


One more note: purchasing Parallels does not give you a Windows license, or a Windows product key. Parallels Desktop Lite can only run Windows virtual machines if you pay for a subscription, however. There’s also Parallels Desktop Lite, which is free on the Mac App Store and lets you create both Linux and macOS virtual machines. If you just want to try out Parallels and see if it works for you, you can: there’s a 14 day trial of the software, which you can access without providing a credit card number. RELATED: How to Make Linux and macOS Virtual Machines for Free with Parallels Lite A $70 annual subscription gives you access to all updates “for free,” according to the Parallels website.


Virtual machines are complicated, but Parallels makes it reasonably simple to set one up and use it. You can even combine the two desktops, if you want, and run Windows software right on your Mac desktop from your Mac’s dock. This allows you to quickly switch between the Mac and Windows desktops. Parallels runs Windows within macOS, using what’s called a Virtual Machine. Sure, you could set up your Mac to run Windows with Boot Camp, but that means restarting your computer every time you need to use Windows. RELATED: How to Install Windows on a Mac With Boot Camp Why Use Parallels Instead of Boot Camp or VirtualBox?
