Run the Windows versions of your favorite GIS apps on your Mac with Parallels Desktop Pro

Use the hardware you love with the software you need with a GIS professional alternative for Mac.
Run Windows-exclusive software side-by-side with your favorite GIS tools and more regardless of OS requirements.

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Free 14-day trial

30-day money back guarantee

Don’t just take our word for it. See how your fellow professionals benefit from using GIS apps with Parallels Desktop Pro...

"I needed to have something that would run on M1/M3. Was previously using VMware Fusion, but I don't care for their parent company and at the time they didn't offer good support for virtualization on the new M chips."

Cartographer

"I use Parallels Desktop Pro primarily for science-based applications in GIS and road engineering. I run Manifold GIS V 8.x and 9.x. I also run engineering (RoadEng V 9.x) software for road design, costing and creating full documentation. I also run the full MS Office 2021 Pro suite."

Environmental Planning Specialist

"I have historically purchased intel-based workstations because I use engineering CAD software which needs a high-performance computer and GPU card to be able to handle large graphics files. These machines tend to be large computers and not very energy efficient. The Mac Studio M2 is small box and energy efficient and can handle my workflow very well even when using Parallels Desktop Pro."

Civil & Structural Engineer

Your favorite Windows software, virtualized on your Mac

Access all your favorite GIS applications side-by-side on your Mac — even the Windows-exclusive software. Take your cartography and spatial analysis talents to the next level using your preferred hardware and OSs.

ArcGIS Pro

Access Esri's flagship Windows-only desktop GIS application for advanced spatial analysis, mapping, and data management on your Mac.

QGIS

Seamlessly use this open-source GIS app’s mapping, spatial analysis, and data editing capabilities on your Mac, side-by-side with Windows apps and more.

ArcMap

Esri's older desktop GIS application ArcMap, is still widely used for basic mapping and analysis tasks. Like ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap is Windows-only but you can run it on your Mac seamlessly with Parallels Desktop.

MapInfo Pro

Run this Windows-only desktop GIS application that’s commonly used in urban planning and business applications on your Mac.

Google Earth Pro

Employ Google’s popular web-based visualization and mapping tool and explore satellite imagery, terrain, and 3D buildings on your Mac side-by-side with all your favorite Windows, Linux, and macOS apps.

Adobe Illustrator

Popular with cartographers and GIS professionals, run this vector graphics editor and create custom maps and illustrations with GIS data from various sources on your Mac.

AutoCAD Map 3D

Seamlessly run Autodesk's GIS appfor creating, editing, and managing spatial data within the Windows-based AutoCAD environment on your Mac.

GRASS GIS

Access this commonly used open-source GIS software focused on geospatial data analysis and modeling on macOS and run it alongside Windows-only GIS apps and more.

PostGIS

Run this spatial database extender for PostgreSQL on your Mac, right alongside key Windows, Linux, and macOS applications. This software enables users to store and manipulate spatial data within a relational database management system.

CARTO

CARTO is a cloud-based platform for location intelligence and spatial analysis. It allows users to visualize and analyze spatial data, create interactive maps, and derive insights from geospatial information. Effortlessly run CARTO side-by-side with both Mac and Windows GIS appsand more with Parallels Desktop.

Use 200,000+ Windows apps
Access the full range of GIS apps
No need for a second Windows machine
Switch between macOS and Windows effortlessly

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Run professional GIS apps on Mac with a virtual machine using Parallels Desktop in just minutes

Download Parallels Desktop

Download and install Parallels Desktop on your Mac.

Install Windows

Once installed, set up a new virtual machine and install Windows.

*Windows license required

Launch a virtual machine

After installing Windows, you can run your favorite GIS apps and software, including Windows-exclusive apps like ArcGIS, ArcMap, AutoCAD 3D Pro, and others on your Mac. Enjoy accessing all the GIS apps you need on a single versatile machine.

Why choose Parallels Desktop?

Authorized by Microsoft

The only solution authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Apple M-series Macs.

Parallels Toolbox included

Gain access to 50+ free productivity tools designed to simplify tasks.

Live support

24/7 phone, chat and email support for subscribers. Get in touch anytime, anywhere.

30-day money back guarantee

Cancel any time during your initial month if you are not completely satisfied.

Maximize your Mac’s potential — and your productivity — with Parallels Desktop Pro.

Start running your favorite GIS apps today — even if they are exclusive to Windows!

Buy now Try free

Run GIS professional apps on your Mac. Discover an alternative solution for GIS professionals

Don’t just take our word for it. See how your fellow professionals benefit from using GIS apps with Parallels Desktop Pro...

Your favorite Windows software, virtualized on your Mac

Parallels Desktop Pro Edition

Run professional GIS apps on Mac with a virtual machine using Parallels Desktop in just minutes

Download Parallels Desktop

Install Windows

Launch a virtual machine

Why choose Parallels Desktop?

Authorized by Microsoft

Parallels Toolbox included

Live support

30-day money back guarantee

Maximize your Mac’s potential — and your productivity — with Parallels Desktop Pro.