VMware Workstation Player vs Parallels Workstation

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

VMware Workstation Player is a Virtualization solution with tags like virtualization, desktop-virtualization, vmware, virtual-machine.

It boasts features such as Run multiple operating systems simultaneously, Isolate applications and services, Test software in different environments, Snapshot and revert virtual machine states, Drag-and-drop files across virtual machines, Virtual networking and sharing, 3D graphics acceleration, Unity mode for running Windows apps seamlessly and pros including Free for personal non-commercial use, Easy to set up and use, Good performance, Feature-rich, Supports many operating systems and hardware configurations.

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.

Feature	VMware Workstation Player	Parallels Workstation
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Virtualization	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

VMware Workstation Player

Description: VMware Workstation Player is a virtualization software that allows users to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine. It enables testing software, running different operating systems, and consolidating physical hardware.

Parallels Workstation

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

VMware Workstation Player Features

• Run multiple operating systems simultaneously
• Isolate applications and services
• Test software in different environments
• Snapshot and revert virtual machine states
• Drag-and-drop files across virtual machines
• Virtual networking and sharing
• 3D graphics acceleration
• Unity mode for running Windows apps seamlessly

Parallels Workstation Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

VMware Workstation Player

Pros

• Free for personal non-commercial use
• Easy to set up and use
• Good performance
• Feature-rich
• Supports many operating systems and hardware configurations

Cons

• Limited to non-commercial use
• Less features than paid VMware Workstation Pro
• No live migration of VMs
• No remote management features

Parallels Workstation

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

Pricing Comparison

VMware Workstation Player

• Free
• Freemium

Parallels Workstation

• Subscription-Based