Overview
What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels 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,…
A good fit for legacy applications
Easy to deploy and use, good end user experience
Parallels Remote Application Server - it just works.
easy and cost effective Solution for Home Office activities
Parallels RAS provides a cost effective user experience.
Easy to deploy and manage. Good end-user experience.
Very good product - poor sales and renewal experience
A great option for those looking to simplify deployment of their published applications.
Positive Experience
Parallels Remote Application Server is our go-to Citrix replacement because of it's easy implementation and security options (SAML)
Easy to use with great value
Robust remote desktop and connection.
Parallels RAS is the new age simplified application virtualization software
Progressive Platform for Remote Management.
Awards
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Reviewer Pros & Cons
Pricing
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $120 per year per user
Product Details
- About
- Integrations
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- Downloadables
- FAQs
What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is a remote work solution that provides secure virtual access to business applications and desktops on any device or OS—from anywhere. The platform offers an agile, cloud-ready foundation and end-to-end security fueled by a centralized management console with granular policies. Companies can leverage on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud deployments and integrate with existing technology like Microsoft Azure and AWS. Parallels RAS aims to give organizations the flexibility, scalability, and IT agility to adapt to changing business needs. Parallels RAS offers a single, full-featured licensing model that includes 24/7 support and access to product training. The vendor states its key benefits include:
- User experience—work from anywhere, on any device.
- Enhanced data security and compliance—centralized management console with granular policies.
- IT agility and business readiness—flexible hosting solutions to scale and adapt.
- Total cost of ownership—supports BYOD and includes a simple licensing model.
- Always-on support—access to 24/7 support and training at no additional cost.
Parallels RAS Features
- Supported: Advanced access controls: Secures corporate data with a client group policy in the Parallels RAS Console. Centrally manages and controls access by user, group, or device.
- Supported: Multifactor authentication: Requires users to authentication access via two-factor or smart card authentication. Parallels RAS also integrates with third-party security solutions.
- Supported: Encryption protocols: Parallels RAS Secure Gateway supports SSL and FIPS 140-2 encryption, helping organizations adhere to data compliance policies such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
- Supported: Centralized monitoring: Transforms raw data into custom visual reports to show traffic and resource usage from network infrastructure. Centrally monitors day-to-day user activities.
Parallels RAS Screenshots
Parallels RAS Videos
Parallels RAS Integrations
Parallels RAS Competitors
Parallels RAS Technical Details
Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
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Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, Mac, Windows Server 2008R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2022, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11 |
Mobile Application | Android, Mobile Web, iPadOS |
Supported Languages | English, German, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean |
Parallels RAS Downloadables
Frequently Asked Questions
Comparisons
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Reviews and Ratings
(240)Attribute Ratings
- 8.7Likelihood to Renew18 ratings
- 9.6Availability3 ratings
- 8.6Performance3 ratings
- 7.8Usability16 ratings
- 8.6Support Rating129 ratings
- 7.3Online Training2 ratings
- 8.5Implementation Rating9 ratings
- 8Configurability3 ratings
- 9.6Product Scalability2 ratings
- 9.4Ease of integration2 ratings
- 9.4Vendor pre-sale3 ratings
- 9.4Vendor post-sale3 ratings
Reviews
(1-5 of 5)Positive Experience
- Just much faster than standard Microsoft RDP
- Screen stopped freezing
- I don't see any for our usage
- For the money, it has been a great return on our investment
- We don't have many licenses so the ROI was quickly met
.
- RDP
- Quality System
- We have not tried any other uses
- We have not tried any other uses
- Other
- Implemented in-house
- I don't recall any issues.
- Remote Desktop
- I dont use it for anything else
- Printing from published applications.
- Easy to set up and keep running.
- We would like to be able to do what we do with Citrix published ICA files—essentially free-standing configurations that once ran function like a local application while they log in (in the background).
- Parallels is much less expensive than Citrix to purchase and maintain
- It allows us to leverage older technology by letting us run applications on thin clients.
