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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Infrastructure as a Service
  4. Virtualization Platform
  5. Parallels vs VirtualBox

Parallels vs VirtualBox

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

VirtualBox
VirtualBox
Stacks31.1K
Followers25.6K
Votes1.1K
Parallels
Parallels
Stacks11
Followers18
Votes1

Parallels vs VirtualBox: What are the differences?

Comparison between Parallels and VirtualBox

Parallels and VirtualBox are both widely used virtualization software that allow users to run multiple operating systems on a single host machine. While they serve a similar purpose, there are key differences that set them apart from each other.

  1. Performance: Parallels is known for its superior performance compared to VirtualBox. It utilizes hardware virtualization technologies like Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) and AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) to enhance the performance of virtual machines. On the other hand, VirtualBox relies on software emulation, which can result in slower performance and limited capabilities.

  2. User Interface: Parallels offers a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for users to manage, configure, and operate virtual machines. It provides a seamless integration between the host and guest operating systems, allowing for smooth transitions and efficient usage. VirtualBox, on the other hand, has a simpler interface that may require more technical knowledge to navigate and configure.

  3. Cross-platform compatibility: VirtualBox is considered more versatile in terms of cross-platform compatibility. It can be installed and used on a wider range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. Parallels, on the other hand, is primarily designed for macOS and only offers limited support for other operating systems.

  4. Integration with host system: Parallels offers better integration with the host system, providing features such as drag-and-drop file sharing, automatic virtual machine suspension upon host system sleep, and seamless application sharing between the host and guest operating systems. VirtualBox, while it does provide some integration features, may not offer the same level of convenience and seamless integration as Parallels.

  5. Virtual machine management: Parallels offers a more comprehensive set of tools and features for managing virtual machines. It provides easy access to settings, snapshots, cloning, and automation options. VirtualBox, while it also offers these functionalities, may not have the same level of refinement or user-friendly interface as Parallels.

In summary, the key differences between Parallels and VirtualBox lie in their performance, user interface, cross-platform compatibility, integration with the host system, and virtual machine management capabilities. While Parallels offers superior performance, better integration, and a more intuitive user interface, VirtualBox provides cross-platform compatibility and versatility in terms of supported operating systems.

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Detailed Comparison

VirtualBox
VirtualBox
Parallels
Parallels

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.

It is an application and desktop virtualization software vendor that offers management and delivery platforms for Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows desktop deployments.

Portability;No hardware virtualization required;Guest Additions: shared folders, seamless windows, 3D virtualization;Great hardware support;Multigeneration branched snapshots;VM groups;Clean architecture; unprecedented modularity;Remote machine display
Secure connection; Universal file manager; Connection to Mac or PC
Statistics
Stacks
31.1K
Stacks
11
Followers
25.6K
Followers
18
Votes
1.1K
Votes
1
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 358
    Free
  • 231
    Easy
  • 169
    Default for vagrant
  • 110
    Fast
  • 73
    Starts quickly
Pros
  • 1
    Lightens your wallet
Integrations
No integrations available
Vagrant
Vagrant
Docker
Docker
Packer
Packer
Kali Linux
Kali Linux
Azk
Azk
Qemu
Qemu
Boxfuse
Boxfuse

What are some alternatives to VirtualBox, Parallels?

Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE

It is a complete open-source platform for all-inclusive enterprise virtualization that tightly integrates KVM hypervisor and LXC containers, software-defined storage and networking functionality on a single platform, and easily manages high availability clusters and disaster recovery tools with the built-in web management interface.

VMware vSphere

VMware vSphere

vSphere is the world’s leading server virtualization platform. Run fewer servers and reduce capital and operating costs using VMware vSphere to build a cloud computing infrastructure.

KVM

KVM

KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V).

Qemu

Qemu

When used as a machine emulator, it can run OSes and programs made for one machine (e.g. an ARM board) on a different machine (e.g. your own PC). By using dynamic translation, it achieves very good performance. When used as a virtualizer, it achieves near native performance by executing the guest code directly on the host CPU. it supports virtualization when executing under the Xen hypervisor or using the KVM kernel module in Linux. When using KVM, it can virtualize x86, server and embedded PowerPC, 64-bit POWER, S390, 32-bit and 64-bit ARM, and MIPS guests.

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and MacOS applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence.

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion

It gives Mac users the power to run Windows on Mac along with hundreds of other operating systems side by side with Mac applications, without rebooting. It is simple enough for home users and powerful enough for IT professionals, developers and businesses.

Xen

Xen

It is a hypervisor using a microkernel design, providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently. It was developed by the Linux Foundation and is supported by Intel.

VMware vSAN

VMware vSAN

It is enterprise-class, storage virtualization software that, when combined with vSphere, allows you to manage compute and storage with a single platform. You can reduce the cost and complexity of traditional storage and take the easiest path to hyperconverged infrastructure and hybrid cloud. Evolve to an integrated hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution with vSAN to improve business agility, all while speeding operations and lowering costs.

Oracle VM Server

Oracle VM Server

It is a zero license cost server virtualization and management solution that makes enterprise applications easier to deploy, manage, and support. Backed worldwide by affordable enterprise-quality support for both Oracle and non-Oracle environments, it reduces operations and support costs while increasing IT efficiency and agility.

Virtuozzo

Virtuozzo

It is an operating system-level server virtualization solution designed to centralize server management and consolidate workloads, which reduces overhead by reducing the number of physical servers required. Organizations use it for server consolidation, disaster recovery, and server workload agility.

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