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Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) vs. Parallels Desktop for Mac

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Microsoft App-V

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft App-V supports the virtualization of applications, making them available to end users without an installation.N/A

    Parallels Desktop for Mac

    Score8.6 out of 10
    N/AParallels® 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
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    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
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Considered Both Products
    Microsoft
    No answer on this topic
    Parallels
    Chose Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Parallels makes running other operating systems on your Mac user friendly and not have the hassle of some of the server use cases. VMware is the closest competitor I use occationally but for the most part Parallels is what I use for the majority of the time.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Would buy again
    25 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    24 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Happy with the feature set
    25 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    22 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    23 Answers
    Features
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Application Virtualization
    Comparison of Application Virtualization features of Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) and Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Feature
    Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)
    7.6
    3 Ratings
    1% below category average
    Parallels Desktop for Mac
    9.1
    5 Ratings
    17% above category average
    Application support6.03 Ratings9.25 Ratings
    Device support8.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Ease of deployment10.03 Ratings9.35 Ratings
    Application packaging8.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Security6.03 Ratings8.85 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Small Businesses
    Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Score8.6 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Score8.6 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    Parallels Desktop for Mac
    Score8.6 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (3 ratings)
    8.8
    (35 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.8
    (5 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.6
    (7 ratings)
    Support Rating
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (4 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Microsoft App-VParallels Desktop for Mac
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Microsoft
    Using Microsoft Teams for small or large meetings is a great way to communicate and collaborate. Microsoft Application Virtualization is a terrific tool for presenting and sharing information, and its storage capacity is also excellent. Installing and centrally administering specialized apps to control who has access to it is one of the features I value most about this software. It also provides a separate UI for tracking the app's accesses. This program is not suitable for freelancers or clients that operate alone.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Microsoft
    • Install Software based on AD group assignment
    • Safely and quickly uninstall from devices
    • Updating is a bit more difficult but manageable.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Microsoft
    • Unfortunately it will be replaced by MSIX
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    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)
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Microsoft
    APP-V is no longer a supported technology and is on the way out, only on legacy support at this time. The changes in security emphasis in windows, as well as the changes in software development have meant that APP-V is no longer able to correctly package software. It has been superseded by the MSIX format and distribution via the Microsoft Store for Business.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Microsoft
    Microsoft Teams is included in our current Office 365 product set; therefore, there is no additional fee to use the application. It saves our company money by not having to pay for Slack or another internal chat service. For us, Microsoft Teams has a better user experience and product features. Teams' usability is higher than Slack's since it has access to OneDrive, email, and OneNote applications. Screen sharing, chat, and file-sharing operate smoothly, and the performance appears great.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Microsoft
    • Some applications may be slower
    • Interaction between several applications can be better
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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).