If you have recently become a proud Mac owner, but you don’t want to say goodbye to Windows OS, our Parallels review will show you how to have the best of both worlds.
This software is an excellent way to run Windows apps on Mac. By creating a virtual machine or copy of your current Windows PC inside the Mac, Parallels allows you to use both Mac OS and Windows, run different apps, copy, paste, or drag objects between Mac and Windows, and more.
Even though it might seem complicated, Parallels software makes it happen. The program has so many features to offer and is equally as good as VMware fusion, a competing program. Our review covers what Parallels has to offer and shows you how it is possible to run Windows on Mac.
What Makes Parallels Stand Out
Parallels software is among the best in the industry. The company is a leader in cross-platform solutions and makes it simple for users to run applications and files on any operating system. Whether it’s Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, or Cloud, Parallel software helps bring OS preference to Mac users.
Pros
- File transfer is easy
- Smooth performance
- Offers separate section on desktop
- Easily configurable
- Responsive
- Quickly shares resources between host and VM
Cons
- Lacks support for some OSs
- May use a lot of RAM
- UI could be better
About Parallels
The Parallels company was founded in 2006 by Aleksey Kandikov and his team of tech experts. With headquarters in Washington, the company focuses on developing visualization software for Mac. Today, Parallels helps users run Windows and other operating systems on Mac and is a leader in the field.
Recent Parallels reviews show that the company recently became part of the Corel corporation and joined other industry-leading brands, such as WinZip and CorelDraw. It provides the following solutions for business and home users:
- Desktop for Mac
- Remote application server
- Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise
- Toolbox for Mac and Windows
- Parallels Access
- Mac Management for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)
Parallels Pricing Plans
If you want to test out Parallels and see if you’ll enjoy the software, you can proceed to download Parallels for Mac free trial. This version lasts for 14 days, giving you enough time to decide whether you want to upgrade.
The pricing plans are as follows:
For business:
Parallels Remote Application Server
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $99.99
- 2-year subscription: $189.99
- 3-year subscription: $269.99
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $99.99
Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $99.99
Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise
- Live demo available
Parallels Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM
- Live demo available
Parallels Access for Business
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $49.99
- 2-year subscription: $89.99
Parallels Access Business
- 1-year subscription: $49.99
- 2-year subscription: $89.99
How much Parallels costs for at home:
Parallels Desktop for Mac
- Free trial
- From $79.99
Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $19.99
Parallels Access
- Free trial
- 1-year subscription: $19.99
- 2-year subscription: $34.99
If you’re already using some type of subscription and want to upgrade to the Parallels Desktop 16 version, the upgrade is free. You’ll also get access to minor updates and phone or chat support, and the subscriptions are auto-renewable.
Based on another Parallels Desktop review, the cost was the main concern. While the software is worth it, many customers wanted to know whether they could make a one-time purchase or not.
With the one-time purchase option, the service is limited to minor updates. It provides a 30-day tele-support option, and you can contact them through email for up to 2 years.
Parallels also helps students save. If you or someone you know is a student and wants to use it, you’ll have to pass the verification via SheerID to access the discount.
It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no matter who you are.
Parallels Software for Mac: Main Features
Parallels software is the right one when you want to use additional operating systems on your Mac. Now, we’ll dive into all essential features and explore what it has to offer.
Flexibility
Parallels is a flexible software solution, meaning it works with various operating systems. It is compatible with:
- OS X
- Windows 10, 8.1, 7
- Linux
- macOS Server
Works with Boot Camp
If you want to reuse your existing Boot Camp installation, you can rest assured that Parallels will work with it. When it comes to Parallels vs. Bootcamp, the bootup time is quicker for Parallels and feels more like opening an app. On Boot Camp, it feels like starting up the system on a native device.
Office 365 Integration
With this feature, users can stay with a familiar interface and document the management features that they already know. Parallels allows Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to run in the native Windows Office environment.
Retina Display Support
Parallels allows for smart resizing and independent screen resolutions for separate displays. The retina display remains high in pixel density and provides excellent detail, improving the viewing experience.
One-Click Tuning
Parallels software for Mac lets users optimize their Desktop app. With one-click tuning, you can set this up instantly, with four VM profiles in Parallels’ Desktop software to help you do this.
The first profile is Productivity. It’s for users focused on office work, web browsing, movies, and those who need basic Windows apps, like MS Office. If you use this profile, the VM will assign 1 GB of memory, which is enough for the program to operate smoothly.
