VMware Fusion vs. Parallels Desktop
How is Parallels Desktop different than VMware Fusion?
- Trusted desktop virtualization software for more than 15 years!
- Authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on a Mac with Apple silicon
- Windows 11 automatic download and installation on any Mac
- Works natively on Apple silicon: Coherence View mode, shared folders, copy-paste, drag-drop, camera, etc.
- Superior graphics in Windows 11 on ARM, including DirectX 11 + vertical sync for playing games, smooth Windows desktop, and ProMotion display support
Existing VMware Fusion Customer?
Exclusive Offer: 50% OFF Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro when you validate your license key
Trusted by well-known organizations.
Experience the best of both macOS and Windows with Parallels Desktop for Mac, unlocking powerful performance and seamless interaction
Compare editions
| Standard Edition | |
| Includes major updates to support new versions of macOS, Windows, Linux, and new Mac models | Subscription only |
| Virtual RAM for each VM | 8 GB vRAM |
| Virtual CPUs for each VM** | 4 vCPUs |
| Experience Windows as if it was designed for Mac: use Mac files, keyboard, trackpad, camera & mic, sound, graphics, Touch ID, and many more | |
| Run thousands of Windows applications such as Microsoft Office 365, accounting software, trading software, SAP, Matlab, and more | |
| Premium 24/7 phone and email support | Subscription only |
| BuyUpgrade | |
| Most Popular | |
| Pro Edition All the Standard Edition features PLUS: |
|
| Includes major updates to support new versions of macOS, Windows, Linux, and new Mac models | |
| Virtual RAM for each VM | 128 GB vRAM |
| Virtual CPUs for each VM** | 32 vCPUs |
| Run professional graphics-intensive Windows applications and multiple virtual machines | |
| Develop, automate, test, and debug software in multiple operating systems simultaneously | |
| Deliver Windows on Mac across your organization to run business-critical applications and free developers from the hassle of using multiple computers. Secure and key-free with SSO/SAML integration option | |
| Premium 24/7 phone and email support | |
| Integrations with VS Code, Vagrant, Packer, Docker, Minikube, and more | |
| Advanced tools for virtual networking, debugging, and automation | |
| Automate CI/CD workflows with Command Line Interface (prlctl, prlsrvctl) | |
| Buy nowUpgrade | |
| Business Edition All the Standard and Pro Edition features PLUS: |
|
| Enable employees to download a preconfigured Windows installation to their Mac | |
| Per-user licensing option for companies that are ready to use SSO/SAML/SCIM integration | |
| Centralized administration and management and unified volume licensing for mass deployment | |
| Buy now | |
* Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise
** Up to 22 CPU on a Mac with Apple silicon (M2 Ultra)
BONUS!
Included with your Parallels Desktop subscription:
Parallels® Toolbox + Parallels® Access
Bonus with Subscription!
Parallels Toolbox
More than 40 one-touch productivity tools—clean your drive, take screenshots, download a video, and more—all with one click.
Bonus with Subscription!
Parallels Access
Remote access to your Mac from any iOS device, Android device, or browser with Parallels Access.
Frequently asked questions
Parallels Desktop enables you to add Windows, Linux, or another operating system to your Mac by creating a virtual machine (VM)—a virtual PC inside your Mac. You can then install Windows or another OS on the virtual machine, just as you would on a physical computer. Run multiple OSs at the same time, all on your Mac. It's like having two computers in one!
- Open Windows applications side by side with macOS applications, without having to restart.
- Copy and paste text or drag and drop objects between Mac and Windows.
- Run Windows games and other 3D applications.
- Transfer all your data from a PC and use it on a Mac.*
- Easily share files, devices, and other resources between Windows and Mac.
- Install multiple operating systems, such as different versions of Windows, Linux, copies of macOS*, and free virtual appliances—and use them together.
- And much more…
Parallels Desktop makes it easy to get started within minutes. Just follow our Installation Assistant and click "Install Windows." – Parallels Desktop will download and install Windows 11 automatically.
You can provide your own Microsoft Windows license key, purchase a new Windows license from the Microsoft Store, or transfer an existing Boot Camp partition with Windows already installed.
With Parallels Desktop, you can switch between Mac and Windows without ever needing to reboot your computer.
If you have already installed Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, or Windows 7 on your Mac using Boot Camp, you can set Parallels Desktop to run Windows from the Boot Camp Partition or import Windows and your data from Boot Camp into Parallels Desktop as a new virtual machine.
To use Windows from Boot Camp, install Parallels Desktop and usethe Installation Assistant.
Play hundreds of Windows-exclusive games on a Mac using Parallels Desktop. Enable the Gaming profile to supply more RAM and CPU power to Windows for optimal performance and experience. Download a free 14-day trial of Parallels Desktop and find out if your desired game(s) are supported.
System requirements are available at https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/resources/.
Check out Parallels Desktop Business Edition.
Parallels offers exclusive discounts for students currently enrolled in a qualified institution or professional educators who are currently employed at a qualified institution. Educational discounts can save users up to 50%. Start by verifying eligibility.
