Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion are the two leading virtualization solutions for running Windows, Linux, and other operating systems on macOS, especially on Apple silicon (M-series) Macs. Both support seamless VM creation, hardware acceleration, and cross-platform app usage without rebooting.

As of January 2026, Parallels Desktop (version ~20–26 range, with ongoing annual updates) remains a paid product focused on consumer and professional ease-of-use, while VMware Fusion (now at 25H2 following Broadcom’s calendar versioning shift) is free for personal use (and offers Pro features), making it more accessible for many users.
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