Parallels RAS licensing governs Parallels Remote Application Server, Parallels’ software for publishing Windows applications and desktops from session hosts, virtual desktop infrastructure and remote PCs to users on any device. Parallels RAS has “a straightforward licensing model without multiple editions” that includes all features and updates, and “The licensing model is solely based on the number of concurrent users connecting to the infrastructure.”[4] Business purchases are governed by the Parallels Products Licensing Terms, updated on 2026-06-03, and by Section 1 of the Product Specific Terms, updated on 2025-12-16.[3][2] Catalog proof: Parallels RAS has a single edition licensed by concurrent users.
There are two contractual forms. An Internal License serves the customer’s own employees and consultants. A SPLA License serves service providers whose End Clients reach a hosted Solution through Parallels RAS.[2] Parallels’ product page describes SPLA as aimed at managed service providers and independent software vendors “already part of the Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) Program”. It is licensed “per peak number of concurrent users over a billing period”.[4]
Editions
Parallels RAS is sold as one edition. The single licence includes application and desktop delivery from remote PCs, RD Session Hosts and VDI, load balancing, monitoring and reporting, FIPS 140-2 encryption and 24/7 support.[4] The Secure Gateway and the High Availability Load Balancer are included “at no additional licensing cost”.[4]
| Offering | Term | Billing | Catalog row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid subscription (Internal License) | 1, 2 or 3 years | In advance; online purchases auto-renew, reseller purchases renew through the reseller | RAS prepaid subscription |
| SPLA, Prepaid User Fees | Initial Term on the Order Form | Lump sum in advance, plus monthly invoices for peaks above the agreed number | RAS SPLA |
| SPLA, Pay-As-You-Go | Initial Term on the Order Form | Monthly on peak users, minimum 50 users | same |
The prepaid subscription “allows you to upgrade to a newer version of Parallels Remote Application Server whenever one becomes available”, and support is included in its price under a Standard or Premium plan.[1] The Internal License in the Product Specific Terms may be “subscription or perpetual based” as set on the Order Form.[2] Parallels’ current sales documentation describes only subscriptions.
Metrics
The Product Specific Terms define three linked units:
- Authorized Concurrent User: “an Authorized User who is an (i) Authorized Internal User and/or (ii) Authorized External User”.
- Authorized Internal User: an employee or consultant of the customer or its Affiliate who accesses the server software “simultaneously with other employees and/or consultants”, within the licence limit tied to the License Key.
- Authorized External User: an end user of an End Client who uses the Customer Applications simultaneously with other end users of that End Client.[2]
The Licensing Guide explains how the count works. A user “can establish any number of connections to Parallels RAS as long as the number of users simultaneously accessing Parallels RAS does not exceed the number of concurrent user licenses”.[5]
| Situation | Licences consumed |
|---|---|
| One user, one device, one connection | 1 |
| One user, one or several devices, several connections | 1 |
| Several users, each with one or more connections | 1 per user; the next user waits when all are in use |
| Non-admin RAS or RDP desktop or published application connection | Consumes a licence |
| Administrator RAS published application connection | Consumes a licence |
| Administrator RAS published desktop, or direct or tunneled RDP desktop | No licence, up to two such connections per RD Session Host |
Source: KB 123995.[1] A licence is released “once the users have no active session”, within a couple of seconds of logoff, because RAS does not cache the information.[8] Catalog proof: Parallels RAS counts concurrent users, not connections; Some administrator connections do not consume a RAS licence; RAS licences are released at logoff.
The product page gives a shift-work example. An organisation with 200 employees on two shifts may buy 100 licences, so that 100 users connect in each shift.[4]
Counting / floors
Overuse grace period. “Parallels RAS gives you a grace period of 7 days during which time you can connect more users to a farm than your subscription terms specify.” If no licences are bought by the end of the grace period, the farm keeps working only while concurrency stays within the limit. Any later overuse deactivates the farm within one to two hours, so that no user can list or use published resources. RAS checks every 20 minutes and reactivates the farm once usage is back at or below the limit. The grace period can be used again after more licences are bought.[1] Catalog proof: RAS licence overuse is tolerated for 7 days.
Expiry grace period. After a subscription expires, RAS keeps running for 30 days to allow renewal, but “the grace period does not apply to sublicenses”.[5] Catalog proof: RAS 30-day expiry grace applies only to the primary key.
Primary and additional keys. Each subscription comes with a Primary Key. Additional license keys, or sublicenses, can be created with their own quota of concurrent users and expiry date, for example for a division or a test farm. Their allocation is exclusive: “All of the allocated licenses in a license key are reserved exclusively for that particular key.” Deleting a key deactivates any farm that uses it.[6] Under an Internal License, sublicense keys may be issued only to delegate administration, to activate one Farm each and to monitor departmental use.[2] Catalog proof: RAS additional license keys reserve their quota.