Parallels Desktop Pro Edition offers the capabilities you know and love, plus it is packed with extra features, including:
- More Power — Parallels Desktop Pro Edition gives your virtual machines more processing power, up to 128 GB vRAM and 32 vCPUs per virtual machine on Intel-based Mac, and up to 62 GB vRAM and 18 vCPUs per virtual machine on Apple M-series Mac.
- VM Upload and Deployment — upload and deploy large VM files by converting a VM bundle into a single file.
- Command Line Interface — Use Command Line Interface tools to control Parallels Desktop and manage VMs, including their settings and configuration. Command Line interface also enables additional integrations like Vagrant.
- Visual Studio Plug-In — Develop software in one virtual machine and test in others, with just one click.
- Nested Virtualization Support* – Support is available for the following:
- VMware ESXi virtual machines
- Xen and kernel-based virtual machines in versions of Linux that support Xen and KV
- Android emulator for Visual Studio in Windows
- iPhone emulator for Visual Studio in Windows
- Xamarin. Android in Windows
- Android Studio in Windows
- Embarcadero RAD Studio in Windows
- Docker for Windows
- Microsoft Visual Studio + TwinCat 3 (experimental)
- Download Parallels Desktop for Mac.
- Open the downloaded file and double click "Install".
- Follow the installation process.
- Download and install Windows 11 via Installation Assistant, or skip to install other operating systems, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, or other Linux systems supported by Parallels Desktop. See all Guest Operating Systems.
Parallels offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases made on parallels.com. If you purchased from another retailer, please check their return policy.
User guides and resources can be found on our Technical Documentation and Resources page. Or visit Support.
Microsoft has confirmed that Parallels Desktop for Mac used with Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions is an officially compatible solution for customers on Apple M series Mac computers.
Users will be able to bring their own Windows 11 license keys if they have a key that can be used to activate Windows.
To learn more about any limitations running Windows 11 on Parallels Desktop, please visit https://kb.parallels.com/129497
System requirements
Run most applications such as Microsoft Office, accounting software, trading software, SAP, Matlab, and more.
Processor
Any Apple silicon chip
Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9, Intel Core M or Xeon processor
Memory
4 GB of RAM
Storage
600 MB for Parallels Desktop application installation
Additional disk space for the guest operating system (at least 16 GB is required for Windows OS)
Graphics
Apple M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips
Intel, AMD Radeon, or NVIDIA graphics cards
Operating system
macOS Sonoma 14.0 or newer
macOS Ventura 13.2 or newer
macOS Monterey 12.6 or newer
macOS Big Sur 11.7 or newer[1]
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 or newer[1]
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or newer[1]
[1] — the marked OS version is not supported by Parallels Desktop 19, and the product installer will set up an earlier product version; support of guest operating systems can be limited. It is recommended to update macOS if possible.
For graphics-intensive applications, high loads, and running multiple virtual machines.
Processor
Apple M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips
Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 or Xeon processor
Memory
16 GB of RAM or more
Storage
600 MB for Parallels Desktop application installation
Additional disk space for the guest operating system (at least 16 GB is required for Windows OS)
Graphics
Apple M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips
AMD Radeon Pro graphics card
Operating system
macOS Sonoma 14.0 or newer
macOS Ventura 13.2 or newer
macOS Monterey 12.6 or newer
macOS Big Sur 11.7 or newer[1]
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 or newer[1]
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or newer[1]
[1] — Product installer will setup an earlier product version; support of guest operating systems can be limited. It is recommended to update macOS if possible.
Supported guest operating systems
Supported guest operating systems (Mac with Apple silicon):
Only ARM versions of operating systems are supported.
- Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions (recommended)
- Ubuntu Linux 23.04, 22.04, 21.10, 21.04, 20.10, 20.04
- Fedora Workstation 38 and 37
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Debian GNU/Linux 11 and 10
- Kali Linux 2023.1, 2022.2, 2022.1, 2021.3
- macOS Monterey 12 (in-app download)
- macOS Ventura 13 (in-app download)
- macOS Sonoma 14 (in-app download)
Supported guest operating systems (Mac with Intel processors):
Only x86 versions of operating systems are supported.
- Windows 11 (recommended)
- Windows 10[1]
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
Note: To run legacy Windows OS versions (2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1), download and use Parallels Tools version 18.3.0. Learn more at https://kb.parallels.com/en/129252.
Parallels Desktop for Mac emulates PC hardware, so operating systems that are not present in this list can work as well. You can download the Parallels Desktop trial and install an operating system of your choice. If it doesn’t work and you believe it should be supported, let us know at Parallels Forum.
To learn more about limitations of running Windows 11 in Parallels Desktop, please visit KB 129497.
Parallels Tools for Linux require X Window System version 1.15-1.20 and Linux Kernel version 3.1-6.4-rc2.
Why buy from Parallels
Run thousands of Windows apps on your Mac without compromising on performance or rebooting.
