Moonlight Game Streaming vs Rainway
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Moonlight is an open‑source client that lets you stream games from a Windows PC equipped with NVIDIA GameStream to virtually any device. It uses the same technology that powers NVIDIA Shield, delivering high‑quality video and responsive controls over a local network or the internet. The client runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, supporting Bluetooth and USB controllers, custom bitrate settings, and up to 4K/60 fps HDR streaming. Because it’s free and community‑maintained, Moonlight offers a cost‑effective alternative to commercial cloud‑gaming services.
Rainway lets you turn your gaming PC into a cloud gaming server, broadcasting games over the internet to browsers, phones, and tablets. The service runs entirely in the cloud, requiring no client download and works on any modern web browser. With low latency and high-quality video, Rainway enables you to play your existing game library from anywhere, without needing a powerful device. It also supports controller input and offers a simple friend‑invite system for multiplayer sessions.
- Free and open‑source
- Very low latency streaming
- Supports a wide range of devices
- High‑quality 4K/HDR options
- Zero installation required on client devices
- Works on any modern browser
- Supports a wide range of controllers
- Free tier available for unlimited streaming
- Requires an NVIDIA GPU on the host PC
- Setup can be technical for non‑technical users
- No official cloud hosting; relies on your own network
- Requires a Windows PC as host
- Performance depends heavily on internet bandwidth
- Limited customization for video settings
More alternatives & similar tools
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View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataMoonlight offers free, ultra‑low‑latency streaming but requires an NVIDIA GPU, while Rainway works on any Windows PC with zero client setup but may suffer higher latency and bandwidth limits.
Key differences
- •Host hardware: Moonlight needs an NVIDIA GPU; Rainway only needs a Windows PC.
- •Client setup: Moonlight requires installing a client app; Rainway runs in any modern browser with no install.
- •Resolution control: Moonlight lets you configure bitrate, resolution, and frame‑rate; Rainway offers limited video‑setting customization.
- •Pricing model: Moonlight is completely free and open‑source; Rainway has a freemium model with paid tiers for higher resolution.
- •Ecosystem integration: Moonlight integrates directly with NVIDIA GameStream, Steam, Epic, GOG; Rainway integrates with Discord and Twitch.
Pricing & value
Moonlight is fully free and open‑source; Rainway offers a free tier but charges for higher‑resolution features.
Ease of use / learning curve
Rainway streams via browser with zero client install; Moonlight requires installing a client and configuring GPU settings.
Features & depth
Moonlight provides configurable bitrate, resolution, 4K/HDR, and leverages GPU encoding; Rainway has limited video‑setting customization.
Integrations & ecosystem
Moonlight integrates with NVIDIA GameStream, Steam, Epic, GOG; Rainway only lists Discord and Twitch.
Support
Rainway offers email support plus community forum; Moonlight relies solely on community forums and GitHub issues.
Choose Moonlight Game Streaming if…
NVIDIA‑GPU owners who need the lowest latency and highest visual quality.
Choose Rainway if…
Users who want instant, install‑free streaming on any device and accept possible bandwidth limits.
Common questions
Can I use Moonlight without an NVIDIA GPU?
No; Moonlight requires an NVIDIA GPU on the host PC.
Do I need to install anything on my phone to use Rainway?
No; Rainway runs in any modern web browser, so no client installation is required.
Is there any cost to stream at 4K with either tool?
Moonlight streams 4K/HDR for free; Rainway requires a paid tier for higher‑resolution streaming.