Parallels Access vs VNC Connect comparison

Parallels and RealVNC are both solutions in the Remote Access category. Parallels is ranked #12 with an average rating of 9.0, while RealVNC is ranked #17 with an average rating of 6.5. Additionally, 100% of Parallels users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of RealVNC users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Parallels Access and VNC Connect offer remote access solutions with notable differences. Users consider VNC Connect superior due to its advanced features and overall value.

Features: Parallels Access provides application-specific remote access, a seamless mobile experience, and easy setup. VNC Connect delivers high security, extensive compatibility, and stable connections. VNC Connect shines with advanced security features and broader device support.

Room for Improvement: Parallels Access users seek better session management and desktop functionality. VNC Connect users desire a more modern experience and quicker navigation. Users of both products have specific needs for enhancements.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Parallels Access offers straightforward installation and responsive support. VNC Connect, though more complex to set up, offsets this with detailed guides and reliable customer service. Thorough documentation mitigates deployment challenges, making VNC Connect efficient once configured.

Pricing and ROI: Parallels Access is noted for lower setup costs and favorable return on investment, suitable for budget-conscious users. VNC Connect, despite higher initial costs, provides substantial long-term value through comprehensive features, ensuring a strong return on investment, especially in large-scale deployments.

To learn more, read our detailed Parallels Access vs. VNC Connect Report (Updated: December 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Access vs. VNC Connect

December 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Intune

Featured Reviews

Gaurav Chandola

Senior Associate Specialist at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

We can manage all aspects of our devices from a single console, easy to scale, and quick to deploy

Intune has many benefits from the Microsoft perspective. This solution can manage Windows 10 devices, app management, and provide security solutions. We don't need to worry about our network connection, and we'll be more secure with regular security patches and compliance. Since everything will be deployed through the internet and users will log in using the internet only, the risks have been mitigated. Security updates, security patching, and the application will be targeted from Intune. The location tracker will be available to track where the device is and the user's location. The user will be restricted from accessing certain applications using compliance policies. Conditional access policies will be based on the reason why the user needs access to the application. Microsoft Intune is one of the best products in the industry for managing Windows devices. The solution has more feature restrictions. The conditional access policies also eliminate the dependency on the on-prem network for the devices. The solution also manages our security settings and a lot of other beneficial features such as Microsoft Purview which gives us the compliance portion. We can manage all aspects of our device from a single console, including M365 services. This allows us to configure data classification types, such as public, private, internal, confidential, and highly confidential.

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Binish Parikh

Vice President at ARK Infosolutions Pvt Ltd

Easy-to-deploy and good for small as well as large setups

There is room for improvement in the pricing policy. The price point is pretty aggressive. Since it is not very resource hungry, it doesn't require dedicated servers like high-end solutions do, so it's easier for customers to integrate it into their own solutions. In future releases, maybe more support for Macs and Unix so that customers with setups on those platforms can also benefit from the solutions.

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Jose Miguel Moya

SACTA Architect at MRInformatica

Easy to deploy, but scalability needs improvement

There are no specific challenges I faced while using the product. I haven't used the solution to support any AI-driven projects. In our company, we need to have remote access to our labs because if not, people have to move to the laboratory, and we will spend a lot of time working. I don't know the features of VNC Connect that improved our company's support capabilities. I rate the tool a six out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Intune's integration with Defender and other security solutions is valuable because it offers a view into different security vulnerabilities and enables us to secure them more effectively."

"If I assess Intune's user experience, I would say it is perfect and simple."

"The tool's most valuable feature is Autopilot."

"Intune enables us to manage our devices from anywhere."

"Conditional access has helped us tailor and enforce our security policies in the mobile space."

"The most valuable includes managing everything from a single console."

"Intune is flexible. If you want to move a device that was previously on-prem, we can bring it to the cloud and apply all the policies. This is helpful for even those organizations that were on-prem and not on the cloud. They can also come and use these features, which are pretty cool and would be handy to protect the data and manage the devices as well."

