The Parallels RAS Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Parallels RAS in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Parallels RAS
The Insider’s Guide
Virtual apps and desktops across on-premises, hybrid and cloud
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Parallels RAS’s own pages.
Made by Parallels International GmbH · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Parallels RAS’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Parallels RAS’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) publishes applications and virtual desktops to users on any device from on-premises, private cloud, public cloud or hybrid hosts. It includes a secure gateway and load balancing, and works with Azure Virtual Desktop and AWS. Licensing is per concurrent user, and no list prices are published.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Parallels RAS, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You provide the infrastructure and an administrator sets it up.
- 1
Best for company apps and desktops from servers you host
Parallels RAS delivers apps and desktops to any device from a single admin console, with licensing by concurrent users.
- 2
You can try it first
30-day free trial, no credit card required
- 3
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 4
Hybrid and multi-cloud hosting
Hosts can run on-premises, in private or public clouds, with support for Azure Virtual Desktop, AVD Hybrid and AWS EC2, and for hypervisors such as Hyper-V, Nutanix and VMware ESX.
- 5
Any-device clients
The vendor lists clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web (HTML5), and its download page also offers a Chrome client.
- 6
Single admin console
App and desktop management, image handling, reporting, gateway, load balancing and authentication are handled in one console across sites.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 35 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Parallels RAS you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Parallels RAS at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Parallels International GmbH
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for company apps and desktops from servers you host
Parallels RAS delivers apps and desktops to any device from a single admin console, with licensing by concurrent users. Prices aren't published, you supply the hosting yourself, and the 30-day trial is for evaluation only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published: licensing is by concurrent users and purchase goes through the vendor or a partner, so it sits at C. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day trial with no card is offered, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | B | Hybrid and multi-cloud hosting, a single console, a bundled gateway and load balancing, and multi-tenancy for MSPs cover the core of the job. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You provide the infrastructure and an administrator sets it up. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android clients, with Azure Virtual Desktop, AWS, Hyper-V, Nutanix, ESX, FSLogix and Proxmox. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Parallels RAS is for
- Fits if you are an IT administrator who wants one console across on-premises and cloud hosts
- Works for MSPs who need multi-tenancy
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a personal remote-access app, as this is for IT administrators
- Watch out: prices are unpublished and buying goes through the vendor or a partner
- Tight if you have no servers, since you supply hosting on premises or in a cloud
- Not for you if you need more than a 30-day look, as the trial is for evaluation
Good to know
Good for
- IT teams delivering Windows apps from a mix of data center and cloud
- Organizations extending Azure Virtual Desktop with extra management
- Managed service providers hosting several customers
Worth knowing
- Prices are not published; the vendor says licensing is based on concurrent users.
- The 30-day trial is for evaluation, and a purchase goes through the vendor or a partner.
- It is a platform for IT administrators, not a personal remote-access app.
- You supply the hosting infrastructure, whether on-premises or in a cloud.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Parallels RAS's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No price is published: licensing is by concurrent users and purchase goes through the vendor or a partner, so it sits at C.
We could not confirm Parallels RAS’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. parallels.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Virtual apps and desktops across on-premises, hybrid and cloud. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: workflow automation, file sharing, remote desktop.
Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android clients, with Azure Virtual Desktop, AWS, Hyper-V, Nutanix, ESX, FSLogix and Proxmox.
- Hybrid and multi-cloud hosting
- Hosts can run on-premises, in private or public clouds, with support for Azure Virtual Desktop, AVD Hybrid and AWS EC2, and for hypervisors such as Hyper-V, Nutanix and VMware ESX.
- Any-device clients
- The vendor lists clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web (HTML5), and its download page also offers a Chrome client.
- Single admin console
- App and desktop management, image handling, reporting, gateway, load balancing and authentication are handled in one console across sites.
- Included gateway and load balancing
- A Secure Gateway and a High Availability Load Balancer come with the product, or you can use a third-party load balancer.
- Multi-tenancy for MSPs
- Built-in multi-tenancy serves managed service providers, software vendors or enterprises that keep resources segregated.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Azure Virtual Desktop
- AWS
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- Nutanix
- VMware ESX
- FSLogix
- Proxmox
Parallels RAS is made by Parallels International GmbH.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Parallels RAS's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 79 of 85) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Parallels RAS’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 85
- CFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 85
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 85
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 79 of 85
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Parallels RAS you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Parallels RAS’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Citrix DaaS, Omnissa Horizon, Cameyo and Apporto
The 4 tools Parallels RAS is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.6GPA
Citrix DaaS
Paid
Virtual apps and desktops delivered from cloud or on-premises.
- Only Parallels RAS lists an iOS app.
- Parallels RAS also covers file sharing.
- 1.8GPA
Omnissa Horizon
Paid
Virtual desktops and apps on-premises, in the cloud or hybrid.
- Only Parallels RAS lists a web app.
- Parallels RAS also covers file sharing.
- 1.6GPA
Cameyo
Paid
Virtual app delivery that serves Windows apps as web apps.
- Only Parallels RAS lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Parallels RAS also covers workflow automation.
- 1.6GPA
Apporto
Paid
Browser-based virtual desktops and computer labs for work and schools.
- Only Parallels RAS lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Parallels RAS also covers workflow automation and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
8
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Parallels RAS free?
No, Parallels RAS is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
What platforms does Parallels RAS work on?
Parallels RAS is available on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is Parallels RAS open source?
Parallels RAS is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Parallels RAS integrate with?
Parallels RAS's listing names Azure Virtual Desktop, AWS, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nutanix, VMware ESX, FSLogix and Proxmox.
Who makes Parallels RAS?
Parallels RAS is made by Parallels International GmbH.
What are the alternatives to Parallels RAS?
The closest alternatives to Parallels RAS in our directory are Citrix DaaS, Omnissa Horizon, Cameyo and Apporto.
How does Parallels RAS compare with other remote desktop apps?
Parallels RAS's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
Could I make my own version of Parallels RAS?
To replace Parallels RAS you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Parallels RAS’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Parallels's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Parallels International GmbH. Prices change, so check parallels.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Parallels RAS, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/parallels-ras
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Parallels RAS: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/parallels-ras
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/parallels-ras/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Parallels RAS, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Parallels RAS’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Parallels RAS is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Parallels International GmbH. Prices and plans change: check parallels.com before you buy.