Moonlight Web

Overview

Only the gaming PC needs a server installed; clients connect by opening a URL, with no app or account. That makes Moonlight Web a practical choice for households using a mix of devices, though browser access does not make an unsuitable host PC or browser compatible.

On a local network, the service can find Sunshine, Wolf and MultiSeat hosts through mDNS and pair with them using a PIN. Remote play uses direct peer-to-peer WebRTC, with an outgoing connection to an introduction server helping the browser locate the PC. The design avoids exposing public web ports, and the maker says the stream itself travels directly from PC to browser.

Key features

Moonlight Web states support for up to 4K HDR at 240 fps and latency under 20 ms over Wi-Fi, using WebRTC over UDP with adaptive congestion control. Those targets make it promising for responsive play, but they depend on the host’s encoding GPU, network and browser rather than guaranteeing the same result on every setup.

The client can decode H.264, HEVC and AV1 through WebCodecs, greying out codecs unavailable in a given browser. That gives compatible devices room to use modern formats while making browser support a meaningful compatibility check. WebGPU-based upscaling and sharpening with SGSRv1 and FSR1 shaders runs on the client, avoiding extra processing load on the gaming PC.

Input options include Xbox and PlayStation controllers with rumble, keyboard, pointer-lock mouse, touch trackpad and virtual keyboard. A session supports up to four players: the host and as many as three invited friends, making local co-op possible without limiting the service to solo play.

Pricing

MoonlightWeb costs 0.00 USD per free. The GPL-3.0 project has no accounts, subscriptions or paid tiers, and the maker mentions optional tips. There is no trial because there is no paid plan to trial; the free offering is the complete stated product rather than a capped entry tier.

Platforms

The server supports Windows, Apple Silicon macOS and Linux hosts. Linux hosting requires x64, a GPU capable of hardware encoding, and a distribution at least as recent as Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or Fedora 36. Linux-host HDR is not implemented yet, so Linux users seeking HDR should treat that as a concrete limitation.

Clients run in modern browsers on PC, Mac, tablets, phones and TVs. The broad reach is a strength, but an older browser or one without the needed decoding support can narrow codec choices or prevent the intended experience. The host GPU must also support encoding.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for people who already have a gaming PC and want browser access from several kinds of device, or want to invite friends into a local co-op session. It is less suitable for anyone seeking cloud gaming without maintaining a host PC, or for a setup whose GPU cannot encode video. Privacy-conscious users can decline optional usage statistics; the maker says none are sent before consent. The website uses self-hosted, cookieless Umami analytics and says it does not store visitors’ IP addresses.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Browser access needs no client app or account, which is useful when switching among phones, computers and TVs.
• Pro: Direct peer-to-peer remote streams avoid exposed public web ports, while PIN pairing helps control host access.
• Pro: Client-side WebGPU enhancement and support for several controller and keyboard inputs broaden the ways to play without shifting enhancement work to the host PC.
• Con: The host needs a hardware-encoding-capable GPU, so this is not a workaround for a weak or incompatible gaming PC.
• Con: Codec availability depends on browser decoding support, and Linux-host HDR is not implemented.

Alternatives

Game Remote Play Software is the category list for comparing remote-play options.

• Parsec is worth considering if freemium access and its Personal non-commercial desktop streaming and sharing plan better match your use; it also has an Individuals (Warp) plan at 8.33 USD per month.
• Moonlight Game Streaming is another free option if you prefer its listed Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows platform set over browser-based clients.
• Steam is a broader free software choice when access to games and content, whose prices vary, matters more than a dedicated browser streaming route.
• Chiaki-ng is a free, open-source PlayStation Remote Play client for readers specifically seeking that kind of client.
• Greenlight is a free, MIT-licensed option if you want its listed Linux, macOS, web and Windows platform coverage.
• Sunshine is a free, self-hosted project that runs on your own hardware; consider it if you want the host project rather than Moonlight Web’s browser client approach.
• PXPlay is a paid alternative at 12.99 EUR per once, with a single-user license for Windows, Linux and Mac and multiple personal machines on the same plan.
• PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming suits Windows users looking for a paid cloud-streaming subscription with game catalogs and online multiplayer; Premium costs 19.99 USD per month and continues until canceled.

Verdict

Choose Moonlight Web if you have an encoding-capable gaming PC and want free, account-free browser streaming across devices, with remote play that does not require exposed web ports. Look elsewhere if you need cloud gaming without a host PC, or if your hardware and browser cannot meet its encoding and decoding requirements.