Solid easy to use VM product
Updated October 31, 2025

Solid easy to use VM product

Bruce Carter | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition

Overall Satisfaction with Parallels Desktop for Mac

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.

Pros

  • Immediate access to needed Windows apps
  • On demand Windows instance without needing to spin up a remote VM
  • Integrates access to both platforms in one unit
  • Easy to install and maintain
  • Central vendor console for licensing
  • Easily managed with existing enterprise tools

Cons

  • Configuration dialogs could use some embedded help
  • ARM incompatibility is sometimes a problem (this is more a Windows issue than Parallels)
  • USB passthrough is sometimes quirky
  • Capital budget savings due to not having to buy multiple machines or pay for a VM bank
  • Quick and easy in and out use.
  • Can be left running in more or less idle state in the background with minimal resource impact.
  • Locally portable.
  • Works without a high speed network connection
I would give it a 10 if it were not for the ARM constraints, which are not really Parallels' problem. It works well for everything that we need without any additional encumbrance, and is quite simple for the end user. It is easily deployed and managed with our device management systems. It is maintained and updated frequently, and has an embedded updating system. Overall, it meets the needs and is easy for everyone.
Parallels provides what we need at a reasonable cost. VMware was a bit pricier, and Parallels has more of a "Mac-like" feel for the application itself. UTM and Crossover were a bit too "hacker-ish" for basic end users that just want to pop in and out of windows when necessary. Parallels is well supported and easy to use. It is also heavily used in Higher Education, which gives us a peer audience to work with.

Do you think Parallels Desktop for Mac delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Parallels Desktop for Mac's feature set?

Yes

Did Parallels Desktop for Mac live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Parallels Desktop for Mac go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Parallels Desktop for Mac again?

Yes

1Password, BBEdit, CoPilot AI, FileZilla, Google Drive, Grammarly, macOS, Jamf Pro, Jamf Connect, Apple Keynote, ThreatDown, powered by Malwarebytes, Microsoft 365, Okta, OneDrive
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.

Parallels Desktop for Mac Feature Ratings

Application Virtualization
10.0
Application support
10
Ease of deployment
10
Security
10

Using Parallels Desktop for Mac

200 - Quite a wide variety. Many are faculty that need both macOS and Windows for their teaching or research. Many are administrative personnel that need occasional Windows access to enterprise services that are oriented toward or exclusively available on Windows. Some are support personnel that need quick access to either platform for troubleshooting.
4 - There are 4 system engineers, 2 macOS specialists and 2 Windows specialists, that share responsibility for making Parallels an easy to implement and use solution on campus. This is rolled in with other third level support tasks, so it is not at all a full time commitment of FTE's to this exclusively. Parallels requires minimal support after it has been installed and configured.
  • Access to Windows-only services and application
  • Reduction of capital budget
  • Quick switching between OS versions for support engineers
  • Ability to run beta software in an isolated VM
  • Portability
  • Containerization for beta tests
  • Isolation of potential malware for examination/research
  • Abililty to "test to destruction"
  • Rapid restore and rebuild
  • Instant rollback after testing installations
  • Multiplatform computer capabilities in lecterns
  • Custom test configurations
  • Capacity testing with various configurations
We are completely pleased with the ease of deployment and use with Parallels. It has proven to be reliable, and Parallels technical support is there when we need them. There is a large user audience online for peer consultations and discussions. In general, it is a functional and easily maintained utility which serves our needs.

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