Portable Virtualbox vs Parallels Workstation

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

Portable Virtualbox is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like virtualization, virtual-machine, portable, open-source.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including 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.

On the other hand, Parallels Workstation is a Os & Utilities product tagged with virtualization, multios, windows, macos, linux.

Its standout features include Run multiple operating systems on one machine, Seamless integration between host and guest OS, Easy switching between virtual machines, Resource optimization for virtual machines, 3D graphics support, Drag-and-drop files between host and guest OS, Virtual networking and sharing options, Snapshotting and cloning of VMs, Remote access to VMs, and it shines with pros like Good performance, User-friendly interface, Powerful customization options, Integration with macOS, Ability to run Windows on Mac, Cost-effective compared to buying multiple computers.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Portable Virtualbox

Portable Virtualbox

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.

Categories:
virtualization virtual-machine portable open-source

Portable Virtualbox Features

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

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

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


Parallels Workstation

Parallels Workstation

Parallels Workstation is a virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical computer. It provides an easy way to switch between Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems without rebooting.

Categories:
virtualization multios windows macos linux

Parallels Workstation Features

  1. Run multiple operating systems on one machine
  2. Seamless integration between host and guest OS
  3. Easy switching between virtual machines
  4. Resource optimization for virtual machines
  5. 3D graphics support
  6. Drag-and-drop files between host and guest OS
  7. Virtual networking and sharing options
  8. Snapshotting and cloning of VMs
  9. Remote access to VMs

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Good performance

User-friendly interface

Powerful customization options

Integration with macOS

Ability to run Windows on Mac

Cost-effective compared to buying multiple computers

Cons

Can be resource intensive

Limited support for Linux guests

Steep learning curve for advanced features

Occasional bugs or crashes

Lacks features of paid competitors like VMWare