Develop and test on Mac for Windows, Linux, and macOS simultaneously

It depends on what you are running. Standard Edition supports up to 8 GB of vRAM and 4 vCPUs per VM, which is enough for everyday Windows use such as Microsoft Office, browsers, and many business applications. Pro raises those limits to as much as 128 GB of vRAM and 32 vCPUs per VM on supported Mac hardware. It is the better fit if you work with applications such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or DaVinci Resolve, run several VMs at once, or use developer tools such as the Parallels CLI, Vagrant, and Jenkins. The maximum resources available depend on your Mac hardware, including whether you are using an Intel or Apple silicon Mac.

Pro Edition costs more than Standard Edition and is sold as a subscription. The higher price covers features aimed at developers and other demanding workloads, including higher VM resource limits, command-line tools, and advanced networking controls. Standard Edition is intended for everyday use and has lower CPU and memory limits. Check the Parallels Desktop buy page for current prices and purchase options.

QA engineers can maintain separate VMs for supported Windows versions, application builds, or specific test configurations on a single Mac. Snapshots make it easy to save a clean VM before testing and roll back to that state afterward, without rebuilding the environment. Pro’s higher resource limits can also help when QA engineers need to run multiple test VMs at the same time. On supported hardware, Pro can allocate substantially more resources to a VM than Standard’s 8 GB of vRAM and 4 vCPUs. For automated testing workflows, QA engineers can use the Parallels CLI and integrations with tools such as Jenkins and Vagrant to manage test environments without performing every step through the Parallels Desktop interface.

A Windows VM runs separately from macOS, but its access to the Mac and external networks depends on how the VM is configured. For development involving sensitive source code or test data, developers can restrict features such as shared folders and clipboard sharing to help keep that content within the VM. Parallels Desktop Pro also supports Shared, Bridged, and Host-Only networking. Host-Only networking keeps the VM off external networks while allowing it to communicate with the Mac and other VMs on the same host-only network. For projects with specific security or compliance requirements, developers should configure these controls according to their organization’s policies rather than relying on default VM settings.

Parallels Desktop Pro gives demanding Windows applications access to higher CPU and memory limits than Standard Edition. On supported hardware, a Pro VM can use up to 128 GB of vRAM and 32 vCPUs, compared with 8 GB and 4 vCPUs in Standard. Windows graphics are accelerated using the Mac's graphics hardware, which supports workflows in applications such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Revit. How well a particular project runs depends on the Mac and the workload. A large SolidWorks assembly or complex Revit model can require considerably more resources than a 2D AutoCAD drawing, so the application's name alone doesn't determine the hardware you'll need.

Yes. Parallels Desktop Pro can run supported Windows Server releases as virtual machines, including Windows Server 2019 and 2022. That gives developers a local environment for server-side development, configuration testing, Windows APIs, or lab setups without maintaining a separate physical server. Pro's higher CPU and memory limits are useful here, particularly if Windows Server needs to run alongside a Windows 11 or Linux development VM. Supported Windows Server versions vary by Mac hardware and processor architecture, so check the current Parallels guest OS compatibility information before setting up a particular release.

Network performance in a Windows VM can vary depending on the VM’s configuration, networking mode, and workload. Shared networking gives the VM network access through the Mac, while Bridged networking lets the VM appear as a separate device on the same network. Host-Only networking limits communication to the Mac and other VMs on the same host-only network, without access to external networks. Parallels Desktop Pro provides additional networking controls for developers who need to configure environments for API development, database testing, local web servers, or QA.

Shared folders let Windows tools access a development directory stored on macOS. A Git repository on the Mac, for example, can be opened from a Windows IDE without maintaining a second synchronized copy inside the VM. This works well when a project uses tools from both environments, such as Visual Studio or PowerShell in Windows alongside Terminal, Git, or other development tools on macOS. SSH is another option. Once an SSH server is configured in the guest OS, developers can connect to the Windows VM from Terminal on the Mac and keep more of the workflow on the command line.

Yes. Parallels Desktop Pro includes prlctl, a command-line tool for managing virtual machines from scripts. It can create, start, stop, suspend, delete, snapshot, and otherwise manage VMs without requiring each action to be performed through the desktop interface. That is useful for workflows built around Jenkins, Vagrant, shell scripts, or other automation. A QA job, for example, can start a known test environment, run work against the VM, and shut it down afterward.

