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Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs Parallels Desktop comparison

Citrix and Parallels are both solutions in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category. Citrix is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5, while Parallels is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.0. Citrix holds a 13.7% mindshare in VD, compared to Parallels’s 10.2% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Parallels users who would recommend it.
Parallels Desktop
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100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Citrix DaaS and Parallels Desktop are competing in the virtual desktop and application delivery market. Citrix DaaS has an advantage in scalability and support, while Parallels Desktop is noted for its feature set and overall value.

Features: Citrix DaaS offers robust enterprise-level capabilities, providing extensive scalability and integration with various IT environments. Key features include scalability, enterprise-level security, and integration with different IT ecosystems. Parallels Desktop delivers flexibility for seamless integration with macOS and Windows, making it ideal for high-performance application access on Mac devices. Key features include cross-platform compatibility, high-speed performance, and ease of use for both personal and professional tasks.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Citrix DaaS supports complex enterprise needs with a sophisticated deployment process, backed by comprehensive customer service. Parallels Desktop provides a straightforward setup process, beneficial for individual and small business users seeking quick, efficient deployment, and is supported by accessible customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Citrix DaaS generally incurs a higher setup cost due to its extensive capabilities, promising significant ROI for large enterprises over time. Parallels Desktop offers a cost-effective solution with quicker ROI, appealing to smaller businesses or individuals. Citrix focuses on long-term value for large-scale operations, while Parallels emphasizes immediate cost efficiency.

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To learn more, read our detailed Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Parallels Desktop Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Parallels Desktop
September 2025
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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

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citri...
Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
127
Ranking in other categories
Application Virtualization (1st), Remote Access (4th), Desktop as a Service (DaaS) (1st)
Parallels Desktop
Ranking in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
6th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category, the mindshare of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is 13.7%, up from 10.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Parallels Desktop is 10.2%, down from 12.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)13.7%
Parallels Desktop10.2%
Other76.1%
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
 

Featured Reviews

Grant Waddell - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly and easily accessible, but cost could be made cheaper
We use Citrix Workspace on Citrix Cloud. We have all of our servers on the AWS public cloud. There are a number of tools that we can implement that would save us costs. However, we've stuck to Citrix for convenience. If the prices keep increasing, we will have to consider other solutions. Users need to understand the tool's limitations correctly and what they require from a usability perspective. They should also understand the configuration of security policies. In some cases, people are unable to download or upload files onto their PCs, which is necessary for them to do their work. Users should understand the limitations of the product or the configuration options. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
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Grant-Donald - PeerSpot reviewer
It integrates seamlessly with macOS, but it's not compatible with VMware
Parallels Desktop does the same thing as VMware but for Apple users Parallels Desktop integrates seamlessly with macOS. It works better than VMware on Apple operating systems.  The biggest challenge is compatibility between VMware and Parallels because the two systems are incompatible. It can be…
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops is a stable solution."
"The installation and maintenance are good.​"
"The ease of access and the confidentiality and security that it provides is what we like best."
"The product is simple to set up, and its deep integration with Microsoft is also a valuable feature."
"The tool helps me to connect with some apps of our company and resolve the tickets."
"ICA/HDX optimization policies."
"The most valuable feature is the seamless application edition with the low-level network bandwidth because we have between 10 and 15 sites in France with a low level of communication needs. We need to deploy our main application, the ERP system, and we needed an efficient solution to provide a solution to the remote sites, with very small links between the data center and the remote site."
"Citrix has had the top remote display for the last 20 years, and there is a huge technological gap between Citrix and its competitors."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pros
"I like how, with Parallels, you can either boot into Mac or Windows to get better control over the resources of the laptops since you're sharing the resources in dual mode."
"Parallels Desktop integrates seamlessly with macOS. It works better than VMware on Apple operating systems."
 

