Parallels runs Windows on Apple Silicon fine.

Yes, for most people — but only the ARM version of Windows. You can’t run the standard x86 Windows natively, but virtualization tools like Parallels Desktop and UTM handle the translation well enough for daily use.

Parallels is the smoother option. It’s polished, fast on the M-series chips, and integrates nicely with macOS (drag files between OS, share clipboard, etc.). UTM is free and more hackable, but setup requires a bit more tinkering, and performance is slightly lower. For Office apps, web browsing, and even some light development work, both are perfectly usable.

The catch: not all x86 Windows software runs well. Games with anti-cheat, old 32-bit utilities, or apps with weird driver requirements can choke under emulation. If your workflow depends on a specific legacy Windows program, test it first. But if you just need Outlook, a VPN client, or Visual Studio Code, you’re golden.

Don’t expect a gaming machine, and don’t expect battery life as good as running macOS. But as a “I need Windows for this one thing” solution? It’s solid.