Best Parallels RAS Alternatives in 2026
The top Parallels RAS alternatives are Omnissa Horizon, Citrix DaaS and UDS Enterprise: 15 virtual desktop infrastructure software our editors would look at instead of Parallels RAS, in our ranking order.
Parallels RAS: A broad hybrid VDI platform for centralized desktop, application, and remote PC delivery. Where it falls short: paid licensing uses a contact-sales, concurrent-user model.
Switching from Parallels RAS? For most virtual desktop infrastructure software buyers the best Parallels RAS alternative is Omnissa Horizon, built for mature enterprise VDI across many clouds. On a budget, Inuvika OVD Enterprise starts at $7.50/user/mo. Hive Fabric has a free plan, which Parallels RAS does not.
Why People Look for a Parallels RAS Alternative
- Paid licensing uses a contact-sales, concurrent-user model
- Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of smaller deployments
- No perpetual free plan is provided
- No free plan — 4 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallOmnissa Horizon9.3
Mature enterprise VDI across many clouds
Visit Omnissa Horizon - Lowest priceInuvika OVD Enterprise8.6
Paid plans from $7.50/user/mo
Visit Inuvika OVD Enterprise - Best free optionHive Fabric8.4
Has a free plan (Parallels RAS has none)
Visit Hive Fabric
All 15 Parallels RAS Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
-
Best forMature enterprise VDI across many clouds
- Better than Parallels RAS:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.1
Enterprise VDI with broad infrastructure support, automation, and contact-sales pricing.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
9.3/10★★★★★Try Omnissa Horizon -
Best forLarge hybrid and multi-cloud VDI deployments
Broad VDI coverage for organizations managing complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
- Identity integration
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Citrix -
Best forBroad, cost-conscious enterprise VDI
Broad VDI coverage with strong platform support and annual pricing for enterprise deployments.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit UDS Enterprise -
Best forMicrosoft-centric enterprise VDI
A broad Azure-based VDI service for organizations invested in Microsoft.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forEnterprise VDI with resilience and IT operations
A feature-rich enterprise VDI platform for hybrid deployment, resilience, and IT operations.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Workspot -
Best forAffordable cross-platform hybrid VDI
Affordable hybrid VDI for mixed Windows and Linux environments across varied endpoints.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- Identity integration
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Inuvika -
Best forMulti-cloud desktop brokering and visualization
A broad hybrid VDI broker for multi-cloud desktops, GPU workloads, and RemoteApp delivery.
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
- Identity integration
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Leostream -
Best forOpen hybrid VDI with flexible infrastructure
- Better than Parallels RAS:
- Free plan
A broad hybrid VDI platform with free access and infrastructure flexibility.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Hive Fabric -
Best forNutanix-centered cloud or on-premises VDI
A flexible VDI platform for organizations running Nutanix or public-cloud infrastructure.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Nutanix Frame -
Best forBrowser-first workspaces and remote applications
- Better than Parallels RAS:
- Free plan
A flexible browser-first workspace platform with strong workload and identity options.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
8.2/10★★★★☆Try Kasm Workspaces -
Best forOpen-source self-hosted VDI teams
A flexible self-hosted VDI platform for teams that need control, GPU support, and broad access options.
- GPU support
- Identity integration
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit IsardVDI -
Best forManaged cloud desktops on AWS
A managed AWS desktop service with flexible bundles and clear entry pricing.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forOpen-source Linux desktop delivery
- Better than Parallels RAS:
- Free plan
A Linux-focused VDI platform with broad client access and flexible deployment.
- Profile management
- Application virtualization
- Identity integration
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit QVD -
Best forHybrid Windows and Linux desktop deployments
A flexible hybrid VDI platform with broad client access and focused directory integrations.
- Application virtualization
- GPU support
- Identity integration
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit NComputing -
Best forLinux desktop and application hosting
- Better than Parallels RAS:
- Free plan
A focused Linux desktop host with browser access, clustering, and flexible client support.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ThinLinc
Parallels RAS Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Parallels RAS?
Omnissa Horizon: #1 in our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. Enterprise VDI with broad infrastructure support, automation, and contact-sales pricing.
Is there a free alternative to Parallels RAS?
Yes. Hive Fabric, Kasm Workspaces, IsardVDI, QVD and ThinLinc have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Parallels RAS?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Inuvika OVD Enterprise starts lowest, at $7.50/user/mo.
Why do people look for Parallels RAS alternatives?
Paid licensing uses a contact-sales, concurrent-user model; Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of smaller deployments; No perpetual free plan is provided.
How do I switch from Parallels RAS?
Export your data from Parallels RAS (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Parallels RAS.
How to Switch from Parallels RAS
- Export your data from Parallels RAS (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Parallels RAS.
Parallels RAS vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Desktop types | Profile management | Application virtualization | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Parallels RAS | No | Hybrid | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 1 | Omnissa Horizon | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |||
| 2 | Citrix DaaS | No | Hybrid | Both | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | UDS Enterprise | No | €78/user/yr | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 4 | Azure Virtual Desktop | No | 8.8 | |||||
| 5 | Workspot Enterprise VDI Platform | No | Hybrid | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Inuvika OVD Enterprise | No | $7.50/user/mo | Hybrid | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 7 | Leostream Platform | Hybrid | Both | Yes | 8.5 | |||
| 8 | Hive Fabric | Yes | Hybrid | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Nutanix Frame | No | 8.3 | |||||
| 10 | Kasm Workspaces | Yes | Hybrid | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | IsardVDI | Free | Hybrid | Both | 8.1 | |||
| 12 | Amazon WorkSpaces | No | $25/device/mo | 8.0 | ||||
| 13 | QVD | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | NComputing VERDE VDI | No | Hybrid | Both | Yes | 7.8 | ||
| 15 | ThinLinc | Yes | $122/user/yr | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Parallels RAS vs Omnissa Horizon
- Parallels RAS vs Citrix DaaS
- Parallels RAS vs UDS Enterprise
- Parallels RAS vs Azure Virtual Desktop
- Parallels RAS vs Workspot Enterprise VDI Platform
- Parallels RAS vs Inuvika OVD Enterprise
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update