Parallels Desktop: editions, licence types, 30-day refund and cashback
Parallels Desktop lets a Mac run Windows, Linux and other systems in a virtual machine, without a restart. It is software, so there is no parcel, no courier and no delivery address to worry about. What counts for international buyers is which edition you pick, whether you want a subscription or a one-time licence, and how the 30-day money-back guarantee works. The details below come from the Parallels Desktop buy page, the resources page and the product page on parallels.com.
Buying online and getting the software
You buy a licence on parallels.com and download the app. After you request a trial, the site sends installation instructions to your email. The website is available in several languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Which billing addresses are accepted is shown at checkout, so test it with your own address before you plan around the purchase.
Editions and licence types
Standard Edition is meant for everyday use at home or work. Pro Edition is for developers and power users and allows up to 128 GB of virtual RAM and 32 virtual CPUs per machine, against 8 GB and 4 CPUs in Standard. Business Edition adds centralised administration and volume licensing for teams, and the shop asks buyers of 10 or more licences to contact Parallels for volume deals.
Parallels Desktop comes as an annual subscription or, for Standard Edition, as a one-time perpetual licence. Pro and Business Editions are available only as annual subscriptions. Subscriptions include ongoing feature updates, while a perpetual licence lets you keep using the version you bought. Each licence covers one Mac, so a second Mac needs its own licence. A Windows licence is not included, you buy it separately from Microsoft.
| At a glance | Parallels Desktop |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Digital download, no shipping |
| Licence types | Annual subscription, perpetual only for Standard |
| Refund period | 30 days, direct purchases only |
| Support | Unlimited phone and email for Standard and Pro subscriptions |
| Per licence | One Mac |
Requirements and support
The software needs macOS Catalina (10.15) or later on Intel Macs and macOS Big Sur (11) or later on Apple Silicon Macs. Parallels describes itself as the only solution authorised by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Apple M-series Macs. Subscribers can use 24/7 chat support, and the Standard and Pro editions include unlimited phone and email support. Someone who buys a perpetual upgrade gets 30 days of phone and email support, as the buy page notes.
The 30-day money-back guarantee
If you are not satisfied within the first 30 days, Parallels refunds your money to the original payment method. The guarantee applies only to products bought directly from parallels.com. A purchase made through a reseller or partner goes back to that seller under its own rules. Renewals are excluded. Students and educators get the same guarantee on their purchases, and the product page mentions an educational discount for those who qualify.
Using cashback
Open the Parallels page at daily cashback, where the current rate (up to 5%) and the offers are listed with the date they were last checked. Press the shop button, then shop and pay as you normally would. In your free account the cashback shows as open and becomes confirmed once Parallels has reported the order, normally after the refund window. A refunded licence reduces the cashback for that order.
Practical tips
- Try the free trial before you pay, so you know your Mac and your Windows software work together.
- Buy directly on parallels.com rather than from a reseller, since only direct purchases carry the guarantee.
- Keep other cashback and voucher sites closed while you shop, because a later click can replace the first one.
As of October 2026