"The best feature is that we don't need to worry about downtime. We don't need to worry about the network connections of our office or the virtual private network. Everything is being done through the internet. Using Intune Autopilot, we can configure and deploy everything to the devices."

More Microsoft Intune pros

"We don't have problems with stability. Everything is good."

"Parallels Access has flexible licensing policies, which is beneficial for customers who have intermittent usage or users who are on and off the system."

"It's great that the total deployment can happen completely remotely."

"It's got a very easy-to-use interface."

"Parallels Access gives me full access and control of the computer, and I can do anything I want remotely."

"The product’s ease of use and security are valuable."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its ease of use."

"The most valuable features are that it is consistently low profile and consistently works without hiccups or headaches."

Cons

"If we could remote into a device, it would be great. Currently, we cannot directly connect to the user device. We have to use other tools such as VMware for connecting to devices."

"Data leak prevention can be integrated into it. Currently, it does not have data leak prevention."

"Microsoft Intune lacks the ability to provide seamless remote assistance or remote control."

"The security aspect could be more effective. We are using other applications to manage network devices and groups, so if Microsoft Intune could improve in this area, especially on a network level, it would be a real advantage."

"The solution could be improved by the opportunity to connect third-party application databases, such as Chocolatey or another setup store, to Intune."

"There should be more focus on mobile device security and integration."

"The time we have to wait to deploy policies has room for improvement."

"In future releases, I would like to see better integration with Apple products."

More Microsoft Intune cons

"They could improve the reporting."

"There is room for improvement in the pricing policy. The price point is pretty aggressive."

"The solution may not scale well for enterprises."

"One challenge we do notice is that the application is limited to Windows servers only. If a customer has a Linux server, things get complicated. They should open it up a bit to be more compatible with different types of servers."

"When you want to transfer a file from your iPad or remote device to the computer, the copy-and-paste feature doesn't always work."

"Ease of access is a bit of a challenge."

"Improvements are required in the area of scalability since it is an aspect of the tool where there are shortcomings."

"We occasionally have issues with the graphic software of the interface."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Microsoft's licensing is more flexible and adaptive than its competitors."

"Microsoft Intune is a cost effective choice. It is less expensive than other products on the market."

"Intune comes with the licensing that is common for large organizations. However, Microsoft has recently released many add-ons that are very expensive, especially for large organizations or corporations."

"The price is reasonable, but they should lower it a bit to make it more competitive. It's cheaper than AirWatch and other products, but I still feel like Microsoft can make a base version or with Exchange online or a la carte only Intune version which will be useful. A customer who doesn't want to go full-fledged E3 or E5 can take out or consume an Intune solution only for their purpose, and we want to target that customer."

"Microsoft Intune is expensive."

"This cost is approximately $30 USD per user per month."

"The solution is cost-efficient."

"The price of Intune is often included as part of a bundle with other Microsoft licenses, which makes it somewhat cheaper."

More Microsoft Intune pricing and cost advice

"The licensing costs are about $100 per user."

"The tool is not cheap."

"I use the tool's free version."

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824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

26%

Computer Software Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

14%

University

12%

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

33%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Marketing Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

How does Microsoft Intune compare with VMware Workspace One?

Microsoft Intune is a great tool for managing a mobile device fleet while keeping access control. The solution makes ...

See all answers

What are the pros and cons of Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a great configuration management tool and has a lot of good things going for it. Here are some of...

See all answers

How does Google Cloud Identity compare with Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune offers not only an easy-to-deploy data protection and productivity management solution, but also ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Parallels Access?

Parallels Access gives me full access and control of the computer, and I can do anything I want remotely.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Parallels Access?

It's around $125 per user per year. It is a one-time charge for installation and implementation, which is a small cos...

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What needs improvement with Parallels Access?

When you want to transfer a file from your iPad or remote device to the computer, the copy-and-paste feature doesn't ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with VNC Connect?

