How to Run Windows on a Mac (2026): The Best Options Compared

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If you bought a Mac in the last five years, the old way of running Windows on it is gone. Boot Camp -- Apple's free utility for installing Windows on a separate partition -- works only on Intel Macs. Apple dropped it when the M1 chip shipped in 2020, and every Mac since (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) cannot boot Windows natively at all.

That changes the question. On an Apple Silicon Mac, you do not "install Windows." You run Windows inside a virtualization app while macOS keeps running underneath it. And it is not the standard Windows you would put on a PC: Apple Silicon runs Windows 11 ARM, the version built for ARM processors. The x64 build most people download will not work here.

The good news is that this works well in 2026, and one of the strongest options is completely free. Below are the four tools worth considering, ranked by who they actually fit -- plus a clear-eyed look at where the paid pick earns its price and where it does not.

Quick Comparison: Running Windows on a Mac (2026)

Prices verified June 10, 2026 against the vendor pages (list prices shown; Parallels was discounting 35% at the time of writing). Setup-ease and support reflect the free vs paid tier noted.

1. Parallels Desktop: Best for Most People

Parallels Desktop is the paid pick, and it earns the spot for one concrete reason: it is the only option on this list that is a Microsoft-authorized path to Windows 11 ARM on a Mac. When you create a new virtual machine, Parallels offers a guided, one-click install that downloads and sets up Windows 11 ARM for you. There is no hunting for an image, no manual ISO, no license guesswork at the start.

It is also the most polished day-to-day. Shared clipboard, drag-and-drop between macOS and Windows, dynamic resolution, and coherence mode (Windows apps in their own Mac windows) work without fiddling. And because it is a commercial product, you get real vendor support when something breaks -- which matters if Windows is part of how you earn a living.

Pricing (list rates, verified June 10, 2026):

• Standard: $99.99/year as a subscription (recently discounted to $64.99/year), or a one-time perpetual purchase offered on the Parallels buy page. The perpetual license does not include major-version upgrades after the year you buy it. Standard includes 8 GB of virtual RAM and 4 virtual CPUs -- enough for everyday Windows use.
• Pro: $119.99/year, subscription only (recently discounted to $77.99/year). Raises the ceiling to 128 GB virtual RAM per VM and 32 virtual CPUs. This is the developer and power-user tier.
• Business: $149.99/year per user (recently discounted to $97.49/year), adding centralized management and deployment.
• Students and educators: roughly 50% off with a verified .edu address (confirm the current student rate on the Parallels students page).

Who should not pay for it: if you only need Windows occasionally, are comfortable with a longer setup, and do not need a support line, the free options below do the same core job. Parallels is worth it for ease, authorization, and support -- not because the free tools cannot run Windows. They can.

2. VMware Fusion: The Best Free Option, and It Is Free

This is the disclosure that matters most in this guide: VMware Fusion -- now branded Fusion Pro and owned by Broadcom -- has been free for all users since November 11, 2024. That means commercial, educational, and personal use, with no license key and the full feature set. Not a stripped trial. The complete product.

For an Apple Silicon Mac, Fusion runs Windows 11 ARM natively and handles everyday workloads well. If your reason for not running Windows on your Mac was cost, that reason is gone.

The tradeoffs are real, though:

• The download is clunky. You get Fusion through the Broadcom portal, which requires registering an account and clicking through a portal built for enterprise IT, not consumers.
• You source the Windows 11 ARM image yourself. Unlike Parallels, there is no in-app one-click Windows install. You provide the image and walk through setup.
• No official support for free users. Help is community forums and documentation only. If you hit a wall, you are solving it yourself.

Best for: budget-conscious users who would rather spend an hour on setup than $100 on a license. For that person, Fusion is the smarter call, and it is not close.

3. UTM: Free, Open-Source, Most Hands-On

UTM is free and open-source, built on QEMU. It runs Windows 11 ARM on Apple Silicon and costs nothing. (There is an optional paid version on the Mac App Store that funds development, but the same app is free to download directly.)

The trade is effort and performance. UTM involves the most manual setup of the four, and it is the weakest of the group for graphics-heavy or otherwise demanding work -- it leans on emulation more than the others, so do not expect strong gaming or 3D performance. For light, occasional Windows tasks, or for technical users who want full control and an open-source stack, it is a solid free choice. For a daily-driver Windows environment, the other options are smoother.

4. CrossOver: When You Do Not Need Windows at All

CrossOver from CodeWeavers is a different kind of tool. It is a compatibility layer based on Wine, not a virtual machine. Instead of running a full copy of Windows, it translates specific Windows applications so they run directly on macOS -- no Windows install, no Windows license required.

That makes it the right answer to a narrow but common need: "I only need one or two Windows programs." If those apps are supported, CrossOver is lighter than a full VM and skips the Windows licensing entirely. The catch is that it works on a per-application basis, and not every Windows program is compatible -- check your specific apps against the CodeWeavers compatibility list before buying. It is a paid product: $74 for a one-year license that includes 12 months of updates and support (verified June 10, 2026).

5. Boot Camp: Include It, but Know It Is Dead on New Macs

Boot Camp still comes up in nearly every search about Windows on a Mac, so it is worth being direct: Boot Camp only works on Intel Macs. It lets an Intel Mac boot Windows directly on the hardware (bare metal), for free, with no virtualization overhead. On any Apple Silicon Mac, it does not exist as an option.

It is also a fading one even for Intel owners. macOS Tahoe 26 is the last macOS version to support Intel Macs, so Boot Camp's runway is ending entirely. If you are buying a Mac today, treat Boot Camp as legacy. If you are still on a 2019-or-earlier Intel Mac and want maximum Windows performance with no cost, it remains the bare-metal route -- for now.

Two Alternatives That Skip Virtualization Entirely

If you do not actually need Windows running on the Mac itself, two non-virtualization paths can be simpler:

• A cloud PC (Windows 365): Microsoft streams a full Windows desktop from the cloud to your Mac. You are renting a Windows machine by the month rather than running one locally -- useful when you need real Windows occasionally and have a steady internet connection.
• Remote Desktop into a PC you already own: if there is a Windows PC in the house or office, Microsoft's remote desktop tools let your Mac control it over the network. Zero virtualization, zero extra license.

How to Choose: A Quick Decision Tree

• You want it to just work and will pay for that: Parallels Desktop. The one-click Windows 11 ARM install, polish, and support are the product you are buying.
• You want Windows for free and will tolerate setup friction: VMware Fusion. Full features, no cost, community support.
• You are technical, want open-source, or only need Windows occasionally: UTM.
• You only need one or two Windows apps, not all of Windows: CrossOver -- if your apps are on its compatibility list.
• You are still on an Intel Mac and want free bare-metal Windows: Boot Camp, while it lasts.
• You do not need Windows running locally: a Windows 365 cloud PC or Remote Desktop into an existing PC.

For most people who want Windows on an Apple Silicon Mac with the least friction, Parallels Desktop is the path of least resistance -- and the 30-day money-back guarantee means you can test it against the free options before deciding. Get started with Parallels Desktop >>

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use Boot Camp?

Only on an Intel Mac. Boot Camp was never brought to Apple Silicon -- Apple dropped it starting with the M1 in 2020. If you have an M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 Mac, Boot Camp is not available, and the Mac cannot boot Windows natively. macOS Tahoe 26 is the final version to support Intel Macs, so Boot Camp is on its way out entirely.

Do I need Windows 11 ARM specifically?

On an Apple Silicon Mac, yes. These Macs run the ARM version of Windows 11, not the standard x64 build you would install on a PC. Parallels installs Windows 11 ARM for you automatically; with Fusion or UTM you provide the ARM image yourself.

Is there really a free way to run Windows on a Mac?

Yes -- two, in fact. VMware Fusion (Fusion Pro) has been free for all users, including commercial use, since November 2024, with full features and no license key. UTM is free and open-source. Both run Windows 11 ARM on Apple Silicon. The tradeoff versus paid Parallels is setup effort and the lack of official support, not capability.

Is Parallels worth paying for if Fusion is free?

It depends on what you value. Parallels buys you the one-click Microsoft-authorized Windows install, the most polished macOS integration, and real vendor support. Fusion does the same core job for free but expects you to source the Windows image and solve problems through community forums. If your time and a working support line are worth more than the license fee -- and especially if Windows is part of your job -- Parallels is worth it. If not, Fusion is the smarter pick.

Can I game on Windows on a Mac?

Lightly, with caveats. Virtualization adds overhead and you are running Windows 11 ARM, so demanding x64 games are not the use case here. Parallels handles casual and older titles best of the group; UTM is the weakest for graphics-heavy work. If gaming is the main goal, a dedicated gaming PC or a cloud gaming service will serve you better than any Mac VM.

Do I need a Windows license?

For a full Windows VM (Parallels, Fusion, UTM), you need a valid Windows 11 license to activate and use it without limitations, separate from the virtualization app's own cost. CrossOver is the exception: because it runs individual Windows apps through a compatibility layer rather than installing Windows, it does not require a Windows license at all.

Which One Should You Buy?

On an Apple Silicon Mac, running Windows means virtualization, and it means Windows 11 ARM. Boot Camp is off the table unless you are on an aging Intel Mac.

For most people, Parallels Desktop is the cleanest route: a Microsoft-authorized one-click Windows install, the best integration, and support when you need it, from $99.99/year list (often discounted). But the headline of 2026 is that you no longer have to pay at all -- VMware Fusion is free for everyone with the full feature set, and UTM is free and open-source. If all you need is a couple of Windows apps, CrossOver skips Windows licensing entirely.

Choose by how much setup friction you are willing to trade for money: pay for Parallels if you want it to just work, or spend an hour with Fusion and keep the $100.

Disclosure: SoftwareSift may earn a commission when you purchase Parallels Desktop through links on this page. Rankings reflect independent editorial judgment -- the free options are named first and recommended where they fit, and affiliate relationships do not influence placement.