VMware Desktop Hypervisors: VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion: Local Mac, Windows and Linux Virtualization Desktop Hypervisor products from VMware provide IT pros, developers and businesses alike with a powerful local virtualization sandbox to build, run or support apps of any kind. Ultimately, Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMWare Fusion will continue to be improved at a rapid rate and each is available to download to try for free and you can decide which program you prefer. Site sponsor Other World Computing sells the latest versions of Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMWare Fusion. VMware Fusion 12 delivers the ultimate ‘Windows-on-Mac' experience Learn More Windows for Mac describes the ability to access and use a Windows operating system on a Mac computer.
- Vmware Fusion For Mac Download
- Vmware Fusion For Mac Windows 10
- What Is Vmware Fusion For Mac Osx
- Vmware Fusion For Mac Software
- What Is Vmware Fusion For Mac Catalina
PRODUCT
Is VMware Fusion 12 Pro a free update?
VMware Fusion 12 Pro is considered a ‘major release' and as such requires a new license to operate. Customers who currently own licenses for Fusion 10 Pro or Fusion 11 Pro are entitled to discounted upgrade pricing. Customers on older versions of Fusion (8.x and earlier) must purchase a new license to use Fusion 12 Pro
Is VMware Fusion 12 Player a free update?
VMware Fusion 12 is considered a ‘major release' and as such requires a new license to operate. Fusion 12 Player licenses are available in 2 varieties: Personal or Commercial. Commercial (paid) customers who currently own licenses for Fusion 10 or greater are entitled to discounted upgrade pricing. Commercial customers on older versions of Fusion (8.x and earlier) must purchase a new license. Personal use customers may register for a new free license from this link regardless of the currently owned license.
What programs can I run with VMware Fusion?
VMware Fusion lets you run macOS, Windows, Linux and other x86-based operating systems as virtual machines. Nearly all programs that run on these operating systems will run with VMware Fusion. Programs can range from common productivity suites, like Microsoft Office, to graphics-intensive programs such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks which require DirectX 11, as well as custom applications. Fusion Player and Fusion Pro can both also run containers and Kubernetes clusters with the built-in CLI ‘vctl.'
Can I play 3D games in a virtual machine?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support.
For Windows VMs Fusion now supports DirectX 11 (with Shader Model 5.0) and earlier.
For Windows and Linux guests Fusion provides OpenGL 4.1 capabilities.
Fusion uses Apple Metal graphics technology to render 3D hardware-accelerated graphics to virtual machines on compatible Mac systems.
See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Do I need Apple Boot Camp to install VMware Fusion?
Boot Camp is not required to run Windows on a Mac with VMware Fusion. However, if you already have Windows installed as a Boot Camp partition, VMware Fusion can easily create a Windows virtual machine based on your Boot Camp Windows installation. This will allow you to run Windows programs side-by-side with your Mac applications without having to reboot your Mac.
To the extent that ratings appear on this site, such rating is determined by our subjective opinion and based on a methodology that aggregates our analysis of brand market share and reputation, each brand's conversion rates, compensation paid to us and general consumer interest. Company listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement. What is best antivirus for mac os.
Can I migrate Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machines to VMware Fusion?
Yes. VMware Fusion 12 can import Parallels Desktop for Mac (up to version 15) based virtual machines. Simply launch VMware Fusion, go to the File menu, select ‘Import', select your virtual machine setting's file, and click ‘Import'.
Will VMware Fusion 12 slow down my Mac?
When not running virtual machines, VMware Fusion 12 has no impact on your Mac's overall performance. The impact on performance while running virtual machines, containers and Kubernetes clusters will mainly depend on the type of applications bring run, how many virtual machines/containers are running at the same time, how much RAM is available on your Mac, the speed of your CPU (GHz) and the speed of your storage. SSD-based Macs are recommended for optimal performance
See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Can I access and use USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 devices?
Yes. VMware Fusion supports USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and now 3.1 devices.
Does VMware Fusion 12 support Retina or 6K displays?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 supports Retina and 6K display Macs for a crisp and detailed experience of your Windows programs. Fusion 12 ensures you get a seamless experience when running Windows across Retina, 4K, 5K, 6K and non-Retina displays.
Can I use multiple displays with VMware Fusion?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 supports up to 10 displays in both full screen and Unity views.
Can I access Thunderbolt hard drives in Windows?
Thunderbolt ports cannot be directly forwarded to Windows VM's the same way that USB works. However, you can still access your Thunderbolt hard drives in VMware Fusion by mapping the hard drive to a VMware Shared Folder. Go to the Virtual Machine menu, select ‘Shared Folders' and select ‘Add Shared Folder'. Select your Thunderbolt hard drive and click ‘Open' to assign your Thunderbolt disk to the shared folder. To access your Thunderbolt hard drive in Windows, go to ‘VMware Shared Folders' shortcut on the desktop and select your Thunderbolt hard disk.
How many CPUs can I assign to a virtual machine?
