Parsec vs Moonlight - Best Streaming Technology for Cloud Gaming?

With more and more Cloud Gaming PCs coming onto the market, we are always asked what is the best Streamer, Parsec or Moonlight, so we thought we would create a video to cover just that.
Both have advantages over the other, so we cover the best of each with a benchmark as well from the same machine, using the client for each from a 2019 Macbook Pro.

Join this channel to get access to perks and support the channel:

We cover all of the cloud gaming platforms, Stadia, GeForce NOW, Shadow, xCloud and Project Tempo.

[AlNemec]

I'm one of those people that uses these technologies to play my PC games on other screens on my own LAN. Moonlight has definitely been the best in terms of performance for me. Sadly its also the clunkiest in terms of its setup compared to others.

Service performance/Best FPS as I have experienced it (from best to worst):
Moonlight
Parsec
Rainway

User Interface (navigation to select games or remote desktop:
Rainway
Parsec
Moonlight

Platform Support:
Moonlight/Rainway: Both are available in a lot of places. Per the video is available on mac/win, ios, android, appletv, shield tv, raspberry pi, etc.
Parsec: Just Mac/Windows


In a perfect world, I would want Moonlight's FPS performance with Rainway's UI.

[theschiffer]

16.12.2020: Few months later Parsec supports 100, 120, 144 and 240 FPS now... Also you forgot to mention, that moonlight doesnt work for AMD GPUs...

[Brian-eqdt]

I've been using moonlight for years to stream on my ipad and galaxy phone, and it works great. I also use it to bring my ipad with dualshock 4 to my friends house to play my pc over the internet. you can also lookup how to add your desktop as a "game" option so you can launch straight to your desktop and then launch literally any app or game. Controller support is also very good. Only thing that could improve imo is the option to be able to use a headset/mic so you can talk to teammates while playing multiplayer or battle royale games while gamestreaming. Im glad I saw this video as I was installing parsec lol I dont think ill even bother.

[theohughes]

I use Parsec for everything and I had no idea moonlight existed, thanks for the vid.

[GabrielTobing]

That moment you realise Moonlight is Nvidia only...

[DreiKiekensGaming]

I tried both, Parsec is my preference for laptop/pc. Because moonlight requires a bit of work (adding games, login host pc, ...) but moonlight works great as well, even on my android tv!

[Kevking]

i used parsec for a long time, still using it and i never ever had any problem with the fps don't know when this video was made, but i never see parsec running with such low fps

[docrobotnik]

Here I am thinking I'm clued up with my Boosteroid, Stadia and GFN subs, I'm still learning bout all these new services

[Agret]

Might be worth also comparing Steams built in streaming feature as most people would have that on their PC already. I found the quality on Steam streaming was better but the input latency was much better on Parsec. I haven't tried moonlight over the internet though.

[Tom-xygb]

currently watching this in September 2023. Wonder how would they compare today.

[Kysen]

do any of these solutions support VRR? I want to stream from my PC to an LG OLED on a wired network.

[sfrerku]

Can you couch co-op with Moonlight like on Parsec?

[frankenstein]

Is there a way to adjust the size of parsec's window so I can access the portable device's desktop at same time ?

[sanyammalhan]

Moonlight is also smoother and snappier on smartphones

[EM-ksmy]

I tried parsec and keeps crashing..after the sputtering. Sure I have a most laptop with a gtx 1650, but seems to be some issue of not supporting certain GPU.

[HitSousouK]

no even 1 min into the video difference and Moonlight is already winning lol

[yearsoldskatenoob]

Anybody that knows how to solve the issue with mouse and keyboard. It works fine on my android tablet. On my fire stick it also works fine on the desktop, in-game menus, but during gameplay it is totally off. Anybody knows how to solve that.

[shingles]

forgot to mention parsec works on raspberrypi

[gv]

Does moonlight work as an alternative to the parsec arcade? I would like to play a local co-op game with someone online but parsec unfortunately doesn't support it. Is there anyway we can both plug in controllers and play the game together?

[thorodinson]

Is there any risk if i turn port forwarding for moonlight?