If you find yourself googling “is Parallels good for gaming?”, know that Parallels offers a Games Only profile for those that want to play on Mac. With this profile selected, the VM will have the maximum recommended memory, and your mouse and keyboard will be game-optimized automatically.
The Design Profile is for those who mainly work on CorelDraw, Photoshop, and 3D modeling software. Just like with Games Only, the VM will have the maximum memory, and the integration feature will help you save documents and projects directly onto your Mac.
Finally, the Software Development profile is for users who focus on web and app development. The Parallels Macbook will create a VM that has maximum memory with nested and PMU virtualization, and the startup view will be Windows.
Share Bluetooth Between Mac and Windows
Parallels lets you connect Bluetooth devices straight to Windows. First, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled. Then, pair devices with the computer, and they will work both on Mac and Windows.
Touch Bar Support
With Parallels, you can add various Windows applications to the Mac Touch Bar, enabling instant access and customization.
Multi-Monitor Support
Some users have raised questions on how to run Parallels on Mac and whether you can use it to show Windows on one monitor and Mac on another. Luckily, the software has multi-monitor support. To set this up, go to macOS Preferences, select Mission Control, and enable Displays Have Separate Spaces.
Configure Parallels VM to Full Screen and enable Use All Displays in Full Screen. Disable the Show and Hide Space on all Displays, start Windows, switch to Full Screen, and create a Mac space on your preferred monitor.
New Virtual Machine Wizard
The new VM wizard offers several installation modes that can help with Parallels performance. It doesn’t work with all operating systems, however. The installation modes are:
- Express Windows installation
- Typical installation
- Custom installation
- Default folders for VM
You can use one of these modes to improve the installation experience or configure it however you wish.
Share Folders and Files and Copy/Paste Text Between Mac and Windows
With Parallels, you can run Windows and Mac together, share folders and files, and copy and paste images, all without restarting the device. This feature works on MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini, or Mac Pro.
Disk Space Wizard
According to a past Parallels review, the Disk Space Wizard first came with Parallels Desktop 14, and it consolidates snapshots and can resume or close tasks and save disk space. With the Free Disk Space Wizard, you can also compress the VM hard disk and remove unnecessary files.
Share Mac Applications
This feature lets you access Windows apps from Mac and Mac apps from Windows, and it also works with Linux. It also allows you to:
- Open a file from Windows on Mac
- Enable sharing Windows applications
- Add a Windows app folder to the Dock
- Force quit Windows applications
Parallels Access
We will also include the Parallels Access feature in our review since it enables you to access your device remotely. With it, you’ll have 24/7 access to your files, folders, and applications, and you can use your phone or Parallels account to get to your device. Parallels’ unique technology helps you feel like all the apps are native to your iPhone or Android.
With Parallels Access Universal File Manager, you can store all your files on the cloud, remote computers, or local devices. Users say that the experience is excellent on the iPad mini, too.
Parallels Toolbox
Based on a review of the Parallels toolbox we read, this feature is an all-in-one solution that contains over 30 tools for Mac and Windows 10. It can save space on your hard drive, help you create content, optimize your computer for a presentation, and more.
With the archive, you can compress files, and with the Capture area, you can take a screenshot. Some of the other tools in the Toolbox are:
- Block camera
- Do Not Disturb
- Download audio
- Make GIF
- Lock screen
- Windows manager
- Windows on top
Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition
The Pro Edition has some extra features that can improve your experience. The Standard version of the software is optimized for BigSur, lets you customize the touch bar, and download and install Windows easily.
The Pro version can help you convert VM bundles to a single file for transfer, rename custom networks, and more. This edition also comes with 24/7 premium support.
Older Parallels Desktop Versions—What Changed?
Since this version of Parallels grounds on earlier editions, we’ll mention some older versions of the software that were the building blocks to what you see and use today. Starting with the Parallels Desktop 10 review, this software version gave users an option to configure their Windows installation. It introduced additional ways to interact, like adding shortcuts to Windows apps and Launchpad. With it, users could launch a Windows native app straight from the Mac interface.
Both systems could run fast, and the experience was improved. Parallels connected the two operating systems, which turned out to be the best way to try out Windows 10 on Mac.
The following version of the software, Parallels Desktop 12, showed why VMs are essential. The Parallels 12 review we saw showed that the best feature of Parallels 12 included tight integration with operating system images and trials. This version of the software was able to run Windows 7 and 8, although officially, Windows stopped the support.
The memory glitches with disk images stopped with Parallels for Desktop 12, and users could run as many VMs as they wanted as long as they had enough memory.