Yes. Windows Terminal and PowerShell can run inside a Windows VM on your Mac, allowing you to use Windows-specific scripts and command-line tools while keeping macOS Terminal available for Mac-based tasks. You can also run Windows development tools such as Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Git inside the VM as needed. PowerShell networking and remoting capabilities depend on the VM’s network configuration and the systems it needs to access.

Yes. Pro can run multiple VMs simultaneously, so Windows 11 and a supported Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora can run on the same Mac. This is useful when a project needs Windows tooling alongside a Linux development or test environment. Pro's higher resource limits give multi-VM setups considerably more headroom than Standard Edition's maximum of 8 GB of vRAM and 4 vCPUs per VM. The number and size of VMs you can run comfortably still depend on the CPU and physical memory in your Mac.

Yes. You can set up a Windows VM in Parallels Desktop Pro and install AutoCAD inside it, giving you a dedicated Windows environment for your CAD work on a Mac. You can keep the VM set up with AutoCAD and the other Windows tools your workflow requires, rather than reconfiguring the environment each time. Pro gives the VM access to higher CPU and memory limits than Standard Edition, while supported Windows graphics workloads can use the Mac’s graphics hardware. The same VM-based approach can be used with other supported Windows CAD and engineering applications, such as Revit and SolidWorks. Resource needs vary by workload. Large 3D models can place greater demands on both the VM and Mac than everyday 2D drafting, so configure VM resources and choose Mac hardware based on the work you plan to do.

Pro lets you assign substantially more CPU and memory to a VM than Standard Edition. Standard tops out at 8 GB of vRAM and 4 vCPUs per VM, while Pro supports much higher allocations on compatible Mac hardware, reaching up to 128 GB of vRAM and 32 vCPUs. Those higher limits can help with workloads such as Visual Studio builds, AutoCAD or SolidWorks projects, DaVinci Resolve, local Windows Server environments, and running several development or QA VMs at once. Assigning the maximum isn't automatically the best configuration. macOS and your Mac applications still need resources, so VM settings should reflect the workload and the hardware available on the Mac.

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 all the capabilities you already 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 Mac with Apple silicon.
• 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 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

Learn more about Parallels Desktop Pro Edition.

Parallels offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all initial purchases made on parallels.com. If you purchased from another retailer, please check their return policy.

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 silicon 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

Parallels Desktop Pro is built for developers, QA testers, IT professionals, and power users who need more control, performance, and flexibility than the standard edition offers. It’s ideal for running multiple virtual machines, testing across operating systems, automating workflows, and handling resource-intensive workloads on Mac, including Apple Silicon systems.

Parallels Desktop Pro includes advanced features for developers and power users, such as support for running multiple VMs simultaneously, enhanced networking options, automation tools, and greater CPU/RAM allocation, that aren’t available in the Standard edition. In contrast, Parallels Desktop Standard is designed for everyday users who want an easy way to run Windows and other operating systems on a Mac without the performance tuning, development workflows, or enterprise-level management features found in Pro.

Yes. Parallels Desktop Pro supports Docker, Kubernetes, and DevOps workflows by giving you the performance, automation, and virtualization flexibility needed for local development and testing. With Pro, you can run and manage containerized environments, integrate with development tools, and build, test, or debug applications across multiple operating systems directly on your Mac. This makes it a strong choice for developers and engineers working with modern DevOps toolchains.

Yes, with Parallels Desktop Pro you can run multiple virtual machines simultaneously on your Mac, allocating more CPU and memory to each as needed. This makes it easier to test across different operating systems or configurations in parallel without constantly shutting down and restarting individual VMs.

Yes, you can upgrade from Parallels Desktop Standard to Parallels Desktop Pro by purchasing a Pro license and entering the new activation key in the app. Once upgraded, you’ll immediately unlock the additional performance, networking, and development features that Pro offers without needing to reinstall anything.

Parallels Desktop Pro is primarily offered as a subscription, which includes ongoing updates and access to Pro-only features for the duration of your plan. A one-time perpetual license is generally not available for the Pro edition, so if you want to keep using Pro and receive updates year after year, you’ll need to maintain an active subscription.