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Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    RDCMan

    Score7 out of 10
    N/ARDCMan, or Remote Desktop Connection Manager from Microsoft, is a utility for managing multiple remote desktop connections. Once shut down due to a vulnerability in version 2.7, RDCMan is now updated and part of the Sysinternals family of tools. The 2.8 release fixes CVE-2020-0765, the XML parsing vulnerability. As of May, 2025, RDCMan is in version 3.1.

    $0

    Parallels RAS

    Score9.6 out of 10
    N/AParallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS, formerly 2X RAS), is application virtualization technology, billed as a solution to extend the life of legacy OS (like Windows XP) with its virtual desktop for any device. Maltese company 2X Software developed the technology, but was acquired by Parallels (in Seattle, WA) in February, 2015 to extend their cross-platform support solutions.

    $120

    per year per user

    Pricing
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Considered Both Products
    Microsoft
    No answer on this topic
    Parallels
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) provides the finest end user experience while being cost-effective and reducing administrative and support man hours.
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Better overall
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Better support and higher speed than competitors
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Citrix Virtual App is a great product, but the rollout and management is significantly more complicated in our experience. We had Parallels Remote Application Server up in a day with no prep.
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    The greater visibility in reporting gives Parallels a huge advantage over standard RDP solutions. The backend interface loads quickly and starting/stopping logons to a server takes seconds not minutes. The Parallels application is easy to install and store user details …
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Parallels compared to just using Microsoft's straight built-in functionally to their Windows Server is simply a cost vs reward scenario. In other words, you can save a bunch of money not using Parallels and just using MS built-in functionally. However, it likely won't work as …
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    This is pretty simple to explain. Parallels is cheaper, easier to setup, easier to maintain, easier to learn and just as fast and robust as both Citrix and RDS. It scales significantly better and handles multiple farms much better than RDS and has a focus on high availability …
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Parallels RAS is easier to setup, use and mantain than other options I have tried. It really works and we had great reviews from our users on the trial period prior to fully deploy the solution across 3 cities. Parallels has a great visual presentation and excellent user …
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Parallels has more features and good administrator portal but is limited vs a dedicated vpn
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Citrix is at the same level , but Parallels is cheaper.
    Microsoft Connection Broker is not so stable and not at this level, Microsoft Universal Printing doesn't work as good as the Parallels solution.
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    To be honest, we thought of Parallels Remote Application Server as a poor man's Citrix. We went with it initially because it met the immediate need and was a lot cheaper, but that might not be a fair description considering the features provided. They've continued to add new …
    Incentivized
    Chose Parallels RAS
    Parallels Remote Application Server is easier for implementation and maintenance. Cheaper than Citrix.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    6 Answers
    97%
    Would buy again
    148 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    6 Answers
    99%
    Delivers good value for the price
    143 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    6 Answers
    99%
    Happy with the feature set
    150 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    129 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    145 Answers
    Features
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Remote Administration
    Comparison of Remote Administration features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) and Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
    Feature
    Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan)
    6.4
    6 Ratings
    21% below category average
    Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
    -
    Ratings
    Screen sharing7.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    File transfer5.36 Ratings00 Ratings
    Instant message1.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication5.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Access to sleeping/powered-off computers9.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Over-the-Internet remote session7.55 Ratings00 Ratings
    Initiate remote control from mobile5.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    Remote management of servers & workstations9.36 Ratings00 Ratings
    Remote Active Directory® management7.34 Ratings00 Ratings
    Centralized management dashboard8.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Session record4.93 Ratings00 Ratings
    Annotations4.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Monitoring and Alerts7.74 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-platform remote control8.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Small Businesses
    N-able Take Control
    Score7.2 out of 10
    VMware Fusion
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Remote Desktop Manager
    Score9.6 out of 10
    VMware Fusion
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
    Score9.1 out of 10
    VMware Workstation Player
    Score9.9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (6 ratings)
    9.7
    (154 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.5
    (24 ratings)
    Usability
    7.7
    (3 ratings)
    8.4
    (32 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    4.5
    (4 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.3
    (2 ratings)
    7.0
    (131 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (2 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.6
    (13 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (4 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    4.5
    (3 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (3 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    RDCManParallels RAS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Microsoft
    As a IT specialist we have some servers we need acces to. I like to use Remote Desktop Connection Manager because it feel like you are on the computer. Is feel very trusted. Some colleagues use the Azure remote desktop version but I always recommend the windows integrated option. We also have our primary business application running on a server so they use a remote desktop connection too to log on to the server.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    Scenarios where time is a factor in having a solution in place and up and running safely and securely. Where there are older devices that ordinarily wouldn't be up to the task of running modern apps and services. Where users need to work away from the network, and security is a concern.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Microsoft
    • I can see previews of all the machines working at the same time.
    • Having all password in one place.
    • Organization of devices based on purpose, configuration, etc.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    • The printing driver is quite excellent, both in the Parallels Client and on the HTML5 client.
    • Setup is incredibly easy; the default setup is very functional, and adding features is a breeze.
    • Speed is very acceptable in general for end-users, the clients adapt quite well to the amount of bandwidth available, and features are available to adjust further.