The bandwidth is slow. Improvements are required in the area of scalability since it is an aspect of the tool where t...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for VNC Connect?

I use the solution to get remote access to our labs.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering VNC Connect?

There are no specific challenges I faced while using the product. I haven't used the solution to support any AI-drive...

See all answers

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Compared 17% of the time

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 5% of the time

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Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs Parallels Access

Compared 58% of the time

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Compared 19% of the time

Splashtop Remote Support vs Parallels Access

Compared 8% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs Parallels Access

Compared 6% of the time

LogMeIn Pro vs Parallels Access

Compared 4% of the time

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Rocket Exceed TurboX vs VNC Connect

Compared 51% of the time

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Compared 15% of the time

Apache Guacamole vs VNC Connect

Compared 11% of the time

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs VNC Connect

Compared 5% of the time

TeamViewer vs VNC Connect

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Intune

December 2024

Download Microsoft Intune product report

Buyer's Guide

Remote Access

December 2024

Download Parallels Access product report

Buyer's Guide

Remote Access

December 2024

Download VNC Connect product report

Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager

No data available

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Microsoft

Parallels

RealVNC

Overview

Microsoft Intune is a comprehensive cloud-based service that allows you to remotely manage mobile devices and mobile applications without worrying about the security of your organization’s data. Device and app management can be used on company-owned devices as well as personal devices.

In an increasingly mobile workforce, Microsoft Intune keeps your sensitive data safe while on the move. Microsoft Intune makes it possible for your team members to work anywhere using their mobile devices. Microsoft Intune provides both the flexibility and the control needed for securing all your data on the cloud, no matter where the device with the data is located.

Microsoft Intune Device Management Key Features

With Microsoft Intune Device Management you can:

Ensure devices and apps are compliant with your security requirements.
Rapidly deploy and authenticate apps on all company devices.
Remotely access devices to troubleshoot issues or to remove data from them.
Generate reports for all devices in the system.
Monitor the way users access and share information to protect company information.
Set rules and configure settings on personal and organization-owned devices to access data and networks.
Create user groups and device groups, allowing you to rapidly access many users and devices simultaneously.

Mobile Application Management

Mobile application management in Intune is designed to protect your organization’s data at the application level.

With Microsoft Intune Application Management you can:

Configure apps to run with specific settings enabled.
Update existing apps that are already on the device.
See reports on which apps are used and monitor their usage.
Selectively wipe organization data from apps.
Add mobile apps to user groups and devices.

As part of Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite, Intune integrates with Microsoft Entra ID for access control and with Azure Information Protection for data protection. It also integrates with Microsoft 365 Applications.

Reviews from Real Users

Microsoft Intune stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its ability to secure all devices under its management and the flexibility that the solution offers its users.

A computing services manager notes, "Its security is most valuable. It gives us a way to secure devices, not only those that are steady. We do have a few tablets and other devices, and it is a way for us to secure these devices and manage them. We know they're out there and what's their status. We can manage their life cycle and verify that they're updated properly."

The head of IT engineering at a financial services company writes, "The one feature we find most useful is the Mobile Application Manager. There are two types: we have the complete MDM and the Mobile Application Manager (MAM). We don't give our users phones, it is their own personal phone, and we need to allow them to have access to the company details on their phone. We need to create a balance between their own personal data and the company data. We deploy the Mobile Application Manager for them so that we won't be able to interfere with their own personal data."

Parallels Access provides an efficient solution for remote computer access, catering to organizations seeking hardware resource conservation and centralized management. Enhanced productivity is achieved through seamless connectivity, particularly beneficial for CAD and ERP application remote access.

Utilized by businesses and academic institutions, Parallels Access offers robust remote access capabilities. The platform's publishing features enable application use without VPN, delivering high stability and usability for desktop mobile publishing. It supports Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, making it valuable for those needing remote control of computers via devices such as iPads and enhancing productivity for those unable to access their devices directly. System integrators and channel partners align with companies to provide comprehensive technical support for users requiring remote connectivity.

