Parallels Desktop Alternatives for Mac OS X

Looking for Parallels Desktop alternatives? We've curated 6 top alternatives that offer similar functionality. Whether you need Mac OS X options, free plans, or open source solutions, explore our comprehensive list to find the perfect fit for your needs.

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Categories:

Network & Admin OS & Utilities

Platforms:

Mac 0 Clear Filter

VirtualBox

Open Source

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. As an open-source, freely available software, it allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. This enables diverse use cases, from software development and testing to creating isolated environments for everyday tasks.

Key Features

Free and Open Source
Wide range of supported host and guest operating systems
Easy to install and use interface

vs Parallels Desktop

Free and Open Source compared to Parallels Desktop

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Wine

Open Source

Wine is an open-source compatibility layer that allows users to run Windows applications on various POSIX systems, such as Linux, macOS, and BSD. It translates Windows API calls into POSIX API calls in real-time, eliminating the need for a traditional virtual machine or emulator.

Key Features

Enables running numerous Windows applications on non-Windows OS.
Often offers near-native performance and lower resource usage than VMs.
Facilitates better integration with the host system.

vs Parallels Desktop

Enables running numerous Windows applications on non-Windows OS. compared to Parallels Desktop

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QEMU

Open Source

QEMU (Quick Emulator) is a versatile and powerful open-source hardware virtualizer and emulator. It allows you to run operating systems and programs designed for different architectures on your existing hardware. Acting as a hosted hypervisor, QEMU provides a virtual machine monitor for executing guest systems.

Key Features

Excellent cross-architecture emulation capabilities.
Highly flexible and configurable via command line.
Supports a wide range of guest operating systems and hardware.

vs Parallels Desktop

Excellent cross-architecture emulation capabilities. compared to Parallels Desktop

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VMware Fusion

Commercial

VMware Fusion is a powerful virtualization solution for macOS, enabling users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems side-by-side with macOS without rebooting. It's ideal for developers, IT professionals, and users needing broad OS compatibility.

Key Features

Excellent performance on compatible hardware.
Seamless integration with macOS (Unity mode).
Supports a wide range of guest operating systems.

vs Parallels Desktop

Excellent performance on compatible hardware. compared to Parallels Desktop

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CrossOver

Commercial

CrossOver is a compatibility layer allowing you to run thousands of Windows applications directly on your macOS or Linux operating system without the need for a Windows license or virtual machine. It provides a seamless experience for accessing your favorite Windows programs.

Key Features

No Windows license required saves cost.
Runs applications directly on your OS, no need for a full virtual machine.
Often provides better performance than virtualization for supported apps.

vs Parallels Desktop

No Windows license required saves cost. compared to Parallels Desktop

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Wineskin Winery

Open Source

Wineskin Winery is a macOS utility that leverages Wine to create 'wrappers' for running Windows applications and games. It simplifies the process of packaging Windows software into self-contained macOS bundles, allowing users to execute them directly on their Mac without needing a full Windows installation or virtual machine.