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1 day ago
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It seems like every website out there nowadays has one of these 'comparison charts' showcasing how their "AmazingApp X" leaves "SadSoftware Y" in the dirt. Most of the time they're just a pile of marketing buzzwords to make search engines happy, and nothing like a real review that can help you decide on a product. So when I recently stumbled on Parallels' own page trying to say why Parallels Desktop is a better option than CrossOver I thought, well they certainly left out a lot of details. Not that Parallels doesn't have its place. Here at CodeWeavers we're all about recommending the best tool for the job. But frankly, if you're looking to run Windows apps on your Mac, my advice is to start with CrossOver. So here's my revision of their chart with the rest of the details, and a bit of snark, to give you a fuller picture.
CrossOver |
Parallels Desktop |
|
Download and install Windows 11 in one click |
N/A - No Windows OS Needed |
Yes, for both Intel and M-series Macs. Add $100-$200 to buy the Windows OS. |
Authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on a Mac with Apple Silicon |
N/A - No Windows OS Needed |
Yes. Add 20-60GB of drive space for the Windows OS. |
Run multiple operating systems |
Runs Windows apps on your existing Mac or Linux OS. |
Yes |
Full Windows experience |
No, thankfully. No Windows updates or anti-virus necessary. |
Yes |
Play Windows games on a Mac |
Yes, thousands of Windows games. Check our Compatibility Database for your game's rating. |
Yes, many Windows-exclusive games. May have decreased performance from emulation overhead. |
Run Windows apps for work |
Office? We recommend the native Mac version. Thousands of other Windows applications "just work". |
Yes. May have decreased performance from emulation overhead. |
Access to Mac folders |
Yes. Everything in CrossOver is stored in regular Mac folders. |
Yes, but not the reverse. Anything in the VM is only accessible in the VM. |
Copy-paste sync |
Yes |
Yes |
Game controller(s) support |
Yes |
Yes |
24/7 support/assistance |
Support Library, Forums, and Email support from 9am-5pm Central Time (we're real people, we like sleep). |
Phone, chat, email for subscription license purchases. |
Install guest OS drivers automatically |
N/A - CrossOver uses the native Mac and Linux drivers. |
Yes. Necessary for Windows to fully use the Mac and Linux hardware. |
Shared profile and applications |
Yes. CrossOver and Windows apps can be shared (or not) by all users on the same machine. |
Yes |
Installation Assistant |
Yes. CrossOver knows how to install over 3,000 Windows applications. |
Yes |
Out-of-the-box Retina display support |
Yes, since like 2014. |
Yes |
50+ productivity tools to enhance your experience |
No. CrossOver is a standalone application. |
Yes, Parallels Toolbox comes with a subscription to Parallels Desktop for Mac. |
Pricing |
$74 new for a year of updates and support. $40 renewal each year after. CrossOver keeps working even if you don't renew. |
Subscriptions start at $64.99/year for Standard, $77.99/year for Pro (gaming version). Parallels stops working if you don't renew. |
Now that's what an actual comparison chart should look like! Both products have their place when it comes to running Windows software on your Mac. The biggest advantage for CrossOver by far though is not needing a full install of the Windows OS. CrossOver's translation layer (Wine) converts the Windows APIs to the corresponding macOS APIs allowing software to run as fast as it does natively on Windows. You're saving hundreds of dollars by not having to purchase Windows, avoiding using significant additional disk space, skipping the chore of keeping Windows updated, and not taking the performance hit of running two operating systems.
Is CrossOver a perfect solution? Not always. But it's definitely the best first thing to try. And you're always welcome to give it a try! We've always offered a 14-day fully functional trial of CrossOver so you can make sure your Windows games and applications work correctly before spending a dime. And when you do purchase CrossOver you're helping fund ongoing development of the open source Wine project, which CodeWeavers is a major contributor, that helps all sorts of different projects break free of the Windows OS monopoly. At the end of the day, we really love the work we do and hope our software helps everyone get the most out of their computer - whatever platform that is.
About Andrew Balfour
Andrew has been with CodeWeavers for 10+ years (though he insists he's still just a 'personality hire'). He first joined in 2006, becoming a cornerstone of our tech support team and expertly assisting users for a decade. After an adventurous detour from 2017-2023 exploring diverse roles in real estate, sales, and even the fine art of beer packaging, Andrew rejoined the CodeWeavers crew. Now, as our Business Operations Specialist, he leverages his wide-ranging experience to help keep the renegade ship sailing smoothly.