Cons

"The Endpoint Management solution needs improvement when it comes to mobile device management. For example, they are still not supporting Windows 10 and this feature is required by many customers."
"The initial setup is very complex."
"Pricing can be lower and roaming profiles need to be fixed to work consistently."
"Pricing and technical support need improvement."
"Citrix Workforce is good, but it needs improvement in diagnosing network issues. When errors occur, it is difficult to determine if they're due to network issues, Workspace issues, or environment issues"
"I would like to see simplification in the management of the on-prem infrastructure component of Citrix DaaS, particularly in the studio tool used to manage the DaaS infrastructure."
"We would like to be able to provide VDI, a full desktop, to each of our users."
"Tech support can be slow if you do not receive help from the US representatives."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) cons
"There may have been some issues with device drivers on my Mac. Similarly, there are some issues with transferring data from Parallels to the Mac."
"The biggest challenge is compatibility between VMware and Parallels because the two systems are incompatible. It can be challenging if you are switching between Windows and Mac. I recommend sticking with one product because there isn't good compatibility between the different products."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Citrix is expensive."
"The licensing is $125 USD per user."
"I suggest using the concurrent user licensing scheme."
"We have more than a million seats under management so we get the best price."
"If one is a high price and ten is a low price, I rate the tool's price a three."
"The tool is expensive."
"The price of the solution could be less expensive. There are different versions to their solution and the price keeps increasing."
"Citrix is a mid-range cost solution compared to some others out there."
More Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) pricing and cost advice
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
13%
University
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business43
Midsize Enterprise21
Large Enterprise68
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
My focus has primarily been on publishing virtual applications.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
I rate the product’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?
I have found that Citrix DaaS is still a complex product, especially on the desktop side, which affects scalability. Although it works well on the apps side, the desktop aspect still has room for i...
See all answers
What do you like most about Parallels Desktop?
I like how, with Parallels, you can either boot into Mac or Windows to get better control over the resources of the laptops since you're sharing the resources in dual mode.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Parallels Desktop?
If you want the standard version, it is more expensive but more advanced. You get what you pay for. These products cost money, and the company has to make a profit.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Parallels Desktop?
There may have been some issues with device drivers on my Mac. Similarly, there are some issues with transferring data from Parallels to the Mac.
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
September 2025
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) reportDownload Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) product report
Buyer's Guide
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
September 2025
Parallels Desktop reportDownload Parallels Desktop product report
 

Also Known As

XenDesktop, XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), Citrix Workspace
No data available
 

Interactive Demo

Citrix
Demo not available
Parallels
 

Overview

Enable secure, flexible work with the leader in virtual apps and desktops

Deliver desktop as a service (DaaS) from any cloud or datacenter

Get started with Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) in minutes to provide a familiar, high-performance digital workspace experience to your users. We’ll manage the infrastructure and security. You focus on your business.

Citrix

Parallels Desktop is a virtualization software for Mac that allows users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems alongside macOS without rebooting. It provides a seamless experience for users who need access to different operating systems on a single machine.

As a powerful cross-platform solution, Parallels Desktop is designed for developers, testers, and users who require flexibility in operating multiple systems concurrently. It efficiently manages resources, offering significant advantages for those who need Windows applications on a Mac without compromising on performance. Its intuitive setup and strong integration with macOS make it highly appealing to technical teams looking for productivity enhancements.

What features stand out in Parallels Desktop?
  • Coherence Mode: Integrates Windows applications with macOS for a unified user experience.
  • Resource Allocation: Allows users to fine-tune resources dedicated to each virtual machine for optimal performance.
  • Cross-Platform Data Transfer: Enables easy sharing of files and data between operating systems.
What benefits and ROI should users look for?
  • Increased Productivity: Seamless access to Windows applications on Mac can enhance workflow efficiency.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Reduces the need for multiple devices, saving on hardware costs.
  • Improved Flexibility: Offers the ability to run testing environments on a single device, increasing operational flexibility.

In industries like software development and design, Parallels Desktop is often implemented to streamline operations, allowing professionals to simultaneously utilize macOS and Windows tools. This adaptability proves essential in environments that demand the use of diverse software applications, ensuring continuity and productivity.

Parallels
 

Sample Customers

Exelon, Aeronamic, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Alameda County Medical Center, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Aloysius Stichting, Amarchand Mangaldas, AmBev, Amnet Technology Solutions, Arval
Lytro, University of Washington, Slalom, Veeva Systems, Oklahoma Christian University
Buyer's Guide
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Parallels Desktop
September 2025
Free Report: Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) vs. Parallels Desktop
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