This guide describes the options for emulation software to use Power BI. It is intended for system administrators.
If you are using a Mac workstation, you must use a virtual integration or emulation software to emulate Windows on your workstation to use the Power BI desktop version. aACE Software suggests Parallels Desktop or UTM.
Parallels Desktop is a paid, premium tool with fast performance, 3D graphics support, and seamless Windows integration. UTM is a free, open-source app based on QEMU used for basic tasks, Linux, or running old systems, but it lacks advanced graphics acceleration and setup ease.
Refer to the following table for a comparison between Parallels and UTM:
| Topic | Parallels | UTM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid yearly subscription | Free to download from its site with a paid helper option on the Mac App Store |
| Performance and Graphics | Supports DirectX 11 for smooth and heavy apps | Lacks proper GPU acceleration, making it slow for 3D apps. |
| Ease of Use | One-click Windows setup | Manual work to install drivers and set up virtual disks |
| Desktop Integration | Offers "Coherence Mode," which lets you run Windows apps directly on your Mac desktop | Keeps your virtual machine inside its own separate window |
| Operating Support | Focuses heavily on polished Windows and Linux virtual machines | Excels at running various Linux distributions, old retro operating systems, and different architectures |
For a visual breakdown of how the setup and performance compare between UTM and Parallels, you can review this YouTube video.