You can assign up to 32 Virtual CPUs to a Fusion 12 virtual machine (requires at least 16 physical cores), so the virtual machine can harness the full power of a Mac using the latest Intel processors. It's recommended that sufficient resources are not allocated to virtual machines to ensure smooth host operation. For example, on a Mac with 6 cores, it would be unadvisable to assign more than 4 cores to a virtual machine. Application requirements vary, so experiment with your settings to find a balance.
There are two big names in the virtual machine software industry who have both developed high-class, consumer-friendly virtual machine monitor apps and as such are competing directly against one another. These two are Parallels Inc. and Dell's subsidiary VMware Inc, with the first to launch its software being Parallels in 2006, followed by VMware a year later.
Sold at the same price point in the U.S., both Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion pack in tons of features that make deploying and managing virtual machines a piece of cake – even for rookie computer users. If they're both on the top of their separate games, then, how can you even choose between the two?
| Features | VMware Fusion | Parallels Desktop |
| Logo | ||
| Rating | ||
| Reviews | ||
| Visit | ||
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
| Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
| Import Boot Camp Partitions | ||
| Windows Download | ||
| Windows Integrated Into macOS | ||
| Guest OS Support | ||
| Virtual Copy of macOS | ||
| Encryption | ||
| Automate Snapshots | ||
| Customize Startup | ||
| Quick Look |
| Integration |
| Windows Data Transfer |
| Shared Folders |
| DirectX 10.1 Support |
| Microsoft Cortana Integration |
| iCloud/Dropbox/Google Drive Integration |
| 'Open With' Option |
| Performance |
| Notification Center |
| Resource Optimization |
| TRIM Support |
| Disk Cleanup |
| Resolution |
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $6.66/mo | $79.99 |
| Free Version | 14 days | 30 days |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | No |
| Payment Methods |
| Visa |
| PayPal |
| Mastercard |
| American Express |
| Wire Transfer |
| Liberty Reserve |
| Bitcoin |
| Customer Support |
| 24/7 |
| Live Chat |
| On Call |
| Remote Desktop |
| Community |
Parallels Desktop
If the secondary platform you'll be using on the Mac is Windows, then Parallels Desktop will streamline its deployment. Thanks to its convenient one-click install option, users can just instruct the app to download a legitimate copy of Windows from Microsoft.
While both hypervisors do their job well, what makes the difference between Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion are the corresponding feature sets that they each pack. For example, with Parallels the guest operating system integration level goes as deep as having a button in Safari to open a specific website in Internet Explorer and a 'Call with iPhone' option when using the Windows browser. Motion control board for mach 4.
Parallels Desktop Downloading Windows 10
Shared Folders
Can I play 3D games in a virtual machine?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support.
For Windows VMs Fusion now supports DirectX 11 (with Shader Model 5.0) and earlier.
For Windows and Linux guests Fusion provides OpenGL 4.1 capabilities.
Fusion uses Apple Metal graphics technology to render 3D hardware-accelerated graphics to virtual machines on compatible Mac systems.
See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Do I need Apple Boot Camp to install VMware Fusion?
Boot Camp is not required to run Windows on a Mac with VMware Fusion. However, if you already have Windows installed as a Boot Camp partition, VMware Fusion can easily create a Windows virtual machine based on your Boot Camp Windows installation. This will allow you to run Windows programs side-by-side with your Mac applications without having to reboot your Mac.
To the extent that ratings appear on this site, such rating is determined by our subjective opinion and based on a methodology that aggregates our analysis of brand market share and reputation, each brand's conversion rates, compensation paid to us and general consumer interest. Company listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement. What is best antivirus for mac os.
Can I migrate Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machines to VMware Fusion?
Yes. VMware Fusion 12 can import Parallels Desktop for Mac (up to version 15) based virtual machines. Simply launch VMware Fusion, go to the File menu, select ‘Import', select your virtual machine setting's file, and click ‘Import'.
Will VMware Fusion 12 slow down my Mac?
When not running virtual machines, VMware Fusion 12 has no impact on your Mac's overall performance. The impact on performance while running virtual machines, containers and Kubernetes clusters will mainly depend on the type of applications bring run, how many virtual machines/containers are running at the same time, how much RAM is available on your Mac, the speed of your CPU (GHz) and the speed of your storage. SSD-based Macs are recommended for optimal performance
See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Can I access and use USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 devices?
Yes. VMware Fusion supports USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and now 3.1 devices.
Does VMware Fusion 12 support Retina or 6K displays?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 supports Retina and 6K display Macs for a crisp and detailed experience of your Windows programs. Fusion 12 ensures you get a seamless experience when running Windows across Retina, 4K, 5K, 6K and non-Retina displays.
Can I use multiple displays with VMware Fusion?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 supports up to 10 displays in both full screen and Unity views.
Can I access Thunderbolt hard drives in Windows?
Thunderbolt ports cannot be directly forwarded to Windows VM's the same way that USB works. However, you can still access your Thunderbolt hard drives in VMware Fusion by mapping the hard drive to a VMware Shared Folder. Go to the Virtual Machine menu, select ‘Shared Folders' and select ‘Add Shared Folder'. Select your Thunderbolt hard drive and click ‘Open' to assign your Thunderbolt disk to the shared folder. To access your Thunderbolt hard drive in Windows, go to ‘VMware Shared Folders' shortcut on the desktop and select your Thunderbolt hard disk.
