Cloudy Pad

Cloudy Pad is a free, open-source way to turn your own machine or cloud account into a place to stream games from your library. It best suits players who want control over the server and are comfortable handling setup, Linux compatibility and cloud costs. Its flexibility is useful, but this experimental project asks more of its users than a ready-made gaming service.

Overview

Cloudy Pad helps deploy a gaming instance on a server, personal machine or supported cloud provider; it does not supply a game catalogue. Support for Steam, Epic, GOG, Heroic and Lutris gives players several ways to connect their existing libraries. Cloudy Pad is Linux-based, and Steam games require Proton, so compatibility can vary by title; ProtonDB offers a way to check individual games.

Users can install Cloudy Pad themselves, including directly on a server via SSH, or use Cloudy Pad App, a web platform designed to deploy an instance in a few minutes. The hosted option can shorten the deployment process, while self-deployment gives technically capable users direct control. Neither route removes the need for appropriate hardware or a supported provider.

Key features

• Sunshine or Wolf streaming: Cloudy Pad can deploy either streaming server and stream through the Moonlight client. The choice is useful for people who already have a preferred setup, but Moonlight is a requirement for self-deployment.
• Cloud provider choice: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Scaleway and Paperspace are supported. This broadens the options for building an instance around a chosen provider, while leaving the user responsible for provider setup and usage charges.
• Cost controls: Automated cost alerts, hourly billing and Spot instances that can be up to 90% cheaper give cloud users ways to monitor and reduce spend. Spot pricing is a potential saving rather than a fixed cost, and cloud usage can still incur charges.
• Resolution and devices: Streaming supports up to 1440p, with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TV, tablet and Apple TV among the supported devices. That offers room for sharper play and varied screens, provided the connection and setup meet the requirements.

Pricing

The self-deployed version costs free and is free and open source. That makes it a sensible starting point for users with suitable hardware who can manage installation themselves. The software price is free; using a cloud provider may still generate hourly charges.

Cloudy Pad App is a hosted web platform, but there is no published plan price or limit to compare. Users considering the hosted route should account for possible cloud usage charges rather than assuming the free software means a free gaming instance.

Platforms

Cloudy Pad lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows platforms. It also supports streaming to Smart TVs, tablets and Apple TV. Self-deployment requires a Moonlight client, a server with an NVIDIA GPU or a supported cloud provider, Docker, and a stable internet connection with at least 20 Mbps download speed. Those requirements narrow the fit for users without suitable hardware, connectivity or server experience.

Who it's for

Choose Cloudy Pad if you already own the games you want to play, value a choice of launchers and cloud providers, and are willing to manage the instance. It is less suited to players who want a simple subscription library or a dependable service that handles server setup. The maker describes the project as experimental and warns that breaking changes may occur, so it is a risky foundation for anyone who needs a stable setup.

The privacy policy says the service may collect a user's name, email address, IP address, browser data and usage logs, and that absolute security cannot be guaranteed. Questions go to Discord, while bug reports are directed to GitHub issues.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free, open-source software with support for multiple game launchers lets players build around libraries they already own.
• Pro: Choice of self-deployment or supported cloud providers, plus hourly billing, cost alerts and potentially cheaper Spot instances, gives cloud users meaningful control over deployment and spending.
• Con: Users must supply the instance, meet the hardware or provider and Docker requirements, and maintain a stable connection of at least 20 Mbps.
• Con: Linux and Proton compatibility can limit which Steam games work, and the experimental project may introduce breaking changes.
• Con: Cloud charges can apply even though Cloudy Pad itself is free, and the hosted app's plan price and limits are not published.

Alternatives

Cloud gaming services is a useful starting point for comparing other approaches. Consider GeForce NOW if you want a service with a free ad-supported tier and a Performance plan at $9.99 a month; its free tier uses basic cloud gaming rigs.

CloudMoon offers a freemium service with a Standard Plan at $4.99 a month, for players who prefer a priced service over managing their own instance. Blacknut is a paid option with a Focus Entertainment plan at $9.99 a month for 20 Focus Entertainment Pass games; its listed billing terms say the first month is $9.99, then $21.98 per month. Broming offers free hours earned by watching short ads, an option for players willing to trade ad viewing for playtime.

TIM Cloud Gaming by AWG has a Premium plan described as unlimited use, as well as a plan at 3,990 BRL a month; some games require a license. now.gg offers ad-supported access to Android games on a free plan, which may fit players focused on that game platform. Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a paid plan and has a Game Pass Essential tier with five hours of cloud gaming per month and more than 50 games; consider it if that included catalogue and allowance match your needs.

Verdict

Cloudy Pad is a strong fit for technically capable players who want to stream games they own using their own machine or a cloud provider, with control over launchers and streaming server. Free, open-source software and provider cost controls are its clearest advantages. Look elsewhere if you need stable, hands-off access, want a supplied game catalogue, or are unwilling to manage setup and possible cloud charges.