WinParrot
WinParrot is an open-source Windows application that provides similar functionality to MacOS Parallels Desktop. It allows users to run other operating systems like Linux or Windows virtually inside Windows.
virtualization
windows
linux
opensource
WinParrot: Run Virtual Machines on Windows
WinParrot is an open-source Windows application that provides similar functionality to MacOS Parallels Desktop. It allows users to run other operating systems like Linux or Windows virtually inside Windows.
What is WinParrot?
WinParrot is an open-source virtualization platform for Windows that allows users to run other operating systems virtually inside Windows. It works similarly to Parallels Desktop on MacOS.
Some key features of WinParrot include:
- Ability to install and run Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian etc. alongside Windows
- Run older versions of Windows virtually (XP, Vista etc.)
- Isolate applications and web browsing inside the virtual machines for increased privacy/security
- Run Windows on low-powered devices like netbooks by using the host Windows system's resources
- Develop/test applications intended for other OSes without dual-booting or separate machines
As an open-source platform, WinParrot benefits from community contributions and customization options not found in commercial alternatives. It can provide a lightweight, no-cost alternative to solutions like VMware Workstation or Parallels Desktop. The tradeoff is that documentation and support resources may not be as extensive.
WinParrot Features
Features
- Runs Linux and other operating systems virtually inside Windows
- Open-source and free
- Supports major Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc
- Allows resizing of virtual machine disk images
- Virtual networking and sharing between host and guest OS
- Virtual machine snapshots
- Virtual machine cloning
- USB device redirection
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open-source
Good performance
Active development and community support
Runs many Linux distros well
Easy to use and set up
Cons
Limited features compared to paid solutions
Less polished and intuitive UI
Lacks some virtualization features
May require tweaking configs for optimal performance
Limited official support
Official Links
The Best WinParrot Alternatives
Top Os & Utilities and Virtualization and other similar apps like WinParrot
Here are some alternatives to WinParrot:
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