stop treating device choice as a constraint. This is the part that matters most for teams that support cross-platform realities, especially mixed os fleets.

One of the most immediate benefits is the ability to run Windows on Mac for the specific tools you need, without forcing users into remote desktops by default. For modern multi-environment workflows, that translates to fewer workarounds, fewer "I cannot access that app" moments, and fewer tickets.

On modern Arm-based hardware, including Apple silicon virtualization on M-series Macs, the local approach also delivers predictable performance because it is not at the mercy of VPN latency or data center congestion. If you are pairing Apple devices with Windows requirements, the performance story starts with local compute.

For IT teams, local VMs can simplify delivery. Instead of building and maintaining a large virtual desktop infrastructure and managing VDI solutions for every user, teams can define VM baselines, package a standardized image, and ship it through existing device workflows.

When paired with Jamf integration, those rollouts can align with the same macOS management patterns teams already use, including Jamf workflows for provisioning and configuration.

Security is another major advantage. Running Windows apps inside a local, isolated VM creates a clear boundary between operating systems.

With the right controls, you can align app virtualization security with identity-first principles, including identity-first access and zero-trust access patterns, in which users and devices are continuously verified rather than implicitly trusted.

The bottom line is that application virtualization can give users flexibility without turning IT into a bottleneck.

Challenges and limitations of application virtualization

Application virtualization is powerful, but it is not magic. The best results come when you plan for real constraints and pick the model that matches your environment.

Common application virtualization challenges include:

• Compatibility gaps: Highly specialized applications might not run reliably in a local VM and may require additional validation or alternative approaches.
• Network dependency: Hosted and streamed models depend on network quality, VPNs, and latency. Even strong back-end infrastructure can feel slow for interactive workloads when connectivity is poor.
• Licensing and cost considerations: Organizations still need to account for Windows licensing, application subscriptions, and virtualization software itself.
• Performance constraints: Modern Apple silicon Macs handle many professional applications well, but 3D and graphics-intensive workloads may still perform better on native hardware or dedicated GPU setups.
• IT design and management overhead: At scale, teams must think about image versioning, update strategies, security policies, and user access controls.

If you flag these early, you can avoid overspending on the wrong model and focus on the trade-offs that actually affect end users.

Best application virtualization solutions for 2026

There is no single "best" tool for every team, because application virtualization spans both local execution and remote delivery. The right answer depends on how often users need access, where data must reside, and how much control IT needs to maintain.

A practical way to evaluate the best solutions for 2026 is to split them into two buckets: local virtualization on endpoints, and remote or hosted delivery. Many organizations end up using both as part of cloud-based app virtualization planning.

Local virtualization on endpoints (hero: Parallels Desktop)

For most individual professionals and many Mac-first environments, local virtualization is the simplest experience. This model runs a full Windows or Linux OS directly on your Mac and supports enterprise controls, including SSO integration (and MFA via your IdP), encryption, and policies.

Parallels Desktop is designed for this scenario, especially when your goal is to run Windows apps with local performance on Apple silicon. It is also a strong fit for cross-OS testing and developers who need multi-environment workflows without constantly switching devices.

There are different editions for different use cases:

• Standard: Designed for general users who need reliable access to Windows apps on a Mac.
• Pro: Built for developers, testers, and power users who run multiple VMs or demanding workloads.
• Business and Enterprise: Tailored for centrally managed deployments, with policy control, security features, and streamlined administration at scale.

Choosing the right edition is less about "features" and more about who needs centralized control, standardized images, and managed compliance across a fleet.

Remote/hosted app delivery (category-level only)

Remote and hosted app delivery is a model in which applications run on centralized servers, and users interact with them over the network. In this model, end users typically connect through an application virtualization client that renders the app experience on the endpoint. This approach is often suitable when applications must run in a tightly controlled environment due to security, compliance, or data residency requirements.

This is where Parallels RAS (a remote application server) fits, especially when you need centralized app deployment and consistent delivery across device types. It can publish remote apps and full desktops from servers to endpoints, a very different approach from running local VMs on a Mac.

The tradeoff is that user experience depends on network quality and backend infrastructure. For some teams, that is acceptable. For others, it becomes a day-to-day friction point that pushes them back toward local execution for interactive work.

How to choose the right application virtualization approach

Choosing between models is where most teams get stuck, especially when comparing application virtualization with VDI, containers, or local VMs. Each approach solves a different problem.

Here is a checklist of key considerations for individuals, SMBs, education, and enterprise IT teams:

• Device mix: Start with the hardware reality. Do you use Mac, Windows, Chromebook, or BYOD across mixed os fleets?
• Application requirements: Some apps are Windows-only. Others are graphics-heavy, latency-sensitive, or tied to specific drivers. Still others handle regulated or sensitive data that must remain tightly controlled.
• Security and identity posture: Consider how users authenticate, how devices are trusted, and whether your strategy is identity-first or zero-trust. If you're planning SSO via SAML across multiple identity providers, the SAML and 8 IdPs discussion highlights common implementation questions.
• Management tools already in use: Existing investments in MDM, identity providers, and monitoring tools should guide your choice, especially if you already run Jamf workflows.
• Containers vs VMs reality check: Containers are great for packaging services, but they are not a drop-in replacement for full desktop apps that require a Windows user session. If you are comparing approaches, it helps to understand how containers differ from VMs and when they can work together.

Recommendations:

• Local virtualization (like Parallels Desktop): Best for Mac-first environments that need performance and offline reliability.
• Hosted delivery (remote apps or desktops): Best for centralized execution, regulated environments, and controlled data residency needs.
• Hybrid application delivery: Best for teams that need both local performance and controlled central access.

If you frame the decision around user experience and governance (instead of buzzwords), you will usually land on a model that scales without slowing people down.

Choosing application virtualization that fits your workflow

Application virtualization matters in 2026 because there is still a gap between the devices people want to use and the apps they must use. Macs are firmly established as primary work machines, but many essential business, academic, and technical tools still assume Windows or Linux.

That gap is not new.

If you have been tracking discussions on application virtualization 2025, the trend has been consistent: teams want flexibility without sacrificing security, manageability, or performance. The best approach is the one that matches your reality, not the one that sounds simplest on paper.

If your goal is to run Windows applications on a Mac without extra hardware, remote desktops, or constant connectivity, Parallels Desktop is built for that local experience. You can start with a trial, validate performance in your real apps, and decide from there.