Parallels Review | Vetteroo

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What it is: Run Windows on a Mac with virtual machines
Best for: Mac users who need full Windows apps
Price: Standard $99.99/yr; one-time $219.99, checked October 28, 2026
Prices checked: October 28, 2026

We researched Parallels's official pricing, plan terms, product pages, help documentation and Trustpilot profile. We haven't used Parallels ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.

Who it’s best for

Mac users who need Windows-only apps.
Developers testing across operating systems.
Businesses managing many Macs.

Who should skip it

Probably not the best fit if you only need one or two Windows apps and no full Windows install, where CrossOver may be enough.

How it works day to day

This part draws on Parallels’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 28, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Parallels ourselves.

Day to day, you open Windows apps next to Mac apps, share files between them and switch with a click.

Key features in use

Windows virtual machines.
3D acceleration (DirectX and OpenGL).
Command line and developer tools on Pro.
Central license management on Business.
Secure Boot and virtual TPM support.

Setup and learning curve

You install Parallels, download Windows and activate it with your license.

Integrations

Jamf and Intune deployment on Business.

Support

Unlimited phone and email support for subscribers, plus 24/7 chat.

Real-world use cases

An accountant runs Windows-only tax software.
A developer tests a web app in Edge on Windows.
An IT team rolls out Windows VMs to staff Macs.

What it costs

Prices checked October 28, 2026, from Parallels’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.

Standard: $99.99 a year. Pro: $119.99 a year. Business: $149.99 a year.
Standard is also sold as a one-time (non-subscription) license for $219.99.
Parallels' buy page didn't show US prices to our checker on October 28, 2026; the prices above come from Parallels' own announcement and TidBITS coverage. A discount showed only in Canadian dollars on our check, so we haven't listed it.
A Windows license is not included.
30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases.

What we like

Runs full Windows alongside macOS.
Microsoft authorizes it for Windows 11 on Apple silicon Macs.
Phone and email support with subscriptions.
30-day money-back guarantee.

What to watch for

Trustpilot showed 1.6 out of 5 from about 1,800 reviews as of October 28, 2026.
You must buy a Windows license separately.
Pro and Business are subscription only.

The fine print

Version 27 requires an Apple silicon Mac; Intel Macs stay on version 26.
Each license covers one Mac.
One-time licenses get support for 30 days, and major upgrades cost extra.

The main alternative: CrossOver

CrossOver runs many Windows apps on Mac and Linux without a Windows license or full Windows install.

Pick ParallelsReviewed by Vetteroo if you…

need full Windows.
run graphics-heavy Windows apps.
manage Macs for a team.

Pick CrossOver if you…

need just a few Windows apps.
don't want to buy Windows.

Our take

Parallels is the most polished way to run full Windows on a Mac, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You still need a Windows license, and outside reviews are poor. If you need only a few apps, compare CrossOver.

Side by side

Company	Best for	Starting price	Trial / refund
Parallels Reviewed by Vetteroo	Mac users who need full Windows apps	Standard $99.99/yr; one-time $219.99, checked October 28, 2026	30-day money-back guarantee
CrossOver

From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.

What we checked

Parallels's pricing page and plan terms, read October 28, 2026
Parallels's Trustpilot profile, read October 28, 2026
CrossOver's details: read on CodeWeavers' official store page, October 28, 2026
The other official pages listed under Sources (links checked October 28, 2026)

Sources

Visit Parallels’s official site

How we review

We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.