Parallels Desktop vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) comparison

Parallels Desktop and Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) are both solutions in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category. Parallels Desktop is ranked #8, while Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is ranked #13. Parallels Desktop holds a 6.8% mindshare in VD, compared to Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)’s 2.9% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Parallels Desktop users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) users who would recommend it.

Parallels Desktop

Read 2 Parallels Desktop reviews

4,968 Views
4,968 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Parallels Remote Applicatio...

Read 25 Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) reviews

1,729 Views
1,643 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Remote Applicatio...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) and Parallels Desktop compete in the virtualization space, targeting different users. RAS appeals to businesses focusing on application access, while Desktop offers a virtual environment on Mac, excelling in features that users find valuable despite cost.

Features: RAS provides secure remote access, load balancing, and a seamless desktop experience, ideal for enterprises. Desktop offers flexibility to run Windows alongside macOS, ensuring robust integration and performance, catering to individuals with diverse needs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: RAS is designed for smooth enterprise-scale deployments with comprehensive support maintaining business flow. Desktop offers a user-friendly setup for personal use, supported by tailored customer service.

Pricing and ROI: RAS is known for cost-effective deployment with scalable resource management enhancing business ROI. Desktop requires higher investment but delivers strong ROI for individual cross-platform use.

To learn more, read our detailed Parallels Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Parallels Desktop

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

8th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Parallels Remote Applicatio...

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

13th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Virtualization (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category, the mindshare of Parallels Desktop is 6.8%, down from 15.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is 2.9%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Parallels Desktop	6.8%
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	2.9%
Other	90.3%

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Featured Reviews

Mark Hardy

Payments Architect at Self Employed

A great platform to develop interoperable code on

The decision to transition away from Intel chips to their silicon. They are processing, and there are many examples. Instead of not having a product to use for a while, they have just released it now. However, if you're seeking a product that is industry-ready regularly or has plans to make it so, considering the upcoming changes, I recommend trying out Parallels Desktop in beta. When you're only dealing with Windows, we do much in the Windows version, but it is not improving the Windows operating system. If you're hosting a Windows platform or another version of the machine, the code will have limitations. Windows is not a walled garden, with no significant volatility or instability. Windows is quite versatile. I never encountered intrusive ads or unused features, which is quite good. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Read full review

JohanSkibdahl

CEO at Etcetera Networks

Secure access across devices with cost-effective seamless integration

One valuable feature is the ability to securely use a wide range of devices to access the company's infrastructure. The inclusion of all necessary components, such as load balancer and gateways, in a monthly fee is also beneficial. In terms of Parallels Desktop, the coherence mode that allows Mac and Windows applications to run seamlessly side by side is highly regarded.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Parallels Desktop integrates seamlessly with macOS. It works better than VMware on Apple operating systems."

"I like how, with Parallels, you can either boot into Mac or Windows to get better control over the resources of the laptops since you're sharing the resources in dual mode."

"We use Cloudpaging to package and deploy the vast majority of our applications to our standard Windows 10 desktops. With the use of Parallels integration into Software2 AppsAnywhere hub, this means we can use the same packages to deliver Windows applications to almost any device - Windows, mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, Xbox One, PS4 - just by ticking a box."

"The most valuable feature is the ease with which you can publish applications to different groups of users, by integrating with Windows Active Directory."

"Valuable features include the ability to set up security groups for accessing certain apps, and the ability to add apps easily and centrally without touching the servers they’re hosted on."

"Ease of use in publishing apps and installing the agent. The Interface is fairly intuitive after some tinkering. Although I inherited the app only two-thirds deployed, I was able to complete the deployment and service it over the last year without referring to any documentation."

"It has allowed us to centralize the software location so we don't have to update the software client on 70 computers."

"We can provision the servers without the need for another third-party solution."

"Allows us to publish applications accessible by current-generation HTML5 browser or OS-specific client (Windows, Android, iOS), and it supports popular single sign-on and multi-factor authentication protocols."

"Setup was straightforward. Our particular use case involved an Active Directory forest involving two data centers and three domains. User authentication against Active Directory was the easiest to set up and validate of any application installed in the last three years."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) pros

Cons

"The biggest challenge is compatibility between VMware and Parallels because the two systems are incompatible. It can be challenging if you are switching between Windows and Mac. I recommend sticking with one product because there isn't good compatibility between the different products."

"There may have been some issues with device drivers on my Mac. Similarly, there are some issues with transferring data from Parallels to the Mac."

"Since I've been here less than a year, I have had to upgrade the system three times. The first time was the major upgrade but they have upgraded twice since, and I think that's too many times in that time span."

"It would be great if there were more sophisticated GPO templates/options."

"The solution's application virtualization feature needs improvement."

