Moonlight Game Streaming

B tier on Game Remote Play SoftwareScore 7.3 · #3 of 26

Android app: Yes
Free plan: Yes
Runs on: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows

moonlight-stream.org

Summary

Moonlight Game Streaming sends games from a gaming PC to supported devices for remote play. It is a free, open-source implementation of NVIDIA's GameStream protocol, with clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, ChromeOS, Steam Link, and Raspberry Pi. On a capable client it can stream a full Windows desktop at up to 4K with HDR; the PC client supports up to 120 FPS and can disable V-Sync for lower latency. Users can host their own server through options including port forwarding, IPv6, ZeroTier, Tailscale, and NordVPN Meshnet. Moonlight recommends Sunshine as a host; GeForce Experience is also compatible, though NVIDIA is discontinuing its GameStream feature. Wolf can stream games and applications running in Docker containers. There is no pure web client because browsers do not support the raw TCP and UDP sockets the protocol requires. Setup guidance, a FAQ, and a Discord community are available for help.

Who it is for

Moonlight suits players who want to stream PC games to supported devices and can set up a compatible host. It is also relevant to people who want a self-hosted streaming arrangement.

What is good

Free, with no paid versions offering extra features.
Streams at up to 4K with HDR on capable clients.
PC client supports up to 120 FPS.
Supports several self-hosting connection options.
Local co-op support is listed.

What to know first

No pure web client is available.
GeForce Experience GameStream is being discontinued by NVIDIA.
Tailscale relay connections do not support Moonlight streaming.

Verdict

Moonlight offers remote play across a broad set of clients, with high-resolution streaming on capable hardware. Its protocol and host setup mean browser-only use is not an option.

Moonlight Game Streaming plans and pricing

All plans

Moonlight Game Streaming Free Completely free No subscriptions · No paid versions with extra features moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on game remote play software

Free plan: Yesmoonlight-stream.org
Host platforms: Windows, macOS, Linuxmoonlight-stream.org
Client platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, ChromeOS, Steam Link, Raspberry Pimoonlight-stream.org
Maximum resolution: 4kmoonlight-stream.org
Console support: Yesmoonlight-stream.org
Local co-op support: Yesmoonlight-stream.org

Facts

What it does: Moonlight streams PC games from a gaming PC to supported devices so users can play remotely.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Protocol: Moonlight is an open source implementation of NVIDIA's GameStream protocol.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Resolution and HDR: Moonlight can stream a full Windows desktop at up to 4K with HDR on a capable client.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Frame rate: The Moonlight PC client supports streaming at up to 120 FPS, with an option to disable V-Sync for lower latency.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Self-hosting: Users can host their own gaming server using options including port forwarding, IPv6, ZeroTier, Tailscale, and NordVPN Meshnet.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Recommended host: Moonlight recommends Sunshine, an open source host made for Moonlight.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Other hosts: GeForce Experience is listed as a compatible host, and the site says its GameStream feature is being discontinued by NVIDIA.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Additional host: Wolf can stream games and applications running inside Docker containers to Moonlight clients.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Code license: The Moonlight client code is hosted on GitHub under the GPLv3 license.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Community support: The project directs users to its setup guide, FAQ, and Discord community for help.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026
Internet streaming constraint: For GeForce Experience internet streaming, the Moonlight Internet Hosting Tool must remain installed on the host PC to maintain port forwarding entries.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Internet streaming alternatives: The setup guide describes ZeroTier, Tailscale, and NordVPN Meshnet as options for streaming over the internet; Tailscale relay connections do not support Moonlight streaming.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Web client: The FAQ states that Moonlight has no pure web client because its protocol requires raw TCP and UDP sockets that browsers do not support.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Privacy: The Google Play listing states that the app collects no data and shares no data with third parties.play.google.com · 30 Sept 2026
Origin: Moonlight was created by Case Western Reserve University students as a project at the MHacks hackathon in 2013.moonlight-stream.org · 30 Sept 2026