According to the Parallels desktop 13 review, the main issue was its price. It worked seamlessly and did a great job integrating Windows with Mac, but users found its price to be too high for what they got. Followed by Parallels 14 version, which enabled users to move to macOS Mojave Host, Parallels 13 also brought the Continuity Camera and new screenshot feature.
Parallels Desktop 15 could run without rebooting. It also introduced the following features:
- Support for DirectX 11
- More Mac integration points
- New virtualized hardware
- Performance increases
That is how the company got to the Parallels for Mac software we speak about in our review.
Parallels Customer Support
If you face any issues with this software, the Support Resources page can be of great assistance. If you can’t find a solution there, you can sign in to get in touch with customer support.
Parallels Desktop comes with 24/7 phone call, chat, and email support. Subscription licenses are available for the lifetime of the subscription. Perpetual licenses come with 30 days of phone and chat support, while email support is valid for two years since the product release date.
According to many Parallels reviews of customer support, users are happy with the service. What we love is the support activity on social media. For quick support links, you can contact the team via Facebook or Twitter or head over to the community forum.
Summary
Parallels is one of those companies that focuses on core functionality and makes the product better with each release. Its software lets you install and run many different operating systems on a Mac, and it’s suitable for multiple user categories, based on our Parallels review.
Parallels is used for Windows 10 and its apps most often. Set the desired profile, create a virtual machine, enjoy high flexibility, Office 365 integration, or even use Parallels Access to use your devices remotely via your phone.
Even though the software lacks support for some operating systems, could have a better UI and a more affordable price, the value it provides is enough to place it on the list of tools to check out if you don’t want to give up your favorite OS while using Mac.
People Also Ask
Many users might be worried about using Parallels on their Mac computer. Concerns of overburdening the device, reducing the lifespan of a MacBook, or making it prone to viruses are the most prominent but shouldn’t be a problem.
Parallels won’t do any damage to your device. It operates as a virtual machine, which means it’s the same as running any other program. If you have Windows OS installed, you will want to purchase antivirus software to keep the Windows installation secure. The good news is any virus that may infect Windows can’t infect your Mac.
If you’re a Mac user, your device is generally safe. While Macs can be hacked easier than Windows, they’re less prone to computer viruses. Using Parallels, however, and installing any other operating system on your Mac means you’ll have to secure that system separately.
Parallels is a legit and safe-to-use software. It’s been on the market for years, and Parallels Desktop for Mac has over seven million users. Still, it doesn’t contain antivirus software that can protect your Windows or Linux OS upon installation.
If you’re a Mac user and you’re worried about installing Parallels, know that it can’t do any harm to your device. It does just what it’s intended to do–help you keep your preferred operating system.
Parallels is among the best software solutions if you’re looking to run Mac OS and others on a Mac device. It doesn’t do any damage to the hardware, and it operates smoothly. This software is great for regular users. It’s fast, has a simple installation, and multiple options.
Upon downloading and installing Parallels for Mac, it will create a Virtual Machine (VM) inside your device. This VM is a copy of your current Windows PC on your Mac.
VM is a virtual environment that creates a computer inside of a computer. It runs on a separate partition with its CPU and RAM resources and another operating system. That’s why it’s easy to use Parallels. You can download it, and your Mac will be ready to store another OS inside without any issues.
Parallels has been on the market for a while, and it’s a completely legit and safe software to use. It doesn’t contain any malicious processes or viruses that could damage your device. It creates a virtual machine and helps you run other operating systems inside your Mac.
What you should be aware of is that the other OS might be vulnerable to attacks and viruses. Parallels doesn’t have any antivirus that can keep your newly installed OS safe, so it’s important that you download additional protection.
Parallels can be purchased one-time or with a subscription. If you go for a one-time purchase, you’ll have no free upgrades for future versions of the software. It does have minor updates and access to telephone and chat customer support for 30 days, though. Email support will be there for you for two years from your purchase.
If you decide on a subscription, you’ll have free access to updates. All you have to do is download a new version of the software from the official website. Phone or chat support will be there for you during the period of your subscription, and the subscription is auto-renewable.
You can purchase Parallels without the subscription, but the one-time purchase has its limitations. You won’t have access to the free upgrades from the official website. Customer support will only be available for 30 days (phone and chat). The email support lasts two years from the version release date.
You’ll also have access to minor upgrades, and your purchase has no expiration date. Do keep in mind that it is subject to an End-Of-Life Policy, meaning it has a set date after which you won’t be able to purchase additional upgrades. If you have read our Parallels review, it’s up to you to decide if you’ll buy Parallels or check out another software.
