Parallels Desktop Alternatives 2026 - Top Competitors Ranked

You're looking at alternatives to:

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is a software solution that enables macOS users to operate other operating systems—primarily Windows—directly on their Macs. It functions as a type-2 hypervisor, creating and managing virtual machines for running legacy applications or utilizing software only available on different...

8.9 Great

apps Top Parallels Desktop Alternatives

The top alternative to Parallels Desktop in 2026 is VMware vSphere with a score of 9.3/10, followed by VMware ESXi (9.2) and VMware Workstation Pro (9.1).

VMware vSphere

VMware vSphere is a converged infrastructure platform that allows organizations to create and manage multiple virtual ma...

Enterprise Vmware Type 1 Datacenter

9.3 Excellent

VMware ESXi

VMware ESXi is a type-1 bare-metal hypervisor designed for enterprise environments. It enables multiple operating system...

Enterprise Vmware Type 1 Bare Metal

9.2 Excellent

VMware Workstation Pro

VMware Workstation Pro facilitates running multiple operating systems – including Windows and Linux – concurrently on a...

Vmware Desktop Hypervisor Type 2

9.1 Excellent

KVM

KVM is an open-source virtualization solution integrated within the Linux kernel. It functions as a type-1 hypervisor, e...

Open Source Linux Kernel Type 1

9.0 Excellent

Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE is an open source virtualization management platform utilizing KVM and LXC technologies. It functions as a Ty...

Open Source Type 1 Datacenter Hypervisor

9.0 Excellent

QEMU

QEMU is an open source software project providing machine emulation capabilities. It translates computer instructions al...

Open Source Cross Platform Emulator CLI

8.7 Great

Microsoft Hyper-V

Microsoft Hyper-V is a type one hypervisor facilitating the creation and management of virtual machines. It operates on...

Enterprise Microsoft Type 1 Windows

8.5 Great

Oracle VM VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an open source hypervisor allowing users to operate multiple virtual machine environments on a desktop com...

Open Source Cross Platform Desktop Hypervisor

8.4 Great

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is a type-2 hypervisor for macOS. It enables users to operate multiple operating systems, such as Windows...

Macos Vmware Desktop Hypervisor

8.4 Great

Nutanix AHV

Nutanix AHV is a type-1 hypervisor built into the Nutanix platform. It provides virtualization capabilities by directly...

Enterprise Nutanix Type 1 Hyperconverged

8.4 Great

Xen Project

Xen Project provides a Type 1 hypervisor enabling simultaneous operation of diverse operating systems within virtual mac...

Enterprise Open Source Type 1 Hypervisor

8.3 Great

UTM

UTM is an open source virtual machine environment created by the U.S. Army. It functions as a QEMU-based hypervisor desi...

Open Source Emulator Hypervisor Macos Ios

8.0 Great

VMware Workstation Player

VMware Workstation Player is a free application that allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a...

Free Tier Vmware Desktop Hypervisor

7.8 Good

Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer)

Citrix Hypervisor, formerly XenServer, is an open-source server virtualization platform that allows multiple operating s...

Enterprise Type 1 Citrix Hypervisor

7.6 Good

bhyve

BHyVE is a lightweight, open-source virtualization platform that allows users to run isolated Linux environments directl...

Open Source Freebsd Hypervisor Type 2

7.3 Good

GNOME Boxes

GNOME Boxes is a graphical application for creating and managing virtual machines on Linux systems, allowing users to ru...

Linux Desktop Frontend Hypervisor

7.1 Good

Connectix Virtual PC

Connectix Virtual PC was a popular Windows-based virtualization software that allowed users to run older versions of Mic...

Legacy Macos Desktop Hypervisor

6.9 Fair

Microsoft Virtual PC

Microsoft Virtual PC was a software product that allowed users to run other operating systems, such as Windows XP or Lin...

Legacy Microsoft Desktop Hypervisor

6.8 Fair

VMware Server

VMware Server is a free, standalone hypervisor that allows users to create and manage multiple virtual machines on a sin...

Server Vmware Discontinued Hypervisor

6.5 Fair

Parallels Workstation

Parallels Workstation is a software application that allows users to run operating systems like Windows and Linux direct...

Legacy Desktop Hypervisor Type 2

6.3 Fair

summarize Quick Comparison Summary

Alternative	Score	vs Parallels Deskt...	Action
VMware vSphere Virtual Machine Enterprise Vmware Type 1	9.3 Excellent	+0.4	Compare
VMware ESXi Virtual Machine Enterprise Vmware Type 1	9.2 Excellent	+0.3	Compare
VMware Workstation Pro Virtual Machine Vmware Desktop Hypervisor	9.1 Excellent	+0.2	Compare
KVM Virtual Machine Open Source Linux Kernel	9.0 Excellent	+0.1	Compare
Proxmox VE Virtual Machine Open Source Type 1 Datacenter	9.0 Excellent	+0.1	Compare
QEMU Virtual Machine Open Source Cross Platform Emulator	8.7 Great	-0.2	Compare
Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Machine Enterprise Microsoft Type 1	8.5 Great	-0.4	Compare
Oracle VM VirtualBox Virtual Machine Open Source Cross Platform Desktop	8.4 Great	-0.5	Compare
VMware Fusion Virtual Machine Macos Vmware Desktop	8.4 Great	-0.5	Compare
Nutanix AHV Virtual Machine Enterprise Nutanix Type 1	8.4 Great	-0.5	Compare

See all Virtual Machine ranked by score

emoji_events View Full Virtual Machine Rankings

help Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best alternatives to Parallels Desktop?

The top alternatives to Parallels Desktop in 2026 include VMware vSphere, VMware ESXi, VMware Workstation Pro, KVM, Proxmox VE. Each offers unique features and is objectively scored on Lunoo to help you compare.

How does Parallels Desktop compare to its competitors?

Our AI-powered comparison system analyzes features, pricing, user reviews, and expert opinions to provide objective scores. Parallels Desktop scores 8.9/10. Click any alternative above to see a detailed side-by-side comparison.

Is Parallels Desktop worth it in 2026?

Parallels Desktop scores 8.9/10 on Lunoo, making it a highly-rated option in the Virtual Machine category. However, alternatives like VMware vSphere may better suit specific needs.

What is the best free alternative to Parallels Desktop?

Several alternatives to Parallels Desktop offer free plans or free tiers. Check the alternatives listed above and visit their websites to compare pricing and free options.

Why should I switch from Parallels Desktop?

Common reasons users look for Parallels Desktop alternatives include pricing, specific feature gaps, better integration needs, or simply exploring newer options. Our objective scoring helps you compare without bias.

How many alternatives to Parallels Desktop are there?

Lunoo currently lists 20 scored alternatives to Parallels Desktop in the Virtual Machine category, ranked by our AI-powered evaluation system.

Which Parallels Desktop alternative has the highest rating?

VMware vSphere currently holds the highest rating among Parallels Desktop alternatives with a score of 9.3/10.

Can I use VMware vSphere instead of Parallels Desktop?

VMware vSphere is one of the top-rated alternatives to Parallels Desktop. While they serve similar purposes in the Virtual Machine space, each has distinct strengths. Use our comparison tool above for a detailed side-by-side analysis.

What is the cheapest alternative to Parallels Desktop?

Pricing varies among Parallels Desktop alternatives. We recommend checking each alternative's website for current pricing. Many options in the Virtual Machine category offer free tiers or competitive pricing.

How are Parallels Desktop alternatives ranked on Lunoo?

Lunoo uses an AI-powered scoring system that analyzes category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, recency, and value to provide 0 to 10 scores. Rankings are updated continuously.

Parallels Desktop vs VMware vSphere: which is better?

Parallels Desktop scores 8.9/10 while VMware vSphere scores 9.3/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

Parallels Desktop vs VMware ESXi: which is better?

Parallels Desktop scores 8.9/10 while VMware ESXi scores 9.2/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

Parallels Desktop vs VMware Workstation Pro: which is better?

Parallels Desktop scores 8.9/10 while VMware Workstation Pro scores 9.1/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

swap_horiz Parallels Desktop Alternatives