How many CPUs can I assign to a virtual machine?
You can assign up to 32 Virtual CPUs to a Fusion 12 virtual machine (requires at least 16 physical cores), so the virtual machine can harness the full power of a Mac using the latest Intel processors. It's recommended that sufficient resources are not allocated to virtual machines to ensure smooth host operation. For example, on a Mac with 6 cores, it would be unadvisable to assign more than 4 cores to a virtual machine. Application requirements vary, so experiment with your settings to find a balance.
There are two big names in the virtual machine software industry who have both developed high-class, consumer-friendly virtual machine monitor apps and as such are competing directly against one another. These two are Parallels Inc. and Dell's subsidiary VMware Inc, with the first to launch its software being Parallels in 2006, followed by VMware a year later.
Sold at the same price point in the U.S., both Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion pack in tons of features that make deploying and managing virtual machines a piece of cake – even for rookie computer users. If they're both on the top of their separate games, then, how can you even choose between the two?
| Features | VMware Fusion | Parallels Desktop |
| Logo | ||
| Rating | ||
| Reviews | ||
| Visit | ||
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
| Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
| Import Boot Camp Partitions | ||
| Windows Download | ||
| Windows Integrated Into macOS | ||
| Guest OS Support | ||
| Virtual Copy of macOS | ||
| Encryption | ||
| Automate Snapshots | ||
| Customize Startup | ||
| Quick Look |
| Integration |
| Windows Data Transfer |
| Shared Folders |
| DirectX 10.1 Support |
| Microsoft Cortana Integration |
| iCloud/Dropbox/Google Drive Integration |
| 'Open With' Option |
| Performance |
| Notification Center |
| Resource Optimization |
| TRIM Support |
| Disk Cleanup |
| Resolution |
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $6.66/mo | $79.99 |
| Free Version | 14 days | 30 days |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | No |
| Payment Methods |
| Visa |
| PayPal |
| Mastercard |
| American Express |
| Wire Transfer |
| Liberty Reserve |
| Bitcoin |
| Customer Support |
| 24/7 |
| Live Chat |
| On Call |
| Remote Desktop |
| Community |
Parallels Desktop
If the secondary platform you'll be using on the Mac is Windows, then Parallels Desktop will streamline its deployment. Thanks to its convenient one-click install option, users can just instruct the app to download a legitimate copy of Windows from Microsoft.
While both hypervisors do their job well, what makes the difference between Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion are the corresponding feature sets that they each pack. For example, with Parallels the guest operating system integration level goes as deep as having a button in Safari to open a specific website in Internet Explorer and a 'Call with iPhone' option when using the Windows browser. Motion control board for mach 4.
Parallels Desktop Downloading Windows 10
Shared Folders
App Customization Options
Running two operating systems on the same computer will obviously have an impact on system resources, but Parallels Desktop offers the option to optimize energy saving settings for more personally tailored performance. Parallels will also pause the virtual machine if it notices that no apps are running. But it is in the performance where Parallels really shines, with a noticeably speedy boot up time when launching Windows. Downsides include the Windows app appearing in the dock as an app folder and Coherence mode in need of some design tweaking.
VMware Fusion
While it doesn't have the one-click Windows install option of Parallels' software, VMware Fusion is a trustable hypervisor for a wide number of guest operating systems. Running this VMM will streamline the integration level of the guest operating system at a very early stage. Compared to its main competitor, VMware's isolated or seamless integration of the secondary OS is far more simplified and automated.
Vmware Fusion For Mac Download
When it comes to performance, VMware Fusion feels just as quick; sometimes the reaction time is faster than Parallels' but the boot times matched that of its rival. It lacks the energy saving settings of Parallels Desktop, however, although it does also pause the virtual machine when it detects a period of zero activity.
Select Operating System
Vmware Fusion For Mac Windows 10
Choose Windows Firmware
What Is Vmware Fusion For Mac Osx
Vmware Fusion For Mac Software
Enable Shared Folders
When it comes to virtual machines, though, their ability to take snapshots of the guest operating system is one of the most convenient features, making troubleshooting much easier. Unfortunately, this is where VMware Fusion falters, since it doesn't support automated snapshots as Parallels Desktop does and, therefore, means users are unable to restore their virtual machines without losing any data.
Conclusion
The heavy load of features makes choosing between these two virtual machine software packages a hard task since both have the same $79.99 price tag in the U.S. What makes the difference, though, is the pricing strategy that the two companies follow.
Parallels Desktop is available as a subscription, which means that users will always get the latest software and features, but the license is on a per computer basis. The lifetime license option is priced higher at $99.99.
VMware Fusion's pricing strategy is a bit different, just like its feature set. The company behind the software charges users for a lifetime license, as well as offering an upgrade at a discounted price. However, it is worth noting that this license is per user, so you can install VMware Fusion on all your personal devices.
What Is Vmware Fusion For Mac Catalina
Both virtual machines are available with a free trial, the only difference between the two being that Parallels Desktop provides a 14-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, while VMware Fusion can be tested for 30 days before you are prompted to buy a license.
