Whether you’re on the brink of making the switch to Windows from Mac or you just need a bit more flexibility on your current Mac system, Mac Windows Emulator Software can help you bridge the gap. At TopTenREVIEWS, we’ve scoured the web in search of the best Windows emulators to help ease the pain of the operating-system transition.
At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™
When you’re on the hunt for a great Windows emulator for your Mac, you’re probably looking at a few key elements like price, performance and simplicity. But extra features, like OS compatibility and customer support, might fall outside the scope of your search. In our research, we looked at some of the big players in the emulator market, like Parallels, VMware and CrossOver, and gauged them on all of the above-mentioned criteria.
For a deeper look into the difference between emulators, take a look at our learning center for articles on Windows emulator software.
Features & Compatibility
We considered each product’s feature set and operating system compatibility in our reviews, focusing primarily on its support for the latest operating systems on Mac and Windows. We also looked at each software’s ability to integrate with several Mac-specific features, like Time Machine backup and mobile app access.
Performance
Performance is a critical aspect of Windows emulator software; you don’t want a bulky, cumbersome platform taking up all of your computer’s resources just so you can run a basic Windows-specific video game. We looked at how well each product ran in conjunction with other applications, and how well it conserved the system’s resources for its main purpose: running Windows programs.
Ease of Use
The best Windows emulators don’t require a degree in computer science to operate. We made sure our top-rated products were easy to use and integrate, making it easy for anyone to pick up this software and run with it.
Help & Support
Thorough documentation and great customer support is critical for Windows emulators, as they’re rather complex applications. We looked at each company’s support systems, including customer support contact via email and telephone, as well as exceptional documentation in the form of FAQs and tutorials.
The Windows-to-Mac transition can be a tough one, but with a great Windows emulator the process is much less painful. Look for an emulator that’s compatible with your desired operating systems, conserves resources for critical tasks, is easy to use and is well supported.
| Rank | #1 | #2 | #3 | |||||||
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10-9 Excellent
8-6 Good 5-4 Average 3-2 Poor 1-0 Bad
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Parallels | VMware Fusion | CrossOver | |||||||
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Lowest Price |
$79.99 |
$49.99 |
$59.95 |
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| Ratings | 9.63 | 7.45 | 6.83 | |||||||
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| Features & Emulation | ||||||||||
| Windows 8 | ||||||||||
| Windows 7/Vista/XP | ||||||||||
| Older Windows OS | ||||||||||
| Mac OSX Mountain Lion | ||||||||||
| Mac OSX Lion/Snow Leopard | ||||||||||
| Older Mac OS | ||||||||||
| Encrypted Virtual Machines | ||||||||||
| Apps Accessible via Mobile | ||||||||||
| Time Machine Compatible Backup | ||||||||||
| Performance | ||||||||||
| Minimum RAM Required (GB) | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Min. Disk Space Required (MB) | 500 | 750 | 120 | |||||||
| Min. Disk Space per Virtual Machine (GB) | 15 | 5 | 0.15 | |||||||
| Ease of Use | ||||||||||
| No Reboot Required | ||||||||||
| Ease of Use (Percentage) | 90 | 75 | 60 | |||||||
| Multiple View Modes | ||||||||||
| Multiple Virtual Machines | ||||||||||
| Help & Support | ||||||||||
| Telephone | $ | |||||||||
| Live Chat | ||||||||||
| FAQs | ||||||||||
| Tutorials | ||||||||||