Azure Virtual Desktop vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) comparison

Azure Virtual Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Azure Virtual Desktop

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Parallels Remote Applicatio...

Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

13th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Virtualization (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category, the mindshare of Azure Virtual Desktop is 10.8%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is 3.1%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Virtual Desktop	10.8%
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)	3.1%
Other	86.1%

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Featured Reviews

Rajan Chandrasekaran

Senior Advisor at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Enhanced collaboration and security with seamless remote access has transformed work efficiency

We can integrate anything with Azure Virtual Desktop from an application perspective. The App-V has evolved into MSIX. To deliver an application to Azure Virtual Desktop, MSIX can be used by expanding it as a virtual hard disk and attaching it to the virtual machine. When this is done, users who need the application will have immediate access through Active Directory group assignment. One challenge with Virtual Desktop infrastructure is application delivery. From an infrastructure perspective, it's beneficial as we can have a fallback point - if one machine is down, we can have a disaster recovery site for redirection. The delivery of applications is a tedious process. Microsoft is working on building new products for efficient application installation. This feature might be included in upcoming releases. Currently, it's burdensome for IT administrators to create applications compatible with Virtual Desktop infrastructure, unlike traditional machines where direct installation is possible.

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JohanSkibdahl

CEO at Etcetera Networks

Secure access across devices with cost-effective seamless integration

One valuable feature is the ability to securely use a wide range of devices to access the company's infrastructure. The inclusion of all necessary components, such as load balancer and gateways, in a monthly fee is also beneficial. In terms of Parallels Desktop, the coherence mode that allows Mac and Windows applications to run seamlessly side by side is highly regarded.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I've always found Azure Virtual Desktop to work for me without issues."

"Azure Virtual Desktop is stable and provides a 100% stable experience."

"Azure Virtual Desktop enables anyone connecting to Microsoft to use MFA (multi-factor authentication), totally secured to connect and has end-to-end encryption through tunnel encryption."

"Absolutely, this solution is probably the leader in its field."

"Azure Virtual Desktop provides users the ability to do remote work in a secure environment that is easy to manage."

"The ability to spin up virtual machines quickly and speedily in Azure has been really valuable."

"The scalability is probably the most valuable feature since I can quickly add or remove machines or increase or decrease the size depending on resources to manage the cost better."

"Azure pricing is quite cheap due to licensing benefits with Microsoft."

More Azure Virtual Desktop pros

"Allows us to publish applications accessible by current-generation HTML5 browser or OS-specific client (Windows, Android, iOS), and it supports popular single sign-on and multi-factor authentication protocols."

"The most valuable feature is the ease with which you can publish applications to different groups of users, by integrating with Windows Active Directory."

"It is robust. We have some 75 users using it and it doesn't lag. It's very speedy."

"We use Cloudpaging to package and deploy the vast majority of our applications to our standard Windows 10 desktops. With the use of Parallels integration into Software2 AppsAnywhere hub, this means we can use the same packages to deliver Windows applications to almost any device - Windows, mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, Xbox One, PS4 - just by ticking a box."

"Ease of use in publishing apps and installing the agent. The Interface is fairly intuitive after some tinkering. Although I inherited the app only two-thirds deployed, I was able to complete the deployment and service it over the last year without referring to any documentation."

"One valuable feature is the ability to securely use a wide range of devices to access the company's infrastructure."

"Very fast, easy to setup and manage."

"Thank you 2X for such a great product that makes my work much easier!"

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) pros

Cons

"The delivery of applications is a tedious process."

"One of the issues I had was the ability to add an internet proxy. I would like to see built-in proxy and internet filtering."

"The initial setup of Azure Virtual Desktop overall is complex. The complexities I've noticed are with application optimizations, and it can get complex by meeting customers' security requirements."

"I would like to see built-in proxy and internet filtering."

"The primary area for improvement is around the scalability of Azure, specifically on the desktop side."

"The main issue is the response time, which needs improvement to be faster."

"Azure is vast, and perhaps an architect-level experience could provide more insights into potential improvements."

"The costs are a bit difficult to predict upfront. When I am trying to sell it to a customer as a consultant, it is hard to give them a fixed price."

More Azure Virtual Desktop cons

"It would be great if there were more sophisticated GPO templates/options."

"The product does not utilize SQL for reporting purposes. Also, it does not support some hypervisors similar to Citrix. These particular areas need improvement."

"We have had significant, ongoing issues with printing. It would be great to have a best practice for dealing with printing that we can offer to our customers."

"Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is an expensive solution, and its pricing could be improved."

"Generally, it is a very good solution. The main thing that I would improve is their presence here in Mexico. They don't have strong local support here in Mexico. They should have a worldwide presence so that we don't have to do everything through the people in the US. The initial setup was a little bit complex because we were migrating from Citrix. For customers who are migrating from another platform like VMware or Citrix, it would be great if they can provide an automated migration solution."

"From a seller's point of view, there are a lot of things that they could do better in the sales cycle."

"We would like the ability to provide a popup message, such as a maintenance notification. That same notification on the Parallels client would be awesome."

"It needs Windows scaling on Android/iOS devices. At present, the concept of delivering apps to Android and iOS devices is appealing, but the reality is the screen size on these devices is so small that, unless there is some scaling option, it is not really usable."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"Work with the vendor, as this is a fairly new product and they want use cases. Deals can be made."

