Here’s a detailed, up‑to‑date article on Parallels Desktop 20 for Apple Mac—covering its features, editions, pricing, and system requirements.
Parallels Desktop 20 – Overview
- Release Date: September 10, 2024
- Compatibility: macOS Sequoia (15) both as host and guest OS; supports Windows 11 24H2 and recent Linux distributions like Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 39/40
New & Enhanced Features
- Parallels Tools Revamp: Completely reworked for enhanced reliability and integrated native UI across all supported OSes
- Windows 11 24H2 Support: Improves stability, resolves dynamic resolution and file‑deletion bugs; greatly enhances running x86 apps on Apple Silicon Macs (up to 80% faster)
- macOS Guest Improvements: macOS Sequoia VMs can now sign into Apple ID (on Apple Silicon Macs) and support snapshots
Pro Edition Enhancements
- AI Package: A Linux-based VM pre-loaded with 14 AI toolsets, sample code, and LLM frameworks that runs offline for privacy. Free for Pro users through 2024, and included in Business & Enterprise editions
- DevOps & CI/CD: Natural‑language VM control via Microsoft Copilot in VS Code; GitHub Actions support; Parallels Packer integration with Apple Vision-based automation
Business & Enterprise Features
- Management Portal: Centralized VM deployment, real-time monitoring, and compatibility with MDM tools like Intune and Jamf Pro. Enterprise edition adds policy enforcement and per-user licensing (SSO, SCIM, SAML)
- Bulk VM Rollouts: Pre-configured VM deployment to users with minimal setup, ideal for remote/hybrid workforces
Performance & Usability
- Hardware Support: Assign up to 128 GB RAM and 32 vCPU cores to VMs in Pro/Enterprise editions
- Graphics & Device Support:
- OpenGL 3.2 support; enhanced USB, audio/video device compatibility; Apple Pencil + Sidecar support; improved Touch Bar use
- Stage Manager mode integration for better window layout management
- Battery & Storage Optimizations: Travel Mode reduces power usage; smarter cache management uses less space; resume and graphics performance boosted by 25–38% on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- Recovery/Safe Mode: Full macOS Recovery and Windows Safe Mode support inside VMs for system repair and diagnostics
Pricing & Editions
| Edition | License Type | Approx. Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (subscription) | 1‑Year, 1 Mac | ~$89.99/year |
| Standard (perpetual) | Lifetime use | ~$129.99 one‑time |
| Pro (subscription) | 1‑Year, 1 Mac | ~$99.99/year |
| Business (subscription) | Annual, team use | ~$149.99/year |
| Enterprise | Custom corporate pricing | Contact sales |
| Upgrade from older versions | Perpetual or upgrade fee | ~$69.99 (one‑time) |
❗Note: Promotional discounts of 20–25% were active through early 2025 (coupon codes like PARALLELS20) offering temporary price reductions on Standard, Pro, and Business editions .
Paralles Desktop 20 All about PC
Parallels Desktop 20 represents a major leap in virtualization for Mac users:
- Supports the latest host/guest OS combos (macOS Sequoia, Windows 11 24H2)
- Redesigned UI toolbox with improved reliability and AI features
- Powerful AI development sandbox in Business/Pro/Enterprise editions
- Enterprise-grade VM management and deployment tools
- Optimized hardware usage: RAM/core scalability, better graphics and power efficiency
- Competitive pricing with flexible purchase models
Whether you’re an individual needing Windows-on-Mac for productivity, a developer building AI/DevOps projects, or an organization managing remote workers—Parallels Desktop 20 offers tailored solutions across editions.