- A more secure way to provide remote access for staff
- A predictable experience from any location
- Simple to support from remote location or on prem
- Compatibility across multiple platforms - including mobile.
- We have two applications that would not run on Windows 11 - legacy apps - that we now publish and run using parameters on our Parallels environment
- For the two or three users that don't want to use a Parallels environment - for their own reasons - we publish RDP to their local workstation on the LAN - so they can simply 'sit at their desk' via parallels.
- Parallels provided very quick and adaptive way to let workers go remote during the pandemic - with almost zero downtime.
- We are looking at full virtual desktops - VDI - that may make life simpler for some users
- We hope to publish Teams and support video calls/meetings at some point soon.
- Limited access for specific consultants and contractors via Parallels is on the radar - as opposed to direct access or VPN
- Price
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Third-party professional services
- Licensing (Microsoft more than Parallels)
- Publishing a lot more applications than we had previously - which was simple and smooth
- Addressing resolution problems for staff with multiple monitors.
- No Training
I would also like to see a bit more around resolution in the policies.
Having said that - the simple options on how to handle published applications and web links across multiple browsers - well, they are great.
That issue is of course not specific to Parallels.
- Published applications are very simple to set up
- Different browsers for different applications - very elegant
- Filtering published applications by group or user - for full client or HTML5 - super simple
- Supporting staff with questions about applications is easy.
- We wish that we could do a bit more with policies
- Sometimes the cause of an issue is not clear - for example resolution issues with multiple monitors - shows up as a network error (at least in the past)
The published applications make life simple for both the staff and for those of us who have to support them. Overall, it is the simplest way to give people the option to work remotely - and we have several staff who use it right here at their desk in the office as well.
- Published applications integration across multiple environments
- Not at this time
- Support for additional security
- Stability enhancements (although it was always very stable)
- Hoping to see more policy capability
- Support for local application shortcuts - that appear as published applications
Affordable product with optimal features
- Application distribution
- Support
- Ease of access
- Reporting
- Integration with AD groups
- User level permission setup
- Having to invest less in VMs
- Helped us come out of the Citrix server hold
- Easy migration
IT
Marketing
- Alternative product to high priced products
- Easy migration
- Ease of use and access
- Reports
- User history
- Legacy application distribution
- Mac book alternatives
- Price
- Product Features
- Implemented in-house
- The interface was new
- Change management of new interface
- App management
- Initial setup
- User management
- Managing old or legacy apps
- Allows Mac users to feel like they are working natively.
- Better usage on tablets or phones for Windows apps.
- Documentation is good but sometimes confusing.
- Installing certificates is difficult.
- Improves efficiency of staff.
- Improves morale.
- Remote Performance
- Mobile Application availibility
- Remote stability
- Making a mobile application out of a client server application
- Improving application performance through Great Firewall of China
- VDI
- Application Security
- Price
- Product Features
- Product Reputation
- Implemented in-house
- Understanding some of the complexities of the server setup as far as IP and gateways went
- Online training
- Remote Application Usage
- Printer Support
- Adding Applications
- Server Maintenance
- Aptean IntuitiveERP
- Microsoft Office
- Custom Reporting Tools
- Single Signon
- Better performance
- Better performance and security
Amazordinary
- Easy to deploy and manage.
- Simple licensing model.
- MSP cloud console to manage multi tenants.
- Partner with Google Cloud platform.
- Reduced the time of technical support.
- RAS Clients can work on low hardware specs and save the cost of hardware and OS upgrades.
- Citrix Virtual Apps (formerly XenApp) and Remote Desktop Services
- Virtualizing applications
- Secure RDP to local PCs
- publishing of legacy applications on newer OS
- Publishing applications from remote PCs
- Publish Folders and Files
- Virtualize Linux based applications
- Install RAS SGW, PUB, RDSH on Linux servers
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
- Prior Experience with the Product
- Vendor Reputation
- Implemented in-house
- Didn't face issues
- Online training
- Installing the system and adding roles
- Installing and configuring the HALB
- Publishing applications, Folders, etc...
- Filter based on MAC addresses
Same for licensing.
- None
- no