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Parallels Desktop for Mac

Run Windows apps without rebooting.

$99.99
In English
4.0
Based on 1360 user rates

Parallels Desktop overview

Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows and Mac applications side by side. Choose your view to make Windows invisible while still using its applications, or keep the familiar Windows background and controls on your Mac.

Works with Boot Camp®
  • Reuse your existing Boot Camp installation. Converting a virtual machine from Boot Camp is now much easier and more intuitive than ever.
Not just for Windows
  • Run a wide array of operating systems including OS X, Windows 10, 8.1 & 7, Linux, and Google ChromeTM. You can run just about anything on your Mac!
One-click tuning
  • Select productivity, games, design, or development, and Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac will optimize your virtual machine settings and performance for you.
Robust Performance
  • Parallels Desktop Pro Edition gives your virtual machines more processing power. Up to 64 GB vRAM and 16 vCPUs per virtual machine lets you run even the most demanding applications with ease.
Business Class Software
  • Keep IT in control of end user licenses and Windows virtual machines with a Unified Volume License Key, centralized license management, and advanced security features available in Parallels Desktop Business Edition.

Compare Parallels Desktop Pro and Business Edition you can here.

What’s new in version 20.2.2

  • Parallels Desktop 20.2.2 (55879) update fixes a critical security issue that affects Intel Macs. We strongly recommend installing this update to ensure the stability and safety of your Mac.
View older Parallels Desktop versions

Parallels Desktop for Mac

$99.99
In English
Version 20.2.2

What users say about Parallels Desktop

Mr.Ash
By Mr.Ash on Jul 7 2021 for v.16.1.3

Value: 1.0

Since version 16 and MacOS Big Sur, Parallels Desktop no longer works properly. To be precise, network and Internet connections are no longer possible.

Customer support: 1.0

The worst point of all. Paralles' customer service doesn't seem to care about customer complaints. The Internet and the official support forums are full of the aforementioned errors and complaints, but the customer service offers no solutions to the problem. Even worse, they don't respond at all in the meantime.

Other user ratings:

Ease of use | 5.0
Features | 4.0
Reliability | 1.0
Write a detailed review about Parallels Desktop

What customer like

Design

What needs improvements

Value
Support
Bug fixing

Parallels Desktop qualities

Value
1.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
4.0
Reliability
1.0
Customer support
1.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.0