"The product is not expensive. I rate its pricing a three or four out of ten."

"It is very affordable."

"We currently use Parallels side-by-side with an Azure cloud-hosted solution. This may be from a lack of product knowledge on my part, but we still need to work out the most effective way to shut down servers outside of hours, thereby reduce hosting costs. I am not entirely convinced Parallels does this well yet."

"Pricing is a little steep."

"Just compare it to Citrix and you will see the value in it."

"It justifies the price. In terms of licensing, initially when we got the product it was an unlimited licensing strategy. We knew would grow in the coming years. So initially, we took a plan which had no limit. After a year or so the strategy changed and we were being limited to 105 licenses, that was the minimum... If there was flexibility for increasing the number of licenses that would be great because you never know how much you are going to grow in the next year."

"It is inexpensive compared to one of its competitors."

More Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

26%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Virtual Desktop?

The usual amount customers pay for this tool varies. I have seen large deployments catering to 500 or 700 users. Enterprises do use it, and they pay quite a bit for this.

What needs improvement with Azure Virtual Desktop?

I see areas for improvement in Azure Virtual Desktop, specifically regarding cost, as it is a little bit expensive. However, when you account for replacing dedicated hardware and the maintenance it...

What is your primary use case for Azure Virtual Desktop?

We use RDP with Azure and have some virtual desktops. A major use case for Azure Virtual Desktop is that we give access to external consultants so they can access our information and interact with ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

The pricing for Parallels RAS is straightforward with a monthly fee for a minimum of 15 licenses. For Parallels Desktop, it is a yearly cost of a couple of hundred euros. No additional fees for mai...

What needs improvement with Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

A potential improvement could be reducing the dependency on Microsoft solutions for Parallels RAS. As for Parallels Desktop, there is nothing specific that needs improvement.

What is your primary use case for Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)?

The primary use case of Parallels is to offer it to customers as a hosted service. I help them to migrate from other solutions like VMware to Parallels RAS. I recommend it to companies that prefer ...

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Comparisons

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Compared 4% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

Horizon 8 vs Azure Virtual Desktop

Compared 1% of the time

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Compared 15% of the time

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 15% of the time

Parallels Desktop vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 8% of the time

Amazon WorkSpaces vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 7% of the time

Horizon Cloud Service vs Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Azure Virtual Desktop

Download Azure Virtual Desktop product report

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)

Download Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) product report

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) report

Also Known As

No data available

Parallels RAS

Overview

Azure Virtual Desktop enables scalable remote work with integration to Microsoft 365, enhancing collaboration and productivity. It offers secure access to desktops from anywhere, supported by features such as automation tools and robust security measures.

Azure Virtual Desktop is a powerful cloud-based platform facilitating remote work, disaster recovery, and secure access to applications. It supports multiple users, allowing efficient management of host pools and provides flexibility for consultants and contractors. Challenges include unpredictable costs and the need for improved scalability, better application delivery, and seamless transition from Windows 10 to 11. While it boosts hybrid work capabilities, further enhancements in intelligent scaling and integration with proxies are needed. Organizations use it for development, ensuring data security and management simplicity, but seek dynamic auto-scaling and cost optimization.

What are the key features of Azure Virtual Desktop?

Scalability: Efficient resource adjustment based on demand
Microsoft 365 Integration: Enhances collaboration and productivity
Security: Includes MFA, end-to-end encryption, and Azure Active Directory integration
Hybrid Work Capabilities: Enables secure desktop access from any location
Automation Tools: Streamlines deployment and reduces manual efforts

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Azure Virtual Desktop?

Cost-Effectiveness: Flexible licensing and resource scaling adapt to demand
Enhanced Productivity: Integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 for improved collaboration
Comprehensive Security: Provides robust features like MFA and encryption
Remote Work Efficiency: Supports multiple users with secure, anytime access

Azure Virtual Desktop is widely implemented across industries like technology, consulting, and finance. Firms utilize it for secure remote work, offering access to applications and data while maintaining stringent security protocols. It is particularly beneficial in scenarios requiring disaster recovery and seamless multi-session capabilities for globally dispersed teams.

Microsoft

ApplicationServer delivers applications, data and virtual desktops from a central location, providing continuous availability, resource-based load-balancing and complete network transparency.

Parallels

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Arsari Group _ PT Netmarks Indonesia, Izhevsk Elektromekhanicheskiy Zavod (IEMZ) _ Kupol, Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, Fylde Borough Council, YARSTROYREZE LLC, VSK Insurance House, Melenkovsky District of Vladimirskaya Oblast, Sofrigam SA, Antenna International, KingsGate Community Church, Norwegian American Hospital, Island Hotels Group, Medway Council, Medway Council, Voices of September 11th, MacDonald Training Center, Kansas Childrenês Service League, Scope,Next Generation Clubs, WTC Communications, Opera Australia, HSE Integrated, Danier, Bridgwater College, Kern County Mental Health, Tony Tiendas, Spears Manufacturing, Managed Insurance Services Inc., Intuitive Medical Software, M.J. Soffe, Mazda Motors, Israel Military Industries (IMI), Telfair, Upic Solutions, Teleflora, Fisher & Company

Azure Virtual Desktop vs. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS)