Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Parallels Desktop VS Docker

Compare Parallels Desktop VS Docker and see what are their differences

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Parallels Desktop logo Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop 10 is a hardware and operating system virtualization program designed for the users of Mac Operating System to enjoy the most of the versions of Windows operating systems in their machine.

Docker logo Docker

Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.
  • Parallels Desktop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-05
  • Docker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

Docker

Website
docker.com
$ Details
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Solomon Hykes
Employees
50 - 99

Parallels Desktop features and specs

  • Seamless Integration
    Parallels Desktop allows for smooth integration between macOS and Windows, enabling sharing of files, drag-and-drop functionality, and shared clipboard.
  • Ease of Use
    The user-friendly interface makes it easy for both novice and experienced users to set up and manage virtual machines.
  • Performance
    Parallels Desktop is optimized to provide excellent performance, ensuring that Windows applications run smoothly on macOS.
  • Wide OS Support
    The software supports a variety of operating systems, including several versions of Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing for flexibility in use.
  • Coherence Mode
    This feature allows users to run Windows applications as if they were native macOS apps without displaying the Windows desktop.

Possible disadvantages of Parallels Desktop

  • Cost
    Parallels Desktop requires a subscription or one-time purchase, which may be considered expensive compared to some free alternatives.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running a virtual machine requires substantial system resources, which can affect the performance of both the host and guest operating systems.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While generally reliable, some Windows applications may not run perfectly or may encounter issues within a virtualized environment.
  • License Restrictions
    Each license is generally limited to a single Mac, which can be restrictive for users with multiple devices.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to other virtualization solutions, Parallels Desktop offers fewer customization options for advanced users needing specific configurations.

Docker features and specs

  • Portability
    Docker containers are designed to run consistently across different environments such as development, testing, and production, ensuring that software behaves the same regardless of where it's deployed.
  • Efficiency
    Docker containers share the host OS kernel and use fewer resources compared to traditional virtual machines, which allows for faster startups and reduced overhead.
  • Isolation
    Containers encapsulate the application and its dependencies in a separate environment, which minimizes conflicts between different applications' dependencies.
  • Scalability
    Docker makes it easier to scale applications quickly and manage resource allocation dynamically, which is particularly useful for microservices architectures.
  • Continuous Integration and Deployment
    Docker facilitates CI/CD processes by making it easier to automate the deployment pipeline, resulting in faster code releases and more frequent updates.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    A vast community and a rich ecosystem of tools and pre-built images in Docker Hub, enabling you to quickly find and reuse code and solutions.

Possible disadvantages of Docker

  • Complexity
    While Docker can simplify certain aspects of deployment, it adds a layer of complexity to the infrastructure that might require specialized knowledge and training.
  • Security
    Containers share the host OS kernel, which can pose security risks if an attacker gains access to the kernel. Proper isolation and security measures must be implemented.
  • Persistent Data
    Managing persistent data in Docker can be challenging, as containers are ephemeral and the default storage solutions are not always suitable for all applications.
  • Monitoring and Debugging
    Traditional monitoring and debugging tools might not work well with containerized applications, requiring specialized tools and approaches which can complicate troubleshooting.
  • Performance Overhead
    Although lighter than virtual machines, Docker containers can still introduce performance overheads, especially when multiple containers are running simultaneously.
  • Compatibility
    Not all software and systems are fully compatible with Docker, which can limit its use in certain legacy applications and complex environments.

Parallels Desktop videos

Parallels Desktop 10 Review

More videos:

  • Review - User Review for Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac
  • Review - Parallels Desktop 10 Review

Docker videos

What is Docker in 5 minutes

More videos:

  • Tutorial - What is Docker? Why it's popular and how to use it to save money (tutorial)
  • Review - Real World PHP Dockerfile Review, from a #Docker Captain

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Parallels Desktop and Docker)
Cloud Computing
36 36%
64% 64
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Virtualization
100 100%
0% 0
Containers As A Service
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Parallels Desktop and Docker

Parallels Desktop Reviews

15 Lutris Alternatives
Mac users can use Parallels Desktop, hardware, and operating system virtualization tools made just for them to get the most out of their Windows installations. Perfect for Mac users who wish to use Windows programs. As soon as you install Parallels Desktop for Mac, you'll be able to use all of your apps, Windows programs, and browser bookmarks simultaneously. This training...
Best VirtualBox Alternatives & Competitors [Top 7 2019]
If you want to experience the full potential of Mac mixed with the functionality of Windows, then Parallels Desktop 10 program will make the flawless combination. It supports all the Windows version to assure you enjoy the utmost advantages and functions of the system on your Mac without restrictions. It is one of the very best VirtualBox alternatives.
7 Best VirtualBox Alternatives You Can Use
No virtualization software discussion can be complete without the mention of Parallels Desktop. Parallels Desktop is a direct competitor for VMware Fusion and Fusion Pro, and even offers two versions: one for personal use and the other geared for businesses. Parallels Desktop does everything that VMware Fusion does with some subtle differences. It also allows for...
Source: beebom.com

Docker Reviews

Exploring 7 Efficient Alternatives to MAMP for Local Development Environments
Though not specifically designed for PHP development, Docker offers a containerized approach to create, deploy, and run applications. It enables easy installation of PHP, web servers, and databases within containers, facilitating quick and consistent development environment setups.
Source: medium.com
Top 6 Alternatives to XAMPP for Local Development Environments
Docker - A containerization platform that allows developers to package applications and their dependencies into containers. Docker Compose can be used to define multi-container application stacks, including web servers, databases, and other services. Features powerful portability and consistency, supports rapid building, sharing, and container management, suitable for...
Source: dev.to
The Top 7 Kubernetes Alternatives for Container Orchestration
Docker uses images as templates to create new containers using Docker engine commands such as Build -t or run -d.
Kubernetes Alternatives 2023: Top 8 Container Orchestration Tools
Docker is an open-source platform for building, managing, deploying containerized applications. Swarm is a native feature in Docker with a group of virtual or physical machines that lets you schedule, cluster, and run Docker applications. It is a Docker alternative for Kubernetes that provides high portability, agility, and high availability.
Top 12 Kubernetes Alternatives to Choose From in 2023
Docker Swarm is a native clustering and orchestration solution provided by Docker, the leading containerization platform.
Source: humalect.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 73 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Parallels Desktop mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Parallels Desktop yet. Tracking of Parallels Desktop recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Docker mentions (73)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Parallels Desktop and Docker, you can also consider the following products

VMware Workstation - VMware Workstation is a multiple operating system handler to easily evaluate the any other type of new operating systems.

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

VirtualBox - VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as...

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

QEMU - QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that...

Apache Karaf - Apache Karaf is a lightweight, modern and polymorphic container powered by OSGi.