Oracle VirtualBox vs Parallels Desktop
Oracle VirtualBox
oracle.com
Parallels Desktop
parallels.comSide by side
| Figure | Oracle VirtualBox | Parallels Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 16 |
| Spec score · Virtual machine software | 8.9 (#3) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · Hypervisor Software | 8.5 (#6) | 7.8 (#15) |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes |
| Guest architecture | both | both |
| Host platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux,Oracle Solaris | macOS |
| Management interface | desktop | desktop |
| Nested virtualization | Yes | Yes |
| VM snapshots | Yes | Yes |
| Supported Hosts | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris x86 computers. | Intel Macs with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, and Apple Silicon Macs with macOS Big Sur 11 or later |
Plans
Oracle VirtualBox
- Base PackagePrice not published
- Base PackagePriced on request
- VirtualBox EnterprisePrice not published
- VirtualBox EnterprisePriced on request
- Oracle VM VirtualBoxFree
Parallels Desktop
- Standard EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPrice not published
- Pro EditionPriced on request
- Pro EditionPrice not published
- Business EditionPrice not published
- Business EditionPriced on request
- Enterprise EditionPriced on request
- Enterprise EditionPrice not published
- Business SubscriptionPrice not published
- Pro SubscriptionPrice not published
In their own words
Oracle VirtualBox
Oracle VirtualBox has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop runs Windows and Linux virtual machines on a Mac, so users can run Windows applications alongside macOS. Supported hosts include Intel Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later and Apple Silicon Macs running macOS Big Sur 11 or later. It is authorized by Microsoft for Windows 11 on Apple Silicon and supports current macOS, Windows, and Linux versions. Listed Windows applications include Excel, Power BI, Access, and QuickBooks. Virtual machines support snapshots, nested virtualization, and GPU acceleration. Standard permits up to 8 GB of vRAM and four vCPUs per VM; Pro raises those limits to 128 GB and 32 vCPUs. Pro also supports command-line workflows and Jenkins and Vagrant integrations. Business adds centralized administration, license management, and Jamf and Intune deployment integrations, while Enterprise includes encrypted VMs under organizational control. The product is paid and offers a 14-day trial. Standard and Pro include unlimited phone and email support, and subscribers get 24/7 chat. Qualifying direct purchases have a 30-day money-back guarantee; renewals are excluded.