"It needs Windows scaling on Android/iOS devices. At present, the concept of delivering apps to Android and iOS devices is appealing, but the reality is the screen size on these devices is so small that, unless there is some scaling option, it is not really usable."

"We would like the ability to provide a popup message, such as a maintenance notification. That same notification on the Parallels client would be awesome."

"A web-based management interface for administration and reporting would be nice, instead of needing to log into a remote server."

"We use several gateways because access to our secret zone requires two-factor user authentication. It is a lot of hassle differentiating among users with or without two-factor. Of course, we could use two farms, but that would mean more management too."

"Opening a ticket should be available from the actual RAS console. It is cumbersome to go to a portal, hunt around for five minutes for a link to open a ticket, answer questions meant to direct you towards FAQs instead of live support, then fill out information (license #, version #, etc.) which could more easily be supplied by sending a ticket straight from the console with all of that information automatically specified."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"I think the new pricing is a little bit high. If the price was lower, we could use it for many more customers. If there was one improvement to be made to this product, it would be a small-business version, at a much lower price point."

"Just compare it to Citrix and you will see the value in it."

"Parallels is a cost effective alternative to Citrix."

"It is very affordable."

"Pricing is a little steep."

"The product is not expensive. I rate its pricing a three or four out of ten."

"Comparable performance to Citrix for our use case at a significantly lower cost. Pricing is clear and there are relatively few options or other pricing considerations when compared to similar products. Just be sure not to forget the Microsoft licensing that goes along with a Parallels deployment."

"The pricing has always been competitive, and the new SPLA licensing model works great for our business and clients."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

14%

Computer Software Company

12%

University

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

The pricing for Parallels RAS is straightforward with a monthly fee for a minimum of 15 licenses. For Parallels Desktop, it is a yearly cost of a couple of hundred euros. No additional fees for mai...

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What needs improvement with Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

A potential improvement could be reducing the dependency on Microsoft solutions for Parallels RAS. As for Parallels Desktop, there is nothing specific that needs improvement.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

The primary use case of Parallels is to offer it to customers as a hosted service. I help them to migrate from other solutions like VMware to Parallels RAS. I recommend it to companies that prefer ...

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Compared 18% of the time

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Compared 15% of the time

Amazon WorkSpaces vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle VDI vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

December 2025

Download Parallels Desktop product report

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

January 2026

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) report

Download Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Parallels RAS

Overview

Parallels Desktop optimizes the virtualization experience on Mac, catering to professionals needing dual OS capabilities for seamless integration.

Designed for Mac users seeking efficient virtualization, Parallels Desktop enables Windows applications to run alongside macOS without rebooting. It integrates smoothly with current workflows, offering robust performance and comprehensive connectivity, supporting diverse professional needs.

What are its key features?

Coherence Mode: Effortlessly blend Windows and macOS applications for a unified desktop experience.
Resource Allocation: Dynamic adjustment of CPU and RAM helps maintain performance based on your tasks.
Seamless Integration: Easily access Mac files from Windows applications, ensuring fluid cross-platform interactions.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Increased Productivity: Simultaneously run multiple operating systems, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
Enhanced Compatibility: Access various applications, broadening tool availability across platforms.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces costs by eliminating the need for additional hardware or separate setups.

Parallels Desktop transforms industry practices by enabling diverse sectors such as education and finance to optimize software use without disruptions. In education, it supports a wide range of applications needed for enhanced learning experiences. Financial firms utilize dual systems for versatile data management and analysis.

Parallels

ApplicationServer delivers applications, data and virtual desktops from a central location, providing continuous availability, resource-based load-balancing and complete network transparency.

Parallels

Sample Customers

Lytro, University of Washington, Slalom, Veeva Systems, Oklahoma Christian University

Arsari Group _ PT Netmarks Indonesia, Izhevsk Elektromekhanicheskiy Zavod (IEMZ) _ Kupol, Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, Fylde Borough Council, YARSTROYREZE LLC, VSK Insurance House, Melenkovsky District of Vladimirskaya Oblast, Sofrigam SA, Antenna International, KingsGate Community Church, Norwegian American Hospital, Island Hotels Group, Medway Council, Medway Council, Voices of September 11th, MacDonald Training Center, Kansas Childrenês Service League, Scope,Next Generation Clubs, WTC Communications, Opera Australia, HSE Integrated, Danier, Bridgwater College, Kern County Mental Health, Tony Tiendas, Spears Manufacturing, Managed Insurance Services Inc., Intuitive Medical Software, M.J. Soffe, Mazda Motors, Israel Military Industries (IMI), Telfair, Upic Solutions, Teleflora, Fisher & Company

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

December 2025

Free Report: Parallels Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

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