Run Windows on Mac 2026: Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, UTM and VirtualBox
A research-based comparison of four ways to run Windows on a Mac in 2026, built from each vendor's own pages: free options, Apple silicon (M-series) support, one-time payment, Windows on Arm, and what the vendors do and do not state. Not lab-tested.
If you need a Windows-only program on a Mac, the usual route is a virtual machine: an app that runs a second operating system in a window. The catch on newer Macs is the chip. Macs with Apple silicon (the M-series) run Arm processors, so the version of Windows you install is usually the Arm build, and the tools differ in how they treat that.
This page compares four virtualization apps: Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, UTM and VirtualBox. It uses what each vendor states on its own pages. We did not install Windows or run any of these apps ourselves.
How this comparison was made
- This is a research-based comparison, not a lab test. We did not install, run or benchmark anything, so there are no speed or compatibility numbers here.
- Every claim comes from the vendors' own pages, listed at the bottom, as read on 19 October 2026. Where a vendor does not state something, we say "not stated". That does not mean the feature is absent.
- Source gaps: VMware's own Fusion product page returned no readable body text, so Fusion's licensing and platform facts come from Broadcom's and VMware's FAQ, blog post and a Broadcom knowledge base article instead. We did not read the Parallels knowledge base article on Windows on Arm limitations, or the UTM licence page. We read only part of the VirtualBox manual's first chapter, and it disagrees with the current Downloads page (see the VirtualBox note).
- We do not publish prices. They change and differ by country. Each section links to the vendor's page so you can see the current terms for your region.
Quick answers
Which one fits which need
- A paid app with Microsoft's authorization stated: Parallels Desktop says it is authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Arm on Apple silicon.
- Free, from a large vendor: VMware Fusion is described by VMware and Broadcom as free for commercial, educational and personal use, with no support tickets for free users.
- Free and open source: UTM describes itself that way; a paid Mac App Store version exists with the same features.
- Free base package, cross-platform: VirtualBox lists separate Intel and Apple Silicon macOS downloads.
Things to check before choosing
- On Apple silicon, Fusion runs only Arm guests, so you must use the Arm build of Windows 11. Older Windows versions have no Arm build.
- On Apple silicon Macs, Parallels virtualizes Windows 11 on Arm; standard x86 and x64 Intel Windows applications run inside that virtual machine via Microsoft's built-in emulation layer.
- UTM says x86/x64 guests on Apple silicon run through slower emulation.
- Parallels Pro is primarily a subscription, and Intel Mac support ends with Parallels Desktop 26.
- Windows itself needs a licence. Parallels says you can bring your own key; the other vendors' pages we read do not say.
Side-by-side overview
| Parallels Desktop | VMware Fusion | UTM | VirtualBox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is (vendor pages) | Virtualization app for Mac with Standard, Pro, Business and Enterprise editions | Desktop hypervisor for Mac; the vendor calls the free product Fusion Pro | System emulator and virtual machine host for macOS and iOS, based on QEMU | Virtualization software for Windows, macOS, Linux and Oracle Solaris hosts |
| Free option | Free trial; length not stated | Free for commercial, educational and personal use (vendor) | Free and open source (vendor) | Base package under the GPL; Extension Pack free for personal and educational use |
| Apple silicon (M-series) | Yes; Apple silicon is required from version 27 | Yes (Intel and Apple silicon Macs) | Yes | Separate Apple Silicon download listed |
| Windows on Arm | Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise (Arm), authorized by Microsoft per the vendor | Windows 11 for Arm | Windows guest tools support arm64 builds; Windows builds supported: not stated | Windows 11 listed as an Arm64 guest on macOS hosts |
| One-time payment? | Standard: yes, current version only; Pro: generally not available | Not offered; the paid products are no longer sold | Not stated (paid App Store version exists; payment model not stated) | No (free) |
| x86 on Apple silicon | Preview of x86 emulation in version 26 | Not supported; Arm guests only | Slower emulation | Not stated on the current pages we read |
| Support | Subscriptions include 24x7 support (vendor) | No support tickets for free users | Not stated | Not stated |
“Not stated” means the vendor pages we read do not say it. It does not mean the feature is absent.
What each vendor says
Parallels Desktop
Parallels describes its product as the only solution authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Apple silicon, and says it runs the Arm version of Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise. You can bring your own Windows 11 licence key. The editions are Standard (light home use, up to 8 GB virtual memory and 4 virtual CPUs per VM), Pro (developers and power users, with command line tools and larger VM limits), Business and Enterprise. Standard is offered as a subscription or a one-time purchase for the current version only; Pro is primarily a subscription, and the vendor says a one-time licence is generally not available for it. The product page offers a free trial but does not state its length, and a separate 30-day money-back guarantee applies to purchases on parallels.com.
x86 emulation on Apple silicon: On Macs with Apple silicon (M-series), Parallels virtualizes the Arm build of Windows 11 at near-native hardware speed. Traditional 32-bit and 64-bit Windows applications built for Intel/AMD chips (x86 and x64) run seamlessly inside this Windows on Arm environment using Microsoft’s built-in binary translation and emulation layer. The version 26 system requirements also mentioned a preview of direct x86 emulation for certain x86 operating systems. However, Parallels focuses on Arm guest OSes (Windows 11, Linux distributions, and macOS), and full operating-system-level x86 emulation is inherently slower than native Arm virtualization. Software that requires custom low-level x86 kernel drivers or hardware-level anti-cheat systems is not supported under Windows on Arm emulation. The version 27 system requirements list any Apple silicon chip as the minimum and state that Intel Mac support ends with version 26. Our longer write-up is the Parallels Desktop review. See the current price and trial on Parallels’ page (affiliate link).
