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VMware Workstation Pro vs Parallels Desktop: catalog facts
VMware Workstation Pro	Parallels Desktop
Freemium Free for personal use since 2024. Commercial use still requires a paid Broadcom licence.	Paid A paid subscription or perpetual licence is required after the trial.
Windows, Linux	macOS
Snapshots, cloning, nested virtualisation and virtual networking are mature and reliable, and Broadcom made it free for…	Coherence mode runs Windows applications as if they were Mac apps Well-supported on Apple silicon with guided Windows 11 setup
It is closed-source commercial software, commercial use still needs a paid licence, and downloads now require a…	Subscription or yearly upgrade pricing macOS only, closed source
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.