Option 1: switch to a native version
This is the best solution where it exists. Many developers released Apple silicon versions years ago; your copy may simply be out of date. Check the developer’s website or our compatibility database. However, a newer version can be a paid upgrade or a subscription: owners of Office 2016 or Photoshop CS6, for example, would have to buy the current versions.
Option 2: switch to another app
If the developer has stopped working on the app, an actively maintained alternative is usually the most reliable long-term solution. It may mean converting old documents and learning a new interface.
Option 3: keep a Mac on macOS 27
macOS 27 still runs Intel apps with Rosetta, so the Mac you have today keeps working if you don’t upgrade it to macOS 28. There are two limits: Mac models introduced after macOS 28 is released can’t be downgraded to macOS 27, and an older version of macOS eventually stops receiving security updates.
Option 4: run macOS 27 in a virtual machine
A virtual machine (VM) is a second Mac that runs inside your Mac. Apple silicon Macs can run macOS virtual machines, and Rosetta can be used inside them. One open question for every tool below: Apple hasn’t said whether macOS 28 will still let a macOS 27 virtual machine use Rosetta. An answer is expected when the macOS 28 betas appear, likely in June 2027.
Apple’s macOS licence allows macOS in virtual machines only for development, testing, macOS Server or personal, non-commercial use, and at most two extra copies per Mac. That applies whichever tool you use.
| Tool | Price | How your apps appear | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTM | Free (open source); paid in the Mac App Store | Inside a window that shows the whole second Mac desktop | General-purpose; also runs Linux and Windows. |
| VirtualBuddy | Free (open source) | Inside a window that shows the second Mac desktop | Made specifically for macOS virtual machines. |
| Parallels Desktop | Paid: subscription from $99.99 a year, or a one-time licence at $219.99 (US list prices, October 2026) | Inside a window that shows the second Mac desktop | Parallels says its Coherence mode (apps as separate windows) isn’t available for macOS virtual machines. |
| Keep86 | €5.99 a month, €27 for 6 months or €39 a year | Each app’s own windows on your normal desktop, from the Dock | In development, planned for October 2026. Hides the virtual machine; personal use only. |
Information about the other tools comes from their developers’ own pages, as checked in October 2026 (links under Sources); a longer comparison is in macOS virtual machine on a Mac.
Which option should you choose?
- A native version exists and you’re willing to pay for it (if needed): update. A native version is the most reliable option.
- You only need the app occasionally and don’t mind a second desktop: UTM and VirtualBuddy are free and available today.
- You want your older apps to work as before — in the Dock, in their own windows, without managing a virtual machine: this is what Keep86 is being built for. It isn’t available yet; join the launch list to be notified, and try it free for 7 days before you pay.
- The app needs drivers, OpenGL or the Mac App Store: a virtual machine won’t help. Look for an alternative.
Common questions
Can I run Intel apps on Apple silicon after macOS 28? Not directly. Your options are a native version, an alternative app, a Mac that stays on macOS 27, or macOS 27 in a virtual machine.
Is a virtual machine legal for this? Yes, within Apple’s licence: up to two macOS virtual machines per Mac, for personal, non-commercial use or development.
Which virtual machine app should I use? UTM and VirtualBuddy are free and show the second Mac in a window; Parallels Desktop is paid. Keep86 hides the virtual machine and shows each app’s own windows.
Sources
- Apple Developer News, “Upcoming changes to Rosetta support for Intel-based macOS apps”, 1 September 2026 — https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=w5ngl9k2
- Apple’s macOS software licence agreement, section on virtualisation (personal, non-commercial use; up to two additional copies).
- UTM, “macOS guests” documentation — https://docs.getutm.app/guest-support/macos/
- UTM website (free; $9.99 in the Mac App Store) — https://mac.getutm.app/
- VirtualBuddy, repository — https://github.com/insidegui/VirtualBuddy
- Parallels, KB 128867 “Known issues and limitations of macOS virtual machines on Mac with Apple silicon”, 27 January 2026 — https://kb.parallels.com/en/128867
- TidBITS, Parallels Desktop 27 (prices), 28 August 2026 — https://tidbits.com/?p=75441