VMware Fusion
VMware’s blog says Fusion and Workstation became free for everyone, “commercial, educational, and personal users alike,” from 11 November 2024, and that the paid Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro are no longer sold. The FAQ says no licence key is required, that Fusion is available for Intel and Apple silicon Macs, and that it supports Windows 11 for Arm on Apple silicon, noting that not all x86 guest features are available because of hardware differences. A Broadcom knowledge base article says Fusion on Apple silicon can only run arm64 operating systems, that you must use the Arm variant of Windows 11, and that Windows 10 for Arm is not expected to be fully supported in the same way. Free users are not entitled to support through Broadcom’s Global Support Team; support is limited to community forums, documentation and knowledge base articles. The FAQ says licensing details for compliance are covered in Broadcom’s support documentation, which we did not read. See Fusion’s licensing and FAQ on VMware’s site.
UTM
UTM’s site says it is “and always will be completely free and open source.” A Mac App Store version exists; the site says its only advantage is automatic updates and that buying it funds development, and gives no price in the text we read. UTM says it uses Apple’s Hypervisor framework to run ARM64 operating systems on Apple silicon at near native speed, and that slower emulation covers Intel x86/x64 on Apple silicon. It can use Apple Virtualization for macOS and Linux guests, and macOS guests require an Apple silicon Mac. The site shows Windows 11 running in UTM but does not name which Windows builds are supported; the Windows guest page says the guest tools support arm64 builds and notes an experimental DirectX 3D driver. Intel Mac host support is not stated on the pages we read. See UTM’s site.
VirtualBox
VirtualBox’s Downloads page lists separate “macOS / Intel hosts” and “macOS / Apple Silicon hosts” packages (version 7.2.20 when we read it). It says platform packages are released under the GPL version 3, and that the Extension Pack is available for personal and educational use under the PUEL licence, with commercial or enterprise terms available. The current manual says VirtualBox can run a selection of Arm guests on Arm hosts, lists Windows 11 (released versions) as an Arm64 guest on macOS hosts, and says experimental features do not qualify for Oracle support. An older-looking manual chapter we also read says the Apple silicon package is a Developer Preview with very modest performance and lists macOS 10.15 to 12 hosts; the Downloads page does not mention a preview. We could not reconcile the two, so check the current manual before relying on Apple silicon support. See VirtualBox’s Downloads page.
Which one fits you?
Tick what matters to you
Apps that meet every ticked need are highlighted.
Tick a need to see which apps match.
| App | Free to use | Apple silicon | One-time payment | Windows on Arm | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parallels Desktop | Trial only; length not stated | Yes | Yes (Standard, current version) | Yes (Windows 11) | |
| VMware Fusion | Yes (vendor) | Yes | No (not sold) | Yes (Windows 11) | |
| UTM | Yes (free, open source) | Yes | Not stated | Partly: arm64 guest tools; builds not stated | |
| VirtualBox | Yes (GPL base package) | Yes (separate download) | No (free) | Yes (Windows 11 Arm64 guest) |
Ticks come from the vendor pages listed below. “Not stated” counts as no match because the vendor does not say it. UTM's Windows on Arm tick reflects the statement that its Windows guest tools support arm64 builds. VirtualBox's Apple silicon tick follows the Downloads page; an older manual chapter calls the Apple silicon package a Developer Preview.
Frequently asked questions
Does Parallels support x86 emulation?
Traditional 32-bit and 64-bit Windows applications built for Intel/AMD chips (x86 and x64) run seamlessly inside this Windows on Arm environment using Microsoft’s built-in binary translation and emulation layer.
Disclosure
Some outbound links on this page may be affiliate links. If you buy through them, UtilRank may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions do not influence which tools are included or how they are described. Read our affiliate disclosure and editorial policy.
Sources and verification
Read on 19 October 2026. All sources are the vendors’ own pages. Terms and prices change and differ by region, so confirm on the vendor’s page for your country.
- Parallels Desktop: Product page, Editions, System requirements
- VMware Fusion: Desktop hypervisor FAQ, Announcement blog post, Windows 11 on Intel vs Apple silicon. The VMware product page returned no readable text.
- UTM: Home page, Windows guest support
- VirtualBox: Downloads, Manual: Introduction, Manual: chapter 1 (first part only)
Looking for in-depth evaluations of the tools mentioned in this guide? Check out our hands-on reviews: