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Parallels RAS review

#2 of 25 in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software

A broad hybrid VDI platform for centralized desktop, application, and remote PC delivery.

9.1/10Editor score
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Parallels RAS is a virtual application and desktop delivery platform for organizations, IT administrators, service providers, and enterprises. It brings application publishing, desktop publishing, VDI, Remote Desktop Services, Azure Virtual Desktop, and remote PC access into a centralized administration console. Deployments can span on-premises, private-cloud, hybrid, and public-cloud environments, with access through native clients or an HTML5 browser. Support for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, and browser access suits organizations with varied endpoint fleets.

Licensing follows a contact-sales, concurrent-user model rather than a self-service public price structure. A 30-day trial or demo gives teams a defined evaluation period, while there is no perpetual free plan. Platform coverage is a major consideration: Parallels RAS integrates with Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware ESXi/vCenter, Nutanix AHV, Scale Computing HC3, Microsoft Azure, Azure Virtual Desktop, Amazon EC2, Google Cloud, Proxmox, Virtuozzo, KVM, and Xen. That range makes it relevant for hybrid and multi-cloud estates, especially where administrators want one management layer across different infrastructure choices.

The product’s depth extends from template-based provisioning, autoscaling, and VM lifecycle management to FSLogix profile containers, load balancing, monitoring, reporting, session management, SAML SSO, external identity providers, GPU-accelerated application publishing, REST API access, and PowerShell automation. This breadth fits teams managing mixed desktop and application delivery requirements or service providers supporting multiple environments. Organizations seeking flexible, centralized control should consider Parallels RAS; smaller teams with a narrow remote-access requirement may prefer a simpler tool with a more direct purchasing model.

Parallels RAS pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Supports VDI, RDSH, Azure Virtual Desktop, and remote PCs
    • Connects with major on-premises, private-cloud, and public-cloud platforms
    • Combines provisioning, autoscaling, profiles, monitoring, and automation
  • Where it doesn't
    • 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

Parallels RAS fact sheet, pricing and score →

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