Parallels Desktop vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Parallels Desktop and Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) are both solutions in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category. Parallels Desktop is ranked #7, while Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is ranked #14. Parallels Desktop holds a 3.5% mindshare in VD, compared to Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)’s 3.5% 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

4,405 Views
4,361 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Parallels Remote Applicatio...

Read 25 Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) reviews

3,572 Views
3,286 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: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

September 2026

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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)

7th

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)

14th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Virtualization (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category, the mindshare of Parallels Desktop is 3.5%, down from 11.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is 3.5%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Parallels Desktop	3.5%
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	3.5%
Other	93.0%

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."

"Ease of use in publishing apps and installing the agent; the interface is fairly intuitive after some tinkering, and 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."

"Thank you 2X for such a great product that makes my work much easier!"

"It provides flexible access to Windows applications from many types of devices."

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

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

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

"It has been much easier to manage and has provided us with faster performance than Citrix."

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

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) pros

Cons

"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."

"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."

"The main thing that I would improve is their presence here in Mexico. They don't have strong local support here in Mexico."

"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."

"Generally, it is a very good solution. The main thing that I would improve is their presence here in Mexico. They don't have strong local support here in Mexico. They should have a worldwide presence so that we don't have to do everything through the people in the US. The initial setup was a little bit complex because we were migrating from Citrix. For customers who are migrating from another platform like VMware or Citrix, it would be great if they can provide an automated migration solution."

"We have had significant, ongoing issues with printing. It would be great to have a best practice for dealing with printing that we can offer to our customers."

"I would rate my experience with tech support as "middling" - difficult to open a ticket, and support is located on the opposite side of the world, so schedules don't mesh."

"We would like to be able to re-label the OTP (One Time Password) popup so our users can easily recognize that they are to put in their DUO code on that line. Most users see OTP and ask what that is."

"HALB is not stable in our environment. When running two HALBs we have stability problems, so we use an active one and a passive for backup. Also, it would be nice to implement an upgrade of the environment without having to stop the servers. As it is, this must be done during off-hours."

"If the solution crashes, then all the customers connected through that agent, lose their session."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

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

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

"I recommend testing Parallels and comparing it to your needs. Compare the prices against what you are able to do with the product and its alternatives. Parallels is not a cheap product."

"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."

"It is not that high. It is in the medium range. Of course, it could be lower, but the price is not the issue."

"It is inexpensive compared to one of its competitors."

"Work with the vendor, as this is a fairly new product and they want use cases. Deals can be made."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

15%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

University

10%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

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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 ...

See all answers

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 13% of the time

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VMware Workstation vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

September 2026

Download Parallels Desktop product report

Buyer's Guide

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

September 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

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) offers efficient remote application and desktop delivery across diverse devices, providing businesses with easy management and robust performance, ensuring stable and secure access.

RAS simplifies remote access through its user-friendly design, encompassing app publishing, device compatibility, and management capabilities. Users benefit from its HTML 5 Client convenience and impressive speed. With features like security groups and client compatibility, RAS excels in providing a stable and flexible environment. Its scalability across platforms and affordability makes it attractive for many organizations. However, areas such as printing stability, customization, and performance monitoring could benefit from further enhancements.

What are the key features of Parallels RAS?

App Publishing: Provides simple and efficient application distribution across devices.
Device Compatibility: Supports devices including Macs, Windows, and Android.
HTML 5 Client: Enables convenient access via web browsers.
Security: Incorporates security groups and robust measures.
Integration: Compatible with platforms including Windows RDS and VMware.

What benefits do users gain from Parallels RAS?

Ease of Use: Simplifies setup and management processes.
Performance: Ensures swift and stable application delivery.
Cost-Effective: Offers an affordable solution for remote access needs.
Diverse Access: Promotes secure, seamless access from multiple devices.

Industry implementations of Parallels RAS include its use as a client gateway and an alternative to Windows RDS. With support for Macs, Windows, Linux, and Android devices, it facilitates application publishing and migration from platforms like VMware. Organizations employ RAS for remote control, VDI, and ERP solutions, improving remote workforce operations and geographic application distribution.

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)

September 2026

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

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