Sunshine hosts game streams for devices connecting through a Moonlight client.
Open source
11 alternativesSunshine
Sunshine hosts self-managed game streams for Moonlight clients and supports hardware or software encoding.
About Sunshine
Sunshine is a self-hosted game streaming host developed by LizardByte, designed to pair with Moonlight clients for low-latency game streaming. It runs on user-owned hardware, eliminating the need for recurring fees to third-party cloud gaming providers.
The service supports hardware encoding from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia GPUs, with a software encoding option for devices without compatible dedicated graphics hardware. A web-based UI lets users configure settings and pair clients directly from any browser, and it emulates popular console controllers for use with connected Moonlight clients.
Sunshine suits gamers who want full control over their game streaming setup, avoid cloud service subscription costs, and prioritize low latency for smooth gameplay across multiple device types.
Key features
- Self-hosted game streaming with no monthly cloud fees
- Supports AMD, Intel, and Nvidia GPU hardware encoding
- Software encoding available for devices without compatible GPUs
- Low-latency design optimized for gaming performance
- Web UI for configuration and client pairing
- Emulates Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch controllers
Best for: Gamers seeking low-latency, self-hosted game streaming without recurring cloud service fees benefit most.
Good for
- No recurring subscription fees for cloud gaming
- Supports a wide range of GPU hardware for encoding
- Compatible with Moonlight clients across most major platforms
- Low-latency design optimized for gaming performance
Watch out for
- Not open source
- Requires users to host and maintain their own server hardware
- May require technical expertise to set up and configure
Sunshine at a glance
- Website
- app.lizardbyte.dev/Sunshine
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Remote Desktop
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Sunshine alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
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Stream PC games to other devices with Moonlight, an open-source game streaming client.
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Stream a Windows PC game library to Android through Apollo or Sunshine using Artemis.
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Sunshine FAQ
What is Sunshine?
Sunshine is a self-hosted game streaming host built to work with Moonlight clients, supporting both hardware and software encoding for low-latency gameplay streaming.
What devices can I use to connect to Sunshine?
You can connect to Sunshine from any Moonlight client, which is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, and other platforms.
Does Sunshine charge subscription fees?
No, Sunshine runs on your own hardware, so there are no monthly fees for third-party cloud gaming services.
What GPUs are supported for hardware encoding?
Sunshine supports hardware encoding from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia GPUs, with software encoding also available as an alternative.
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