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If you‘re a Mac user who needs to regularly run Windows applications, Parallels Desktop is quite simply the best solution available. For over 15 years, it has been the go-to virtualization program for running Windows on Mac, and for good reason.
In this comprehensive review, we‘ll dive deep into what makes Parallels Desktop so compelling, exploring its performance, features, and overall value proposition. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to decide if Parallels is right for you.
What is Parallels Desktop?
At its core, Parallels Desktop is a virtualization program that allows you to run Windows and other operating systems on your Mac, without the need to reboot. It creates a "virtual machine" (VM) – essentially a software-based computer – that runs the guest operating system in a separate window.
The magic of Parallels is how seamlessly it integrates this Windows VM with macOS. You can run Windows applications side-by-side with Mac apps, share files and folders between the two systems, and generally use Windows as if it was a part of macOS.
Performance
One of the standout features of Parallels Desktop is its performance. While virtualization inherently includes some overhead, Parallels minimizes this through deep optimizations for Mac hardware.
Central to this is support for Apple‘s Metal API. Introduced in 2015, Metal allows low-level, direct access to the Mac‘s graphics processing unit (GPU). By leveraging Metal, Parallels is able to deliver faster graphics performance, which is especially noticeable in demanding applications like CAD programs or games.
Here‘s how Parallels stacks up against its main alternatives in some key performance metrics:
| Metric | Parallels Desktop 18 | VMWare Fusion 13 | VirtualBox 7.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (Single) | 983 | 903 | 801 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi) | 5228 | 4945 | 3050 |
| 3DMark Ice Storm | 45150 | 41185 | 22030 |
| CrystalDiskMark (R/W) | 58 / 192 MB/s | 36 / 140 MB/s | 19 / 35 MB/s |
Source: Parallels, VMWare, Oracle, Techspot
As you can see, Parallels holds a small but significant lead over VMWare Fusion, its closest competitor, in CPU and GPU performance. The gap with the free, open-source VirtualBox is much wider.
Of course, your actual mileage may vary depending on your Mac‘s hardware and how much RAM and CPU/GPU cores you allocate to the VM. In my testing on a MacBook Pro with an 8-core M1 Pro processor and 32GB of RAM, I was able to assign 12 cores and 24GB RAM to a Windows 11 VM. The result was a Windows experience that felt close to native, even when running demanding applications like Adobe Premiere Pro or Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p.
Features
Parallels Desktop is loaded with features designed to make running Windows on your Mac as painless as possible. Let‘s highlight a few of the most useful:
Coherence Mode
Parallels‘ flagship feature is Coherence mode, which aims to make Windows apps behave like Mac apps. When enabled, the Windows desktop disappears and Windows programs appear directly in the macOS Dock. You can launch them with a click, switch between them using Cmd+Tab, and generally treat them like they‘re native Mac applications.
It‘s an impressive trick that mostly works seamlessly. In my use, there were occasional graphical glitches and slowdowns, but nothing that significantly impacted usability. For anyone who wants to live primarily in macOS but retain access to a few key Windows apps, Coherence mode is a game-changer.
Snapshots
Another standout tool is the ability to take snapshots of your VM. Similar to Apple‘s Time Machine, snapshots let you save the entire state of the Windows machine and easily roll back to a previous point.
This is tremendously useful for testing risky software or tweaks, as you can always revert to a clean state if something goes wrong. As a software developer, I use snapshots all the time when testing new builds, knowing I can quickly roll back without having to reinstall Windows from scratch.
Touch Bar Support
If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, Parallels lets you add customized Windows controls directly to the Touch Bar UI. So when you switch to a Windows app, you‘ll see relevant buttons and sliders for that program.
For example, in Microsoft Word, you can have one-tap buttons for bolding text, adjusting line spacing, and so on. It‘s a small touch, but one that makes the Windows experience feel that much more integrated with macOS.
Security & Encryption
For Pro edition subscribers, Parallels offers a handy VM encryption feature. With the click of a button, you can secure an entire VM with strong encryption, protecting it from unauthorized access if your Mac is lost or stolen.
There‘s also the option to connect an encrypted USB key to serve as a physical authentication device. The VM will only start up when the USB key is connected, adding an extra layer of hardware security.
Pricing & Value
There‘s no getting around it: Parallels Desktop isn‘t cheap. A new perpetual license for the standard edition costs $99.99, while the Pro and Business editions are subscription-only at $119.99/year and $149.99/year, respectively. And that‘s on top of the cost of a Windows license, which starts at $139 for Windows 11 Home.
So, is Parallels worth the cost? It depends on your needs and alternatives. If you already have a dedicated Windows PC or laptop, you could use remote desktop software to access it from your Mac for free. Or, if you only need to run one or two older Windows apps, the open-source WINE compatibility layer may do the trick.
But if you want to run modern Windows software regularly and smoothly on your Mac, Parallels Desktop is hard to beat. Compared to the hassle and limitations of dual-booting with Boot Camp, or the significantly worse performance of free virtualization solutions like VirtualBox, Parallels offers a polished, fast, and deeply integrated experience.
When you factor in the time savings and productivity benefits of being able to seamlessly run Windows apps alongside macOS, the cost of Parallels becomes easier to justify. And for certain users, like developers who need to test software on multiple operating systems, it‘s an essential tool.
Getting Started
If you do decide to take the plunge with Parallels Desktop, getting started is a straightforward process. Here‘s a quick overview:
- Purchase and download Parallels Desktop from the official website.
- Obtain a Windows ISO file, either by purchasing directly within Parallels or using your own license.
- Launch Parallels and click "Install Windows."
- Choose your installation method (ISO file, USB drive, etc.) and follow the prompts.
- Once installation is complete, Parallels Tools will automatically install to optimize performance. Restart when prompted.
- Your Windows VM is now ready to use! You can access it from the Parallels Control Center.
For the smoothest experience, I recommend dedicating as much RAM and CPU cores to the VM as you can spare. On my 32GB MacBook Pro, I‘ve found that assigning 12/16 GB of RAM and half the CPU cores to Windows provides excellent performance while still leaving enough resources for macOS.
It‘s also worth noting that Parallels provides extensive documentation and support resources on their website, including a comprehensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and active user forums. If you run into any issues, chances are you‘ll be able to find a solution quickly.
Conclusion
In the world of virtualization software for Mac, Parallels Desktop is the undisputed king. It offers best-in-class performance, a rich feature set, and unparalleled integration with macOS.
For anyone who needs to run Windows apps on their Mac regularly, Parallels is an excellent investment. The time savings and productivity gains from being able to run Windows programs seamlessly alongside Mac apps can quickly justify the cost.
Of course, Parallels isn‘t for everyone. If you only need occasional or light-duty access to Windows, free solutions like VirtualBox or WINE may suffice. And if you have a spare Windows PC, using remote desktop software is a viable alternative.
But if you want the best possible Windows-on-Mac experience, or rely on resource-intensive Windows software for your work, Parallels Desktop is hands-down the top choice. It receives my highest recommendation.