Parallels Review (2026)
By Daan Haket · Researched and written with an AI assistant · who does what
Your Windows licence is a separate cost and is not included in any edition.
Mac users who need to run Windows apps next to macOS apps, from home users on Standard to developers on Pro and small teams on Business.
you need a free tool (VirtualBox-type options exist), run an Intel Mac that the latest version does not support, or only need a few web-based Windows apps.
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Pricing (2026)
✓ Pricing re-verified 8 Nov 2026
“cannot accept returns for renewal transactions”Source: kb.parallels.com/en/123877, read 15 Oct 2026
Parallels Desktop runs Windows, Linux or macOS in a virtual machine on a Mac. Three editions are sold as yearly subscriptions. Standard is €99.99 a year (8 GB virtual RAM and 4 virtual CPUs per machine), Pro is €119.99 a year (128 GB and 32 CPUs, command line tools and developer features) and Business is €149.99 a year (Pro plus central administration, volume licensing and deployment through Mac management tools).
On the day we read the page a Black Friday offer cut these to €49.99, €59.99 and €97.49 a year; it is a promotion, so check the number at checkout. Pro and Business can also be bought as a 2-year subscription. The page lists a one-time purchase option for Standard, and the Standard card says subscription only for the latest version features.
Each licence covers one Mac, and a Windows licence is not included. All purchases carry a 30-day money-back guarantee; the vendor's help centre says renewal payments are not returnable. Enterprise pricing is by contact. Plans change, so check the live price on their site before you buy.
Category context: IT & Productivity. Across the 41 tools in this category that we researched with a public US-dollar price, the median entry price is $15 a month (lowest paid plan as listed, per seat where the vendor prices per seat). Compare pricing conditions in the Software Cost Atlas →
What the pricing page doesn’t say
The headline prices change with promotions: on the day we read the page Standard was €49.99 against a €99.99 list price, and the renewal price is the thing to check. Each licence covers one Mac, renewal payments are not returnable, and the latest major version does not come free with a one-time licence.
What Parallels does
Parallels Desktop runs Windows, Linux and macOS in a virtual machine on a Mac, with Standard, Pro and Business editions for home users, developers and teams.
Pro for developers, Business for teams
Standard covers home use with 8 GB of virtual RAM and 4 CPUs per machine. Pro raises that to 128 GB and 32 CPUs and adds the command line interface and developer tools, so it is for heavy Windows apps, several machines at once or test work. Business adds central licence management and deployment for organisations. The listed resources are ceilings; what a virtual machine actually gets depends on the Mac's own hardware.
How to actually use Parallels
Open parallels.com, download the free trial and install it on your Mac; the vendor advertises a 14-day free trial. Install Windows in the virtual machine with a Windows licence you buy separately, then choose an edition when you buy. Account creation and checkout were not tested by us.
Distilled from Parallels' own website, read on 8 November 2026 in a live browser: the Desktop buy page with its edition cards, comparison table and FAQ (euro prices from a Netherlands connection). Supporting research by Codex of 15 October 2026 on the trial, edition limits, licence terms and refunds was checked against these pages where possible. Parallels is an affiliate partner of ours through CJ. We have not used the product ourselves.
The natural comparison is VMware Fusion: VMware Fusion is the other well-known way to run Windows on a Mac. Our dossiers do not cover it yet, so we have no checked price to compare. Compare the cost per Mac per year and the bundled support before buying..
Frequently asked questions
How much does Parallels Desktop cost?
Read on 8 November 2026 from a Netherlands connection: Standard €99.99, Pro €119.99 and Business €149.99 a year. A Black Friday offer on that day showed €49.99, €59.99 and €97.49. Check the final price at checkout.
Do I need a Windows licence?
Yes. The vendor says a Windows licence is not included with Parallels Desktop and must be bought separately.
How many Macs does one licence cover?
One. The vendor FAQ says each Parallels Desktop licence covers one Mac, so you need a separate licence for each Mac.
Is there a free trial?
The vendor advertises a 14-day free trial of Desktop on its trial page.
Can I get a refund?
The buy page promises a 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases. The vendor help centre says renewal transactions cannot be returned.
Is this a hands-on review of Parallels?
This is a researched assessment, not a hands-on test. Where we've used a tool ourselves, we say so explicitly. We name what each tool is good and bad at, and we earn a commission only if you sign up, at no cost to you.
- Read 2026-11-08 in a live browser on parallels.com/products/desktop/buy, euros from a Netherlands connection.
- A dated screenshot of that pricing page, kept on this site as the receipt.
Others in this category
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