VirtualBox vs Parallels Desktop

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

VirtualBox is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like virtualization, vm, oracle.

It boasts features such as Emulated virtual machines for multiple guest operating systems, Snapshots to save VM state, Shared folders for host-guest file system integration, Virtual networking and NAT, Remote machine display, Command line interaction, Headless operation and pros including Free and open source, Cross-platform, Easy to set up and use, Good performance, Lots of configuration options.

On the other hand, Parallels Desktop is a Os & Utilities product tagged with virtualization, macos, windows, linux, parallel-computing.

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like 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.

Feature	VirtualBox	Parallels Desktop
Overall Score	1	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

VirtualBox

Description: Oracle VM VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization platform that enables users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. Widely used for development, testing, and virtualized environments, VirtualBox supports a variety of guest operating systems and provides features like snapshotting, shared folders, and networking options.

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.

Key Features Comparison

VirtualBox Features

• Emulated virtual machines for multiple guest operating systems
• Snapshots to save VM state
• Shared folders for host-guest file system integration
• Virtual networking and NAT
• Remote machine display
• Command line interaction
• Headless operation

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

Pros & Cons Analysis

VirtualBox

Pros

• Free and open source
• Cross-platform
• Easy to set up and use
• Good performance
• Lots of configuration options

Cons

• Limited support options
• Less features than paid solutions
• Resource intensive

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

Pricing Comparison

VirtualBox

• Free
• Open Source

Parallels Desktop

• Subscription
• One-time Purchase