Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop

Price: €

If you are a Mac user, you must have thought about running Windows at least once due to the incompatibility of applications and games. Well, now you can do that effortlessly by using Parallels Desktop for Mac. With a great need for virtualization in both operating systems, Parallels saves the day and offers you the ability to use Windows on your Mac.

One of the oldest and most powerful

Parallels Desktop is one of the OG virtualization software on macOS. While there are other options available to install operating systems virtually on Mac machines, almost none are as good at what they do as Parallels is. When it comes to user-friendliness and ease of use, this is second to none.

When it comes to using Windows or other operating systems on your Mac, you would be doing it for the obvious reasons which can be to play games, use software that is unavailable or incompatible on Mac, or if you are a developer for Windows. Don't worry, everything is covered in Parallels Desktop in this regard.

Compatibility with operating systems

Parallels Desktop allows you to install and run the following operating systems virtually on your Mac:

• Windows
• Linux
• ChromeOS
• Android
• and many more

Setting up virtual operating systems in this application is fairly straightforward and automated. It doesn't require a lot of steps to install the OS you desire.

In case you want to install Windows, one of the most important features that Parallels Desktop offers is compatibility with DirectX and OpenGL. In case you didn't know, these are vital to running the most common games such as FarCry, and Call of Duty, and many applications such as AutoDesk 3DS.

Seamless integration with Windows

One of the standout features of Parallels Desktop is its excellent integration with Windows. Installing Windows is incredibly easy, as upon launching the application for the first time, it shows the Windows Installation Wizard, through which even a beginner can easily install the operating system.

But that's not it. Parallels Desktop takes it one step further by offering integration with hardware like Touch Bar for the Macbook Pro. Users can add apps from Windows to the Touch Bar and operate them directly. 

Another example of seamless integration is the Coherence Mode, which makes it feel like Windows is running directly on your Mac. All items on Windows will be opened in separate tabs like macOS usually does.

Pricing

While Parallels does offer a 14-day free trial for anyone, the pricing varies based on edition and requirements. For individuals, there is the option to go for a standard or a pro version. The standard version's price ranges from $74.99/year to $97.49 for a lifetime. The pro version is priced at $89.99/year and is not available for a lifetime purchase.

For businesses, there is the business edition which is priced at $149.99/year. There are special discounts for students, educators, government, military, and nonprofit organizations with discounts of up to 50%. 

In terms of differences between standard, pro, and business variants, the most prominent difference is the amount of VRAM, the speed and cores of vCPUs, and other intensive features.

Note: Prices may vary slightly depending on region.

Conclusion

As you know, using an OS that is not native to macOS requires great capability and virtualization. Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows and other OS on your Mac smoothly and efficiently.