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Parallels RAS

Parallels RAS

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,…

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Learn from top reviewers

A Solid Remote Desktop Services Alternative for User and Admin Quality of Life

Rating: 9 out of 10
April 28, 2025
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
We use Parallels Remote Application Server to allow organizational access to traditional and legacy Win32 style applications. This would include legacy ERP software, older Mic...
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Dennis Peabody
Engineer - Information Technology
Senior Network and Systems Engineer
PAC Worldwide
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)3 years of experience

Parallels delivers on our remote access needs

Rating: 10 out of 10
April 24, 2025
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Remote access to legacy server based applications is a real challenge that we were able to securely address using Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS). The perf...
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andrew knechel
Administrator - Information Technology
Director of Technology
Franklin Township Board of Education
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)5 years of experience

Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) - Solid and Easy to Use Application Delivery

Rating: 10 out of 10
March 12, 2025
Vetted ReviewVerified User
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) replaced Citrix in our organization as our primary application delivery and RDS service. We use the platform to provide lin...
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Verified user
Administrator
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)1 year of experience

Honest IT Review.

Rating: 9 out of 10
July 9, 2024
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
We use Parallels to help facilitate remote connections to URLs and applications only hosted on our intranet.
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Lee Buie
Engineer - Information Technology
Sr. Systems Engineer
Capitol Broadcasting Company
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)1 year of experience

Great Remote Access solution.

Rating: 10 out of 10
July 3, 2024
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
We use Parallels RAS to allow our staff to access school resources from home safely and securely. We replaced our outdated Microsoft Remote Desktop solution with Parallels RAS...
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Chris Little
Manager - Information Technology
IT Manager
West Derby School
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)3 years of experience
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

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Pricing

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Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.parallels.com/products/ras/…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $120 per year per user
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Product Details

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 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.Screenshot of the visual reporting in the Parallels RAS Management Console which is used to monitor and troubleshoot issues.

Parallels RAS Videos

This video shows how to deploy virtual apps and desktops via Parallels RAS in Azure by using Parallels RAS in the Azure Marketplace. This is a fast way to create a proof of concept (POC) or test environment.
This video demonstrates the steps an administrator takes within the Parallels RAS Console to successfully deliver services to end users via Amazon EC2.
Parallels RAS themes allow an organization to transform what the user sees when they access resources delivered via Parallels RAS. For example, custom branding (white labeling) can be applied, a custom URL can be set for the end user, and access can be locked down to specific ...
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MSIX app attach is an Azure Virtual Desktop feature. It provides application modernization, improves application lifecycle management, and reduces hardware footprint and IT management overhead by using fewer templates. Parallels RAS brings MSIX app attach technology to RDSH,...
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Automated certificate management with Let's Encrypt integration.
Parallels RAS includes cloud cost-reduction capabilities, including autoscaling, power management, and automated image optimization. Parallels RAS adds more cost-reduction measures by extending cost-saving capabilities to storage. When the virtual machine (VM) is not running...
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What is Parallels RAS

Parallels RAS Integrations

Parallels RAS Competitors

Parallels RAS Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Linux, Mac, Windows Server 2008R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2022, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11
Mobile ApplicationAndroid, Mobile Web, iPadOS
Supported LanguagesEnglish, German, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean

Parallels RAS Downloadables

Frequently Asked Questions

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, but was acquired by Parallels (in Seattle, WA) in February, 2015 to extend their cross-platform support solutions.

Parallels RAS starts at $120.

Citrix DaaS and Omnissa Horizon are common alternatives for Parallels RAS.

Reviewers rate Availability and Vendor pre-sale and Vendor post-sale highest, with a score of 9.1.

The most common users of Parallels RAS are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews From Top Reviewers

View all reviews
(1-5 of 153)

A Solid Remote Desktop Services Alternative for User and Admin Quality of Life

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized
April 28, 2025
DP
Dennis Peabody
Senior Network and Systems Engineer
PAC Worldwide (Packaging & Containers, 1001-5000 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
3 years of experience
Pros
  • High Visibility of Users, Sessions and Performance
  • Client is Easy to Install and Configure
  • Good HA Options, or Active Standy-by HA Option
  • Functionally Equivalent Web Interface for Management
Cons
  • Support beyond email is hard to get - typically it's sending log after log when a remote session would have solved it much faster
  • Need to perform a full Version Update every 18 months
  • iOS app does not support kerberos

Parallels delivers on our remote access needs

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
April 24, 2025
ak
andrew knechel
Director of Technology
Franklin Township Board of Education (Education Management, 501-1000 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
5 years of experience
Pros
  • allows remote access to legacy applications
  • allows access to applications built for one operating system from a different operating system
  • Increases performance for applications which struggle to perform properly over network hops
Cons
  • Parallels Remote Application Servers (Parallels RAS) does what we need in the way we need it so we see no need for improvement.

Great Remote Access solution.

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
July 03, 2024
CL
Chris Little
IT Manager
West Derby School (Education Management, 51-200 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
3 years of experience
Pros
  • Publishing resources.
  • Multi Factor Authentication.
  • Ease of navigation for users.
  • App stability.
Cons
  • nothing really.

Honest IT Review.

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized
July 09, 2024
LB
Lee Buie
Sr. Systems Engineer
Capitol Broadcasting Company (Entertainment, 501-1000 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)
1 year of experience
Pros
  • Sandboxed Browsing.
  • Remote PC Connections.
  • SAML Integration.
Cons
  • O365 becomes problematic due to tokens and can only be fixed by directly signing into the server. Passthrough MFA functions would be excellent.
  • Ability to open Office files that are shared in hosted files shared with locally installed PC applications.
  • The ability for PC client configuration updates once connected to the remote store would be nice.
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