(748 Reviews of Parallels Desktop)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Solutionscts
Solutionscts
Feb 28 2025
20.2.2
0.0
Feb 28 2025
0.0
Version: 20.2.2
The folks at Parallels should be ashamed of how long it took them to release this security update! It was discovered and reported to them months ago and the failed to patch this (zero-day) critical security flaw in a timely manner. It wasn't until the flaw discoverer publicly published (with proof of concept) the flaw last week, did they do something about it months later. They left their customers exposed ..........!! Keep this in mind if you're considering this product.
ERNEST UNGUREANU
ERNEST UNGUREANU
Feb 28 2025
20.2.2
1.0
Feb 28 2025
1.0
Version: 20.2.2
Windoze ? Never...
Aargl
Aargl
Feb 15 2025
20.2.1
5.0
Feb 15 2025
5.0
Version: 20.2.1
I've replaced VMWare Fusion with Parallels Desktop, years ago, after carefully testing their speed and reliability — I can only talk about versions that run on 10.14 for the time being. VMWare Fusion remains better for Windows, but for the rest (MacOS, Android, Linux), definitively not. It's important to tinker settings values until you find the best ones (but the generally recommended "half of the CPU cores and half of the RAM" available in your computer work great).
warnergt
warnergt
Dec 20 2024
20.1.2
1.0
Dec 20 2024
1.0
Version: 20.1.2
I found out that Parallels Desktop for Mac connects to a Chinese website (parallels.cn) when you start it up. I posted a screen capture of this event on their forums and asked what was going on and I was immediately banned. What's going on, Parallels?!
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Oct 25 2024
20.1.0
5.0
Oct 25 2024
5.0
Version: 20.1.0
v20.1.1 is out. "This update for Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac 20.1.1 (55740) addresses overall stability and performance issues. • Fixes the issue that led to Parallels Desktop crashing when attempting to use Apple Writing Tools in Windows; • Fixes the virtual machine memory leak issue; • Resolves the issue that prevented Parallels Desktop from launching on Macs with Kaspersky Anti-Virus installed and configured in a certain way."
warnergt
warnergt
Dec 20 2024
20.1.2
1.0
Dec 20 2024
1.0
Version: 20.1.2
siroossetak
siroossetak
Jul 9 2023
18.3.0
2.0
Jul 9 2023
2.0
Version: 18.3.0
Edric1998
Edric1998
Sep 20 2022
18.0.0
5.0
Sep 20 2022
5.0
Version: 18.0.0
Aargl
Aargl
Aug 10 2022
18.0.0
5.0
Aug 10 2022
5.0
Version: 18.0.0
Drtyrell969
Drtyrell969
Mar 31 2022
17.1.1
5.0
Mar 31 2022
5.0
Version: 17.1.1
Mcr
Mcr
Dec 4 2021
17.1.1
2.0
Dec 4 2021
2.0
Version: 17.1.1
ismailov23
ismailov23
Sep 4 2021
17.0.0
5.0
Sep 4 2021
5.0
Version: 17.0.0
ERNEST UNGUREANU
ERNEST UNGUREANU
Jan 2 2021
1.0
Jan 2 2021
1.0
Version: null
dupap56
dupap56
Dec 7 2020
3.0
Dec 7 2020
3.0
Version: null
Solo68
Solo68
Dec 2 2020
4.0
Dec 2 2020
4.0
Version: null
PDBURSTEIN
PDBURSTEIN
Nov 28 2020
2.0
Nov 28 2020
2.0
Version: null
nasrshbool7
nasrshbool7
Oct 15 2020
1.0
Oct 15 2020
1.0
Version: null
Dualist
Dualist
May 30 2020
2.0
May 30 2020
2.0
Version: null
submitter2008
submitter2008
May 5 2020
4.0
May 5 2020
4.0
Version: null
selcukatay-1
selcukatay-1
Apr 6 2020
1.0
Apr 6 2020
1.0
Version: null
iLeopard
iLeopard
Mar 19 2020
4.0
Mar 19 2020
4.0
Version: null
bazlane
bazlane
Mar 11 2020
5.0
Mar 11 2020
5.0
Version: null
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Feb 21 2020
5.0
Feb 21 2020
5.0
Version: null
trickyboy
trickyboy
Dec 1 2019
4.0
Dec 1 2019
4.0
Version: null
ocean442
ocean442
Nov 6 2019
4.0
Nov 6 2019
4.0
Version: null
MarcoCarugati7711
MarcoCarugati7711
Jul 18 2019
1.0
Jul 18 2019
1.0
Version: null
Sixbillships
Sixbillships
Feb 15 2019
4.5
Feb 15 2019
4.5
Version: null
makareim
makareim
Jan 5 2019
5.0
Jan 5 2019
5.0
Version: null
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Jan 4 2019
5.0
Jan 4 2019
5.0
Version: null
mzbe
mzbe
Aug 26 2018
5.0
Aug 26 2018
5.0
Version: null
Radus
Radus
Jun 25 2018
5.0
Jun 25 2018
5.0
Version: null
ron-murray
ron-murray
Jan 5 2018
4.0
Jan 5 2018
4.0
Version: null
orhon
orhon
Nov 29 2017
3.0
Nov 29 2017
3.0
Version: null
mihailgarahin-cdo
mihailgarahin-cdo
Oct 18 2017
0.5
Oct 18 2017
0.5
Version: null
Agf-
Agf-
Oct 10 2017
2.0
Oct 10 2017
2.0
Version: null
Richard-Hallas
Richard-Hallas
Oct 10 2017
5.0
Oct 10 2017
5.0
Version: null
Mr_Mark
Mr_Mark
Oct 6 2017
0.5
Oct 6 2017
0.5
Version: null
CruzinCooler
CruzinCooler
Sep 14 2017
2.0
Sep 14 2017
2.0
Version: null
cig0
cig0
Sep 1 2017
0.5
Sep 1 2017
0.5
Version: null
Sylanel
Sylanel
Aug 24 2017
0.5
Aug 24 2017
0.5
Version: null
GorgeousGeorge
GorgeousGeorge
May 16 2017
5.0
May 16 2017
5.0
Version: null
joie-hadi-nata-tan
joie-hadi-nata-tan
Dec 11 2016
5.0
Dec 11 2016
5.0
Version: null
Macpenguin
Macpenguin
Nov 24 2016
1.0
Nov 24 2016
1.0
Version: null
svemelko
svemelko
Aug 27 2016
1.5
Aug 27 2016
1.5
Version: null
christopher-Slevin
christopher-Slevin
Aug 27 2016
2.0
Aug 27 2016
2.0
Version: null