AnyDesk vs. Parallels Desktop for Mac

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
AnyDesk
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
AnyDesk Software in Stuttgart offers their eponymous remote desktop software, designed to provide resilient remote access even with poor network access.
$274.80
per year 1 licensed user with 3 login devices
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Parallels® Desktop for Mac is used to run Windows on Intel or Apple silicon. Users can switch between Mac and Windows applications, while retaining the macOS appearance, or use the familiar Windows desktop aesthetic.
$99.99
per year
Pricing
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Editions & Modules
Solo
$22.90
per month (billed annually) 1 licensed user with 3 login devices
Standard
$35.90
per month (billed annually) 20 licensed users in a team
Advanced
$79.90
per month (billed annually) 100 licensed users in a team
Enterprise
Custom
per year billed annually
Parallels Desktop Standard Edition
$99.99
per year
Mac App Store
$99.99
per year
Parallels Desktop Pro Edition
$119.99
per year
Parallels Desktop Business Edition
$149.99
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsAnyDesk is free for personal use and offers a limited set of features and support. Professional users need a license. Only the initiator of a session needs a license, participants are free.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Features
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Remote Administration
Comparison of Remote Administration features of Product A and Product B
AnyDesk
8.6
61 Ratings
9% above category average
Parallels Desktop for Mac
-
Ratings
Screen sharing9.459 Ratings00 Ratings
File transfer9.160 Ratings00 Ratings
Instant message8.753 Ratings00 Ratings
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication9.217 Ratings00 Ratings
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers7.142 Ratings00 Ratings
Over-the-Internet remote session8.957 Ratings00 Ratings
Initiate remote control from mobile8.349 Ratings00 Ratings
Remote management of servers & workstations8.846 Ratings00 Ratings
Remote Active Directory® management8.537 Ratings00 Ratings
Centralized management dashboard8.545 Ratings00 Ratings
Session record8.851 Ratings00 Ratings
Annotations7.643 Ratings00 Ratings
Monitoring and Alerts8.432 Ratings00 Ratings
Multi-platform remote control8.952 Ratings00 Ratings
Application Virtualization
Comparison of Application Virtualization features of Product A and Product B
AnyDesk
-
Ratings
Parallels Desktop for Mac
9.3
4 Ratings
19% above category average
Application support00 Ratings9.14 Ratings
Ease of deployment00 Ratings9.44 Ratings
Security00 Ratings9.44 Ratings
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AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
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Score 9.6 out of 10
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Score 9.1 out of 10
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Remote Desktop Manager
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Score 9.5 out of 10
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Remote Desktop Manager
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Score 9.5 out of 10
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Score 9.1 out of 10
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User Ratings
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(54 ratings)
9.4
(33 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.8
(5 ratings)
9.2
(3 ratings)
Usability
9.1
(31 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
Support Rating
8.5
(14 ratings)
9.0
(6 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Configurability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
AnyDeskParallels Desktop for Mac
Likelihood to Recommend
AnyDesk Software
Quick connection with pre-set clients, where you can connect with or without a password, and even turn on your computer if you have it configured that way. When connecting to multiple devices, managing several windows can be confusing when, in my opinion, it could be better managed by tabs with the connections listed sequentially for visual identification.
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Parallels
Parallels is great for an end user that is primarily a macOS user, but occasionally needs Windows access to a specific application or service that is Windows only, or Windows primarily. It obviates the need for multiple desktop units or remote VMs where spin up time is an issue. It is not quite perfect due to the ARM version of Windows requirement, but that particular case is common to all ARM use of Windows.
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Pros
AnyDesk Software
  • It allows you to troubleshoot and fix system issues remotely
  • It enables you to give online training and presentations to your team and record it for future use.
  • It enhances you remote support experience with advanced tools
  • It offers affordable remote support solution
  • It offers higher availability
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Parallels
  • The configurations & space allocations can be done on parallels.
  • It integrates very well with the Mac; copying/pasting and sharing files can be done between the two platforms - Windows/Mac.
  • It supports virtual machines, Touch-ID (which works on Mac and will work on Windows, too), and bridges the gap between two operating systems.
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Cons
AnyDesk Software
  • we should be able to connect from windows to iphone or ipad, it is now possible to connect to ipad or iphone. AnyDesk can work on this.
  • the field where we enter remote address should be more visible. New user cannot find where to enter the remote address that takes some time to connect. AnyDesk should change the placement of it.
  • If we can change the colour theme of the UI that will be an addon thing. when you daily use AnyDesk you get bored of the same UI.
