VirtualBox vs Parallels Desktop

Compare features, pricing, and capabilities to find which solution is best for your needs.

VirtualBox icon

VirtualBox

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. by Oracle

Open Source
Platforms: Mac OS X Windows Linux BSD Solaris
Screenshots:
Alternatives Details Website
VS
Parallels Desktop icon

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop for Mac enables users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems side-by-side with macOS without rebooting. It provides seamless integration and performance for various applications. by Parallels IP Holdings GmbH

Commercial
Platforms: Mac OS X
Screenshots:
Alternatives Details Website

Comparison Summary

VirtualBox and Parallels Desktop are both powerful solutions in their space. VirtualBox offers 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., while Parallels Desktop provides parallels desktop for mac enables users to run windows, linux, and other operating systems side-by-side with macos without rebooting. it provides seamless integration and performance for various applications.. Compare their features and pricing to find the best match for your needs.

Pros & Cons Comparison

VirtualBox

VirtualBox

Analysis & Comparison

Advantages

Free and Open Source
Wide range of supported host and guest operating systems
Easy to install and use interface
Excellent snapshot functionality
Active community support

Limitations

Performance can be less optimized than commercial alternatives for some workloads
Guest Additions installation is often required for optimal experience
Some advanced features require the separate Extension Pack (though free for personal use)
Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop

Analysis & Comparison

Advantages

Excellent performance for running virtual machines.
Seamless integration with macOS, including file sharing and Coherence mode.
Easy to set up and use.
Regularly updated for compatibility with new OS versions.
Supports a wide range of guest operating systems.

Limitations

Higher price point compared to some alternative virtualization options.
Can consume significant system resources depending on the virtual machine configuration and workload.

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