Farm records. The Prepaid farms page of Parallels My Account lists each farm with its activation key, server ID, version, last report date and “Last Daily Usage”, the peak number of concurrent users in the last 24 hours. Deactivating a farm there frees its license key for another farm.[11] This is the vendor-side record of peak concurrency and is the natural starting point for a compliance check.
SPLA for service providers
Under a SPLA License the provider may install RAS on any number of its own or third-party servers. It may allow “an unlimited number of Authorized External Users” and grant Sublicenses to End Clients, but it must never share License Keys or Administrative Privileges with them.[2]
Internal-use cap. The provider’s own Authorized Internal Users “shall not exceed the lesser of (i) ten percent (10%) of the total number of Authorized Concurrent Users or (ii) twenty (20) Authorized Internal Users”. A provider that needs more, or that uses RAS mainly for itself, must take an Internal License.[2] Under the true-up clause, Parallels may request a breakdown of internal and external users. Additional Users above the 10% line can be invoiced at Internal License list prices, payable in 30 days, and access can be disabled seven days after a missed due date.[2] Catalog proof: RAS SPLA limits the provider's own internal users; RAS SPLA true-up of excess internal users at Internal License prices.
Peak aggregation. Each farm records concurrent connections and reports its daily peak. At the end of the billing period, “the highest number of all recorded daily peaks is identified and used as the peak number for the entire billing period” for each farm. The farm peaks are then added together, and the charge is that total times the unit price, less any prepaid amount.[7] Because peaks are summed per farm rather than measured across farms at the same moment, a user active on two farms can be counted twice. Catalog proof: RAS SPLA bills the summed per-farm peak of the billing period.
Fee types. For SPLA licences bought directly from Parallels, Prepaid User Fees are due “irrespective of whether or not” the agreed users connect. The customer reports the monthly peak within five days of month end, and peaks above the agreed number are invoiced monthly. Pay-As-You-Go fees are calculated on monthly peak users, and the minimum monthly fee “shall at no time be less than the amount chargeable for fifty (50) Authorized External Users”.[3] Catalog proof: SPLA Pay-As-You-Go minimum of 50 users per month; SPLA License.
Virtualization & partitioning
RAS licensing is independent of the infrastructure behind it. The Internal License allows the RAS Server Software on “any number of Customer Servers and/or any Data Center that Customer or a third party owns, manages or controls”.[2] Physical or virtual session hosts and VDI pools add no RAS licence cost. Catalog proof: RAS Internal License allows installation on any number of servers.
The Windows systems that RAS publishes still need Microsoft licences. The Licensing Guide states that “The Windows Server Operating System (OS) to be accessed must be covered by Microsoft Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs)”. Remote non-administrative access to Windows Server also needs RDS CALs, or RDS SALs for SPLA partners. Single-user Windows desktops, including Remote PC, need Virtual Desktop Access rights or a qualifying Microsoft 365 F3, E3 or E5 subscription. The exception is a Microsoft “Listed Provider”, which is excluded.[9] Catalog proof: Parallels RAS still requires Microsoft access licences.
Cloud / BYOL
RAS may be deployed on a third-party cloud platform, but the customer is “fully and solely responsible” for that use and Parallels gives no warranty for the hosting provider.[2] A farm is activated by signing in to Parallels My Account from the RAS Console and entering a license key, or by choosing a trial activation.[12]
Programs
- Prepaid subscription and Internal License for own use; SPLA License for providers.
- Not-for-Resale License. Trial and proof-of-concept use, by default 30 days, not in production and not for End Clients.[3]
- Lifecycle policy. Major releases come yearly. LTS versions are supported for 36 months (30 months of maintenance and 6 of support) and non-LTS versions for 24 months. Version 20 (LTS) reaches End of Support on 2027-10-30 and version 21 (LTS) on 2028-11-11.[10] Catalog proof: Parallels RAS LTS versions are supported for 36 months.
Audits and compliance
Compliance is enforced mostly by the product. Farms report usage daily to Parallels, and overuse past the grace period switches the farm off.[11][1] The Products Licensing Terms add a records audit during the term and two years after, on 30 days’ notice, either on site or remote. If an underpayment reaches 5% of the amounts due, the customer also pays the audit cost.[3] Licences renew for one-year terms unless notice is given 90 days before the end of the term. Renewal fees are Parallels’ standard list prices at the time.[3] Catalog proof: Product Licensing Terms audit with cost shift at 5% underpayment; Product Licensing Terms renew yearly unless notice is given 90 days ahead; Renewals priced at standard list prices. See true-up and Parallels EULA, BULA and Products Licensing Terms.
Out of scope
- Price lists and SPLA Pricing Tables, which are set on the Order Form.
- Microsoft’s own licence terms for RDS, VDA and Windows Server, which are summarised here only as Parallels describes them.