Skip to content
cask.news
← Browse all apps

OrbStack vs Parallels Desktop

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

OrbStack

8.5
Developer Tools

Replacement for Docker Desktop

Parallels Desktop

8.0
System Tools

Desktop virtualization software

Metric OrbStack Parallels Desktop
Category Developer Tools System Tools
AI Score 8.5 8.0
30-day Installs 17.0K 518
90-day Installs 53.2K 1.3K
365-day Installs 180.7K 5.8K
Version 2.2.3,20963 27.0.0-58628
Auto-updates Yes Yes
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 8.2K 4
GitHub Forks 84 3
Open Issues 446 -
License MIT
Language Shell
Last GitHub Commit 1y ago 11mo ago
First Seen Mar 24, 2023 Aug 9, 2023

Reviews

OrbStack

OrbStack is a lightweight and fast alternative to Docker Desktop, designed for macOS users who need simple containerization without the overhead of traditional solutions. It offers an easy-to-use interface for running Linux machines and Docker containers, making it ideal for developers seeking a streamlined workflow.

OrbStack provides a fast and simple solution for running Docker containers and Linux machines on macOS.

Pros

  • + Lightweight and fast performance
  • + Seamless integration with existing development workflows
  • + Active and engaged developer community
  • + Support for running Linux VMs on macOS

Cons

  • - High number of open GitHub issues
  • - Primarily developed in Shell, which may limit accessibility for some users

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is a leading virtualization tool that enables users to run multiple operating systems on their Mac. It offers high performance, seamless integration with macOS, and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for developers, designers, and anyone needing to run multiple OS environments.

Parallels Desktop allows users to run various operating systems on a Mac within virtual machines, providing isolated environments for different OS.

Pros

  • + High performance, especially on Apple Silicon Macs
  • + Seamless integration with macOS
  • + User-friendly interface

Cons

  • - Occasional intrusive ads
  • - Security vulnerabilities reported