F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Parallels Access comparison

F5 and Parallels are both solutions in the Remote Access category. F5 is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5, while Parallels is ranked #11 with an average rating of 9.0. F5 holds a 1.2% mindshare in VUS, compared to Parallels’s 2.0% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of F5 users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Parallels users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Parallels Access and F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) are two popular remote access solutions. Users are generally happier with Parallels Access in terms of pricing and support, but F5 BIG-IP APM is seen as the superior product due to its robust features and is considered worth the investment.

Features: Users appreciate Parallels Access for its seamless remote access capabilities and simplicity, whereas F5 BIG-IP APM is praised for its extensive and scalable management features and security functionalities. While Parallels Access is straightforward and easy to use, F5 BIG-IP APM provides more comprehensive security and policy management options, making it a better fit for larger, more complex environments.

Room for Improvement: Parallels Access users suggest enhancements in multi-monitor support and more advanced security features. On the other hand, F5 BIG-IP APM users seek improvements in its licensing complexity and wish for better integration capabilities with other software.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Parallels Access is praised for its quick and straightforward deployment process, along with responsive customer service. In contrast, F5 BIG-IP APM has a more complex deployment but offers extensive support for users requiring detailed configuration and customization.

Pricing and ROI: Parallels Access is generally viewed as more cost-effective with quicker ROI due to lower initial setup costs. Although F5 BIG-IP APM has a higher upfront cost, users perceive its extensive features and security enhancements as valuable for the investment, leading to substantial long-term ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Parallels Access Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Parallels Access

July 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

Microsoft Intune

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Remote Access category, the mindshare of Microsoft Intune is 9.9%, down from 10.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is 1.2%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Parallels Access is 2.0%, down from 2.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Remote Access

Featured Reviews

AkashKamble

Sr MacOS specialist engineer at Cyber24

Enables management of multiple operating systems with a single license

The best feature is that it's a Microsoft product, so if anything goes wrong, we get quick support for anything required. Remote system functionality allows us to sit anywhere and take control of any device via remote management. We can enhance security for clients' laptops with built-in Microsoft Defender, which is available with the Microsoft Intune license. We use it for reporting purposes through endpoint analytics. When pushing scripting, there are two types available: remediation script and reservation script. Through endpoint analytics, you can push defender policies to clients. It helps with reporting, inventory updates, and monitoring tenant status health.

Read full review

Ashish Kumar Rai

Associate Network Engineer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Offers remote access control, good GUI and easy to configure

I'd suggest improved documentation integration directly within the GUI. Right now, finding comprehensive documentation often requires going to external websites like the community portal. In the APM interface itself, they could add direct hyperlinks to relevant online documentation. This would provide easy access to admin guides and other resources when working within the GUI.

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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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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The initial setup is not overly complex or difficult."

"The Autopilot feature is fantastic. It is a Microsoft product, so it deals best with Microsoft operating systems, but it can integrate with iOS, Mac OS, Linux, and Android."

"Autopilot is the most valuable feature."

"The most valuable feature of Intune is the central dashboard for compliance and policy management."

"The most valuable features are the ones that make sure that the deployment is of a standard operating system and the Zero Touch deployment, which is very useful. This allows users to have an out of box experience."

"Microsoft Intune is easy to use, and it is able to enforce policies towards multiple devices. It is able to bring multiple classes of devices into the same security posture. I found that very useful."

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

"Technical support, in general, has been quite helpful."

More Microsoft Intune pros

"I rate the overall solution nine out of ten."

"The product allows us to create customized portals for your users."

"The tool is reliable and easy to configure."

"Stickiness is the most valuable feature of the product."

"I recommend F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) to others due to its reliability, and it is perceived as critical to security infrastructure."

"This is a product that is easy to install and integrate, and it is simple to use."

"The most valuable feature is the virtual IP creation. It's our most frequently used feature."

"In my opinion, the GUI is perfect with the configuration options provided. F5 BIG-IP has given customization options and policy configuration tools in the GUI. It's good and good enough to work."

More F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) pros

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

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

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

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

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

Cons

"In terms of the admin experience, it is straightforward, but the Windows enrollment experience could be improved. Sometimes, for enrollment, we have to reset devices and re-enroll them. Just configuring Windows, Azure, or Active Directory doesn't enroll the devices. We need easy enrollment for Windows."

"Intune lags all of its competitors in terms of report generation."

"Sometimes, customers compare it with AirWatch, but the concept of Intune is different from other solutions. It's an application management app. It gets a bit difficult to explain it to customers, but it's not a product limitation. It takes a presale document or presentation to explain it to customers."

"There is room for improvement in the reporting capabilities, specifically app reporting. It is challenging to report which apps are installed on which device."

"Intune should improve the management of non-Microsoft devices. It would be better to manage Mac, Android, and other non-Microsoft operating system devices within the same Intune interface."

"The reporting dashboard is really limited."

"Intune could be enhanced by automating application upgrades, similar to how it automates operating system upgrades."

"It would be nice to have a location tracker for the mobile device management tool. I'm not sure if it exists but hasn't been configured or if it's missing, but we've been unable to utilize the location features."

More Microsoft Intune cons

"F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager has room for improvement in integration with other products."

"I have had a lot of issues in the past few months with the agents, which was disappointing."

"F5 BIG-IP APM disconnects when you leave it for long enough, but that is natural for IT solutions to do. That's a little bit frustrating."

"Regarding price, I'm not directly involved in purchasing, but our CIO thinks the product is very expensive. He's considering moving from the tool to Citrix NetScaler WAF because it's cheaper, and we already have Citrix for VDI. We got NetScaler almost free as part of our VDI deal. Three years ago, I convinced him to use the solution because it's better, but now, with budget constraints, he may want to switch."

"The solution’s GUI looks very old."

"We do not have knowledgeable support teams locally."

"In my opinion, the GUI side needs some improvement based on my usage. Sometimes, it doesn't work as efficiently as the CLI side."

"The solution is quite costly."

More F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) cons

"They could improve the reporting."

"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."

"The solution may not scale well for enterprises."

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

"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."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"If you're ever going to buy an Office 365 environment, then pricing is reasonable given all that it does, but if you're not, then you might find the pricing expensive."

"As a partner, we always look for how we can generate more revenue from a consulting point of view, but I do not see any complaints from the customer side regarding pricing, so they are satisfied with it."

"Cost is not my department, but the product is included in the E5 license that we already pay for every user, so no additional cost is incurred."

"It is not a cheap solution. The price for a device when you start using it at a large scale can be improved. It is covered under our enterprise agreement. We pay once a year. I am not aware of any additional costs."

"Intune is inexpensive. It also comes bundled in some Office 365 licenses, so you can choose to purchase it separately or as a package."

"Microsoft Intune is reasonably priced for large organizations that already have Microsoft Enterprise licenses, but it is less affordable for smaller businesses."

"Every customer used to purchase licenses based on their needs."

More Microsoft Intune pricing and cost advice

"The product is very expensive."

"The tool is a little bit expensive."

"Recently, they have simplified the licensing"

"I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

University

14%

Computer Software Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

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...

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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 ...

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What do you like most about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?

In my opinion, the GUI is perfect with the configuration options provided. F5 BIG-IP has given customization options ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?

F5 products are more expensive than other solutions but are valued for their quality and reliability, akin to purchas...

See all answers

What needs improvement with F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM ( /categories/application-performance-monitoring-apm-and-observability )) does n...

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 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 is your primary use case for Parallels Access?

Parallels Access is an amazing product and a total game changer. The solution allows me to access and operate my comp...

See all answers

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Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Intune

August 2025

Download Microsoft Intune product report

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

August 2025

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) report

Download F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) product report

Buyer's Guide

Remote Access

August 2025

Download Parallels Access product report

Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager

F5 Access Policy Manager

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Intune provides centralized management of mobile devices and applications, ensuring security, compliance, and productivity through integration with Microsoft services like Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory.

Organizations use Intune for managing mobile devices and applications, enhancing security and compliance across platforms. With features like single sign-on, conditional access, and zero-touch deployment via Autopilot, it facilitates efficient operations. Intune's scalability, easy enrollment, and capabilities such as remote wipe support diverse device management, offering robust data protection and efficient operation. Despite its features, improvement areas include reporting, compatibility with non-Microsoft devices, and better support for macOS and Linux devices.

What are the key features of Microsoft Intune?

Seamless Integration: Works with Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory, and System Center for streamlined management.
Conditional Access: Enhances security with policies that restrict access based on conditions.
Autopilot: Provides zero-touch deployment for setting up new devices efficiently.
Mobile Device Management: Enables control over both personal and corporate devices.
Application Deployment: Facilitates app delivery across a range of devices.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Centralized Management: Reduces complexity by managing devices and applications in one place.
Security Enhancement: Protects data with features like remote wipe and compliance monitoring.
Improved Productivity: Enhances efficiency with seamless integration and automation features.
Device Scalability: Supports diverse device management for growing business needs.

In industries such as finance, healthcare, and education, Microsoft Intune is implemented to ensure secure and compliant device management. Companies leverage its capabilities to deploy security policies and manage both corporate-owned and BYOD environments, facilitating a unified approach to data protection and compliance.

Microsoft

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is an access management proxy solution for managing global access to the enterprise networks, cloud providers, applications, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Through a single management interface, BIG-IP APM consolidates remote, mobile, network, virtual, and web access.

BIG-IP APM can also serve as a bridge between modern and classic authentication and authorization protocols and methods. For applications which are unable to support modern authentication and authorization protocols, like SAML and OAuth with OIDC, but which do support classic authentication methods, BIG-IP APM converts user credentials to the appropriate authentication standard supported by the application.

BIG-IP APM Benefits:

Ease of use
Flexibility
Ability to integrate with other systems
Security features
Granular access control
Responsive and helpful support team

BIG-IP APM Features:

Support for Identity Aware Proxy (IAP) enabling Zero Trust application access
Context-based authorization with dynamic L4/L7 ACLs
Integration with third-party MFA solutions
DTLS 2.0 mode for delivering and securing applications
SAML 2.0 identity federation support
Support for OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol
SSO support for classic authentication (Kerberos, header- based, etc.), credential caching, OAuth 2.0, SAML 2.0, and FIDO2 (U2F)
AAA server authentication and high-availability
Integration with leading IAM vendor products (Microsoft, Okta, Ping Identity)
BIG IP Edge Client and F5 Access integrate with VMware Horizon ONE (AirWatch), Microsoft Intune and IBM MaaS360
Risk-based access leveraging third-party UEBA and risk engines (HTTP Connector)

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by BIG-IP APM users.

Mahmmoud Rabie, Senior Site Reliability Engineer, writes that BIG-IP APM is "A highly stable solution for load balancing, but the initial setup is complex."

Clyde Livingston, Senior Process Specialist at Telstra, says that BIG-IP APM is "Easy to use, useful access remotely, but lacking stability."

Chris Lam, Senior Solution Consultant at Macroview Telecom Limited, states that BIG-IP APM is "Useful for remote access VPN and VPI integration with VMware.

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.

Parallels

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway

City Bank, Ricacorp Properties, Miele, American Systems, Bangladesh Post Office

Gilt Groupe K.K.

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Parallels Access

July 2025

Free Report: F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Parallels Access

Find out what your peers are saying about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Parallels Access and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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