Parallels Desktop vs Portable Virtualbox

Struggling to choose between Parallels Desktop and Portable Virtualbox? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Parallels Desktop is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like virtualization, macos, windows, linux, parallel-computing.

It boasts features such as Run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems virtually alongside macOS, Seamless integration and usability with macOS, Shared folders allow easy file transfer between macOS and virtual machines, Resource optimization for improved performance, Easy installation and setup of virtual machines, Snapshots allow you to save and restore virtual machine state, Travel mode to easily move virtual machines between Macs, 3D graphics acceleration support, Retina display support, Touch Bar support, Virtual printing and other peripherals and pros including Excellent performance and usability, Easy to set up and use, Seamless integration with macOS, Shared folders make file transfer easy, Good virtual machine customization options.

On the other hand, Portable Virtualbox is a Os & Utilities product tagged with virtualization, virtual-machine, portable, open-source.

Its standout features include Runs VirtualBox virtual machines directly from a USB drive, Does not require VirtualBox to be installed on the host computer, Supports importing and exporting VMs in OVF format, Includes VirtualBox Extension Pack for added functionality, Open source and free to use, and it shines with pros like Portable and self-contained, Does not clutter host computer with VirtualBox installation, Easy to carry VMs between different computers, Good for testing software across different OS environments.

Feature	Parallels Desktop	Portable Virtualbox
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

Parallels Desktop

Description: Parallels Desktop is a virtualization software for macOS that allows users to run multiple operating systems, including Windows and Linux, alongside macOS on a Mac computer. Known for its ease of use and performance, Parallels Desktop provides a seamless integration of virtual machines with the macOS environment.

Portable Virtualbox

Description: Portable Virtualbox is a free, open-source virtualization software that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on your Windows computer without needing to install Virtualbox. It runs directly from a USB drive for easy portability.

Key Features Comparison

Parallels Desktop Features

• Run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems virtually alongside macOS
• Seamless integration and usability with macOS
• Shared folders allow easy file transfer between macOS and virtual machines
• Resource optimization for improved performance
• Easy installation and setup of virtual machines
• Snapshots allow you to save and restore virtual machine state
• Travel mode to easily move virtual machines between Macs
• 3D graphics acceleration support
• Retina display support
• Touch Bar support
• Virtual printing and other peripherals

Portable Virtualbox Features

• Runs VirtualBox virtual machines directly from a USB drive
• Does not require VirtualBox to be installed on the host computer
• Supports importing and exporting VMs in OVF format
• Includes VirtualBox Extension Pack for added functionality
• Open source and free to use

Pros & Cons Analysis

Parallels Desktop

Pros

• Excellent performance and usability
• Easy to set up and use
• Seamless integration with macOS
• Shared folders make file transfer easy
• Good virtual machine customization options

Cons

• Can be resource-intensive
• Expensive compared to competitors
• Limited support for older macOS versions
• Advanced features require paid upgrades

Portable Virtualbox

Pros

• Portable and self-contained
• Does not clutter host computer with VirtualBox installation
• Easy to carry VMs between different computers
• Good for testing software across different OS environments

Cons

• Limited feature set compared to full VirtualBox
• No guest additions or shared folder support
• Potential USB performance bottlenecks
• Not officially supported by Oracle

Pricing Comparison

Parallels Desktop

• Subscription
• One-time Purchase

Portable Virtualbox

• Free
• Open Source