    • Automation through PowerShell is great.
    • Support is usually quite fast and efficient.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Microsoft
    • When trying to connect to a server/machine, and it doesn't connect, there is a "Disconnected" message that is displayed in the thumbnail. There is no information beyond this that explains why the server/machine did/could not connect. It would be helpful to the IT Administrator to know this information, even if Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) kept a log somewhere where this information can be analyzed.
    • There doesn't seem to be an option for connecting to a server that is usually only able to be accessed from a jump server. This will not connect if the server is set up as a server/machine within RDCman. This would be a beneficial feature to have within RDCman. Maybe one of the missing options is to be able to set this in the prospects for the jump server (within the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) window).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    • Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) continually improves the product but has broken some features recently. For example the web management portal lost the ability to manage user sessions after a major update. That issue was fixed in a later release
    • Multi-monitor support beyond 4 monitors (It does handle up to 4 -1080 monitors well)
    • More options around connection security and MFA. current options are sufficient but limited
    • We've noticed some performance issues with Windows Server 2019 and 2022. I'd like to see more robust support for remote applications running from those platforms.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    We have been using Parallels since it was called 2X - it is a major part of how we do business. It is fairly simple to use and maintain - staff like it, we like it. It is a product that makes a promise - and it keeps it. As Parallels evolves, and clean bandwidth becomes more readily available everywhere - it just makes sense to continue to use Parallels in our environment
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Microsoft
    As alluded to in previous responses it is a very functional tool. It allows me to do my job quickly and efficiently every single day. There are little to no issues using the connection on a day to day basis. It handles everything you need from a remote connection perspective.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    Parallels RAS was easy to setup, with great admin guides and resources. We especially liked the included Visio templates which made diagramming much easier. The reference deployment diagrams also simplified our deployment process. Our end users love Parallels RAS. Apps launch faster than Citrix, and the Parallels RAS client is far more reliable than Workspace.
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    If there are any issues with Parallels - they are usually more about the server operating systems than Parallels itself. It would be rare for us to have any reason to take Parallels offline - we schedule a reboot on the servers at 3am to keep the O/S itself fresh, but again - it is not a Parallels issue. If individual users have any issues we ask them to completely log out of parallels - which ends their session - and then back in - and that typically resolves the issue right away.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    I am giving Parallels 9/10 on this one because the only application that sometimes seems slow or has issues - is Microsoft Outlook. It is sometimes the result of a pop-up that may not show up in the published application (vs full desktop). Other than that - pages load very quickly - and it does not seem to slow down other applications that are running at the same time. Most of our users run Outlook, softphone and Teams locally - and published applications for everything else. When they do that - it is very solid.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Microsoft
    Plenty of information and support online, and with many things it's pretty straight forward for the average tech to navigate and work with. But with most things online you're not the only person that's had the issue before, and using a search engine you should be able to figure it out.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    Good support in place if required, very helpful when it comes to upgrades or any issues faced. The support team is knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to respond to issues The company also provides a range of online resources, including a
    knowledge base, documentation, and forums, which can be helpful before raising a ticket
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    Documentation is fair but sometimes a little difficult to follow
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    Overall, it was pretty simple compared to most other projects. Again, we had a strong familarity with the product so there was not much of a learning curve. Our 'biggest' issue is the end-user understanding of a 'local' application and a published application. For example - Online meetings need to run locally for camera/video to work smoothly so opening a link to a meeting from a published application continues to be an occasional issue.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Microsoft
    RDCMan outshines TeamViewer in every possible way. It’s fast, more reliable, and easier to use. I have had frequent crashes and issues when using TeamViewer, while none with RDCMan. Screen responsiveness also seems much better with RDCMan versus TeamViewer. I would often experience lag issues when using TeamViewer.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) provides the finest end user experience while being cost-effective and reducing administrative and support man hours.
    Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) is platform agnostic; it works with various kinds of devices (computers, phones, tablets) and several operating systems (Windows, Linux, Apple, etc.), allowing users to access it on gadgets of their choice.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Parallels
    We added our Integrated Services Staff to parallels, with filtered, published applications - in a single afternoon. We added licensing and installed the desktop client software on multiple platforms both in the office and at remote sites all on the same day - and got remote users that had never used the product up and running - very quickly.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Microsoft
    • its less time consuming for IT engineers because they have everything on one please
    • less FTE for the tasks
    • Lack of MFA option
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Parallels
    • Our customers have had dramatic cost decreases due to no longer needing IT departments to work with our software.
    • We've been able to charge more for our hosting services due to our customers saving money in the long run. Parallels Remote Application Server has more than paid for itself, and the increased income has gone right back into the business.
    • Both our customers and our company have benefited from this transition.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    RDCMan Screenshots

    Screenshot of a view of RDCMan 2.22Screenshot of a view of RDCMan 2.22Screenshot of a view of RDCMan 2.81

    Parallels RAS Screenshots

    Screenshot of the console interface, showing Parallels RAS' support for on-premises, private and public cloud providers, including Azure and AWS.Screenshot of the Parallels Web Client, which is accessible from any HTML5 browser or choose one of the many local clients.Screenshot of Parallels RAS' integration with MSIX app attach for modern, dynamic app delivery.Screenshot of Parallels RAS' support for multiple MFAs for security and flexibility.Screenshot of the integrated Let's Encrypt security certificates, to issue and manage certificates in Parallels RAS.Screenshot of expression-based filtering which makes it easier to set policies in the Parallels RAS.