Parallels Desktop for Mac Reviews and Ratings

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We have some software that requires the Windows operating system for various enterprise activities. We used to put a separate PC on people's desks, then we moved to a bank of VMs that people could remote into, but with the release and support of Apple Silicon by Parallels, we are able to simply use a local virtual machine on macOS machines to simple and easily cover that intermittent need. This requirement covers several hundred endpoints and thus results in a fairly substantial savings of capital expenditures.

Likelihood to Recommend

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.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use Parallels Desktop for Mac to run Windows 10, allowing QuickBooks Desktop to run on my Mac. This allows other accounting professionals to use QBs in a format they are familiar with, versus QB for Mac. Creates efficiency and workflow.

Likelihood to Recommend

Parallels is super compelling for Apple-based businesses that require the Microsoft platform for certain functions and workflows. I have been using it for years.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use it to help facilitate my job in a windows environment. I'm able to have Parallels running windows - which then has my admin tools (which in most cases are built for Windows only). It makes it so I don't have to do RDPs to other desktops. Less windows equals more productivity.

Likelihood to Recommend

Using it to maintain a Windows network but while using a mac is the best of both worlds. It helps facilitate my work so I don't have to have 100 windows open, extra desktops running (windows RDP). I'm able to seamlessly navigate between windows and mac without breaking a stride.

Not so much a parallels knock but for the newer macs and parallels, you need to use Windows ARM, which is a version that doesn't support a lot of functions for windows (AD tools).

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Parallel is an excellent tool for using the Windows operating system on an iOS / Mac Machine. It is a breeze to use this tool. So many software programs are just for Windows and cannot be used on a Mac. With a dual operating system, we need to restart the machine and re-boot it in the windows on the Mac; with the Parallels, the problem is significantly resolved, as it just opens up inside the Mac like a regular program. It helps with coding, gaming, and other purposes.

Likelihood to Recommend

Parallels works just like a window or application on the Mac. Hence, it is beneficial to keep both OS versions hand in hand. Parallels is very useful when writing code for mobile/iOS applications. File sharing and paste functions are very easy to use. More than one machine can be taken on Parallels. It also integrates with Microsoft Intune. It can run other OS versions other than Windows.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use Parallels Desktop to access Windows on my Mac. There are eLearning and local government design applications that require the exclusive use of the Windows OS and this has helped me to not need to have two computers, but work on one machine with access to both operating systems. Additionally, on occasions there are colleagues who require support on their computers and I can replicate the problem they may have on the operating system they are running in a friendly and very fast way.

Likelihood to Recommend

It is appropriate when there are applications that only run on Windows and our computer is a Mac; for example, some online courseware or computer-assisted translation tools.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use Parallels Desktop to run applications on windows. There have been only a few times that Parallels has stopped and I have had to restart it, otherwise I can say that it has good performance and meets my needs for using Windows-based applications like Microsoft project.I liked the experience with Parallels.

Likelihood to Recommend

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Parallels solution simplifies the process of getting windows 11 on my Macbook pro! I have recently joined the Microsoft ISV program but to run windows 11 i needed to find a way to use windows 11 on my Macbook pro. I search online and i found Parallels, I was a skeptic at first but then i did some reach and attempted to download it by myself on other reddit user knowledge and NOTHING worked. I went back to Parallels & pulled the trigger. Needless to say I dont even use safari anymore! Microsofts edge provides coupons for every website i visit and if i want to switch back to Mac i just click on the bottom right of the screen to go back to Mac. Its like having two computers on 1 now thanks to Parallels. along with the platform the staff are great additions to their solution! they are extremely supportive as well as knowledgeable in not just their platform but the overall market in the software development industry! I highly recommend their solutions and their employees. I RARELY give 10 thumbs up but i'll give it to this team!

Likelihood to Recommend

Ive only had the solution for 2 months and i'am hooked and i have more to explore and learn about this solution as well as the other resources they have for me to utilize. I think it was pretty well developed with the user in mind the entire time!

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

In our team, we prefer using MacBooks for the vast majority of our work. However, there are a few things here and there that require us to work within a Windows environment. In these specific cases, we use Parallels Desktop to access a virtual Windows installation and use the software we need to get our work done efficiently all on one machine.

Likelihood to Recommend

From my perspective, Parallels Desktop is particularly well suited for users who need the flexibility of working within MacOS and Windows all on the same machine without relying on a remote desktop connection. Having the virtual environment fully contained on the machine frees you from relying on a stable internet connection or the availability of a remote machine. For those people who do depend on Windows primarily, then this will not offer as much of a benefit.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Parallels Desktop is used in our organization to allow Mac users to run Windows-only applications.

To support Internet Explorer 11 websites, we need to take into consideration the development and testing/validation of how our websites behave to customers when they have an Internet Explorer browser. This is the main use case that we use.

The other use case is to support some old Asp.net applications that needs certain versions of Windows, and with a majority of developers being Mac users, is the only option to do that.

Likelihood to Recommend

Scenarios where Parallels is great:

- test software across multiple platforms for Mac users, with a major focus on Windows

- have the possibility of running Windows-only applications when the user is a Mac user

- support old Windows applications in Windows legacy frameworks

Scenarios that are not the best scenario

- not suitable for most recent games

- do tasks that demand hardware performance, specially GPU

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Parallels are used to run VMs locally on MacBook developer machines - most commonly to run Windows applications or to check bugs and code pertaining to Windows from the standard-issued MacBooks. This is important as, while development productivity is highest using MacBooks, our customers are more often using the UI tools on Windows for authoring tasks.

Likelihood to Recommend

I often get asked, why not the "free" stuff (VirtualBox), and/or why not VMWare. VirtualBox, etc. are not as performant for interactive usage. I think they are fine for small applications, perhaps some enterprise app usage, but for developers, it's not good enough. VMWare has become too enterprisey and lacks some of the user-friendly stuff that Parallels focuses on. Ultimately, for developer types running OSes for deep tasks, Parallels is unrivaled.