Kitsmith / Utilities / Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop
From $54.99/yr (Standard, discounted from $99.99), or $219.99 one-time (current version only, no guaranteed future-OS compatibility); Pro $65.99/yr (subscription only); Business $97.49/yr per seat; Enterprise custom
Price checked at source August 28, 2026.
The flagship, Microsoft-authorized way to run Windows on a Mac — including Windows 11 on Apple Silicon — from the company that’s been building Mac virtualization since 2006.
Our take
The default pick for anyone who needs real Windows compatibility rather than a Linux-flavored alternative: officially authorized by Microsoft for Windows 11 Arm on Apple Silicon, with two-click setup that sources the Windows image for you. It’s a subscription now for ongoing updates — Standard runs $54.99/yr (discounted from $99.99) or $219.99 as a one-time, current-version-only purchase; Pro (developers, more RAM/vCPUs, CLI tools) is subscription-only at $65.99/yr.
- Price
- From $54.99/yr (Standard, discounted from $99.99), or $219.99 one-time (current version only, no guaranteed future-OS compatibility); Pro $65.99/yr (subscription only); Business $97.49/yr per seat; Enterprise custom
- License
- Proprietary
- Requires
- macOS 13.3 or newer (Mac App Store listing)
- Get it via
- Mac App Store · Direct
- Developer
- Parallels International GmbH
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What it does
Microsoft-authorized Windows 11 on Apple Silicon
The only solution Microsoft has authorized to run Windows 11 Arm editions on Apple Silicon Macs, per Parallels.
Two-click Windows setup
Downloads, installs, and configures Windows without you sourcing a Windows image yourself.
Deep macOS integration
Share your Mac’s camera, trackpad, and files with Windows apps, or run them side-by-side with Mac apps in Coherence mode.
The deal
- Standard: $54.99/yr (discounted from $99.99) or $219.99 one-time, current version only
- Pro: $65.99/yr (discounted from $119.99), subscription only — more vRAM/vCPUs, CLI tools, nested virtualization
- Business: $97.49/yr per seat (discounted from $149.99) — centralized license management, Jamf/Intune deployment
- Enterprise: custom pricing — policy enforcement, encrypted VMs, SSO/SCIM
- 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases made directly from parallels.com
Worth knowing: The Mac App Store listing downloads free, but that’s the app shell — running a VM needs an activation key from a paid subscription or one-time license bought at parallels.com. The one-time-purchase Standard tier is locked to its current version, with no guarantee of compatibility with future macOS or Windows releases; ongoing compatibility requires the subscription.
Parallels Desktop — questions people ask
Is Parallels Desktop free?
The Mac App Store download is free, but you need a paid subscription or one-time license to actually run a virtual machine. Standard starts at $54.99/yr.
Can Parallels Desktop run Windows 11 on an M-series Mac?
Yes — it’s the solution Microsoft has officially authorized for running Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise (Arm editions) on Apple Silicon.
What’s the difference between Standard and Pro?
Pro adds more virtual RAM/vCPUs, a command-line interface, and nested virtualization (Docker, Android Studio, and similar workflows), and is subscription-only — Standard can be bought as a one-time, current-version-only license instead.
Is Parallels Desktop free?
Parallels Desktop costs From $54.99/yr (Standard, discounted from $99.99), or $219.99 one-time (current version only, no guaranteed future-OS compatibility); Pro $65.99/yr (subscription only); Business $97.49/yr per seat; Enterprise custom.
Does Parallels Desktop work alongside a notch app like Alcove?
Yes — Parallels Desktop lives in the screen, so it runs happily alongside any Dynamic Island hub or notch app.
Where can I download Parallels Desktop?
Parallels Desktop is available via Mac App Store, Direct.
Reviews
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Listing hand-verified August 28, 2026 from the developer's site and public sources.
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