What are Parallels Access's features?

Ease of Use: Simplifies remote deployment and access.
Publishing Features: Access applications without needing a VPN.
Scalability: Start with 15 users and grow as needed.
Remote Control: Offers full computer access for users with physical limitations.

What benefits does Parallels Access offer?

Enhanced Productivity: Increased access for productive use away from physical device locations.
Resource Management: Optimal utilization of hardware resources.
Convenient Access: Stable and reliable functionality for direct application use.
Improved Collaboration: Technical support partnerships ensure smooth operations.

Parallels Access is implemented across industries like automotive and education, emphasizing remote access to specialized applications such as CAD. Due to its ease of use, it supports centralized management for businesses working with ERP systems. Challenges include improving compatibility with Linux, Macs, and Unix servers, tackling aggressive pricing, addressing scaling issues, and enhancing reporting for user satisfaction.

Intuitive remote control
Use the mouse and keyboard (or touchscreen) in front of you as though they belong to the remote computer.

Send special keys and combinations such as Ctrl-Alt-Del, and copy and paste text in either direction. Type in confidence that characters will be interpreted correctly, whatever your platform, keyboard or input language.

Tried and tested performance
As the original inventors of VNC® technology, we know how to create a responsive screen sharing experience that's as good as being there.

Our patent-protected technology automatically optimizes to the speed of your network, and is especially effective in low-bandwidth and high-latency environments.

Cross-platform support
PC to PC and mobile to PC across Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS and Android.

With an Enterprise subscription, you also get a key to install our VNC® 5.x software on a wide range of older and UNIX operating systems too, so your legacy hardware remains accessible.

Attended and unattended access
Connect whether remote computer owners are present or not.

Remotely access your own computers, monitor or patch equipment in the field, support customers or colleagues, and much more. Learn about the many ways our customers use VNC® Connect.

Direct and cloud connectivity
Our cloud service automatically brokers cloud connections between devices wherever they are.

So you don’t need to rely on a VPN, or conduct complex and insecure port-forwarding and firewall configuration.

With an Enterprise subscription, you can establish direct connections as well (or instead), perfect for locked down or offline network environments. For more information, start with our document cloud versus direct.

Pre-install or connect on demand
Add device access to your subscription, install VNC® Connect on every device you own or manage, and enable access by anyone at any time.

Alternatively, add instant support to your subscription and connect in seconds on demand, leaving no footprint. Or add both capabilities, and cover every remote access use case.

File transfer, printing and chat
During a session, you're not restricted to just interacting with the remote screen.

You can transfer files in either direction, print files directly to a printer where you are (rather than to a printer attached to the remote computer), and securely chat with other users connected at the same time as you.

Secure by design
VNC® Connect is built from the ground up with security in mind, to balance the control you need with the privacy that compliance requires.

Sessions are encrypted end-to-end using up to 256-bit AES encryption. Authentication is mandatory at the point of connection and never delegated to the cloud. Protect your computers with multi-factor authentication, single-sign on (SSO), granular access control and rich session permissions.

Multilingual support
VNC® Connect is available in French, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese as well as English, with more translations on the way.

Connect-Features-TeamManagement.png
Online team management
Manage remote computers, the people you invite into your team to share remote access with, and their roles and permissions from one central location.

Remote deployment
With an Enterprise subscription, you can deploy VNC® Connect in bulk, offline or remotely using your standard enterprise tooling.

In addition, you can configure VNC® Connect remotely using policy, and lock it down to prevent change.

Virtual desktops under Linux
With an Enterprise subscription, you can create virtual desktops on Linux computers.

This might be useful to enable visual remote access to headless Linux systems, or provide separate workspaces for simultaneous users of a shared resource.

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway

Gilt Groupe K.K.

Telesat Canada, St. Anthony's School, Pratt and Whitney, City of Sacramento

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Access vs. VNC Connect

December 2024

Free Report: Parallels Access vs. VNC Connect

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