  • Just like a Xmax UI. Any desk should constantly change somethings which makes the UI visually appealing.
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Parallels
  • Having to buy a new upgrade whenever Apple updates the OS with its yearly releases seems a bit excessive.
  • The integration features between Windows and Mac are enabled by default, which can clutter both sides; I would rather it was not default.
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Likelihood to Renew
AnyDesk Software
This is the best remote access tool to any pc/laptop/desktop. We can make sure that we are 24/7 monitored, connected and if any technical problem arises, there can be a solution remotely with the help of AnyDesk. As AnyDesk has a remote access tool, it is easy to show clients how to do simple technical tasks on their remote pc/laptop just by loggin in from abroad
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Parallels
Users are familiar with the application which will keep us going for a little while. However since we are seeing a decline for a need for the software, I wouldn't be surprised to find that this answer changes dramatically in the near future. We would probably keep it to some extent, but we would probably reduce our licensing count.
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Usability
AnyDesk Software
I would like to rate it 9 out of 10 stars because the software has significantly simplified the interaction process for us. Additionally, knowledge sharing and team support can be accomplished in just a few seconds through video conferencing and screen sharing. The physical movement of manpower has been minimised after installing this software in our business.
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Parallels
It has a good integration, including the connection of peripherals. Taking files back and forth works well and I can attach my Home drive as a network drive in Windows. There is even integration with iCloud and other macOS services. There are also a few different display modes which are useful and fleixible (coherence, windowed, full-screen with multiple screens)
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Support Rating
AnyDesk Software
I didn't have any technical problems and I didn't suffer from bugs or errors. Customer service has improved a lot and I no longer need to leave the office to go to the user's computer. With AnyDesk I install and remove programs, printers, scanners, settings in general. Screen sharing is excellent and without delays. Overall, I recommend and approve AnyDesk.
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Parallels
The Parallels documentation and support websites are great. I have not had much use for them, but a cursory check shows richly documented features aimed at both the layperson and the power user or software developer. Their website is well-designed and information is easy to find, and their list of known issues as well as bugfixes on point releases is clear and transparent. They aren't trying to hide any of the limitations of their software, and seem to be regularly updating it to fix new bugs that arise with Mac OS X updates.
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Implementation Rating
AnyDesk Software
Its easy to implement
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Parallels
The only advice I can provide is think about who is using the product and build the image based on the true needs of the user.
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Alternatives Considered
AnyDesk Software
Getscreen.me connects remotely directly from your browser, it's very convenient - no need to explain to customers what and how to install. Also, it has a very user-friendly interface. They also have all the necessary features for remote access (file sharing, WoL, black screen, session recording) and are significantly cheaper.
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Parallels
Main two features that made the balance decission go to the Parallels Desktop were the possibility to pause the Windows partition easily (allowing to consume less resources in Mac and save battery) and the other one is the user interface feature called "Coherence" with allows you to show the Windows application windows as if they were native to the macOS, allowing for a better user experience.
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Return on Investment
AnyDesk Software
  • It helps us reduce in-person visits, saving time and money.
  • Being able to serve more than one client at a time is very profitable because, whereas before it was one agent per client in person, now that everything is online, productivity is multiplied
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Parallels
  • Saves money on having to buy a Windows and MacBook, as the MacBook can run almost 99% of all Windows software and usually run it faster and share between your MacBook transparently.
  • Gives employers the most flexibility with regards to which OS to adopt across an enterprise
  • We are a media company and everyone uses Macs in our industry, Fortune 500 companies also use Windows and MS Project, Parallels gives you the most flexibility for almost all of these use cases
  • Improves efficiency as the MacBook Pro M3 systems are much faster than some of the fastest corporate issued Windows laptops. What takes me 3-10 seconds for a video export can take 5 minutes on a similar Windows laptop
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ScreenShots

Parallels Desktop for Mac Screenshots

Screenshot of Parallels Desktop running Windows applications, on a Mac.Screenshot of the ability to switch between operating systems without rebooting.Screenshot of Coherence Mode, which minimizes distraction.Screenshot of file sharing between Mac and Windows.Screenshot of application development and testing in Windows, Linux, and virtual macOS (Pro & Business Edition).Screenshot of license management in Parallels Desktop (Business Edition).