Moonlight Web

Moonlight Web is a free, open-source way to stream games from a self-hosted gaming PC to a modern browser. It suits players who want to use a mix of phones, computers, tablets and TVs without installing a client app. Its broad device reach is compelling, provided the host can encode video and the browser supports a suitable codec.

Overview

Only the gaming PC needs the server installed; clients connect by opening a URL, with no app or account. That makes Moonlight Web a useful fit for households switching between devices, but browser access does not eliminate the need for a capable host PC or a compatible modern browser.

It can discover and pair over the network with Sunshine, Wolf and MultiSeat hosts. For remote play, streams use direct peer-to-peer WebRTC, while an outgoing connection to an introduction server helps the browser find the PC without exposing public web ports. Hosts pair with a PIN, and the remote entry link is served over HTTPS.

Key features

The project 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. These are ambitious capabilities rather than a promise for every setup: the host’s encoding hardware, connection and client browser all matter.

Browser decoding covers H.264, HEVC and AV1 through WebCodecs, with codecs unavailable to a browser greyed out. That makes compatibility visible, but it also means a preferred codec may not be usable on every client. WebGPU-based upscaling and sharpening uses SGSRv1 and FSR1 shaders on the client, avoiding extra processing load on the gaming PC.

Control options include Xbox and PlayStation controllers with rumble, keyboard, pointer-lock mouse, touch trackpad and virtual keyboard. A session can include up to four players: the host and as many as three invited friends, making the service more than a single-player streaming route.

Optional anonymous usage statistics cover resolution, frame rate, codec, connection type, session duration, app version and operating system. The maker says collection does not begin before consent. The website also uses self-hosted, cookieless Umami analytics and says it does not store visitors’ IP addresses.

Pricing

MoonlightWeb costs nothing. The GPL-3.0 project has no accounts, subscriptions or paid tiers, and the maker mentions optional tips. There is no trial to manage or renewal to cancel; the trade-off is that this is self-hosted software, so the user needs a gaming PC capable of video encoding.

Platforms

The server runs on Windows, Apple Silicon macOS and Linux. The client is a modern web browser on PC, Mac, tablet, phone or TV, so those client devices do not need a dedicated app. Linux hosting requires x64, a hardware-encoding-capable GPU and a distribution at least as recent as Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or Fedora 36; Linux-host HDR is not implemented yet.

Who it's for

Moonlight Web is best for players with an encoding-capable gaming PC who want browser access across several kinds of devices, or who want to invite a few friends into a session. It is a weaker fit for anyone without suitable host hardware, or whose browser cannot decode the codecs they need. Players specifically seeking HDR from a Linux host should look elsewhere for now.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Browser clients need no app or account, which keeps access practical across PCs, phones, tablets and TVs.
• Pro: Direct peer-to-peer remote streams avoid exposing public web ports, and host pairing uses a PIN.
• Pro: Four-player sessions and controller support with rumble suit shared play better than a single-user-only setup.
• Con: The gaming PC must have a GPU capable of encoding, so the service is not a way to stream from just any computer.
• Con: Codec availability depends on browser decoding support, which can constrain client choice.
• Con: Linux-host HDR is not implemented, despite support for HDR on other supported setups.

Alternatives

Moonlight Game Streaming is another free option across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows, with no subscriptions or paid versions. Choose it when a platform-native client is preferable to Moonlight Web’s browser-based approach.

Parsec offers a free personal, non-commercial plan for desktop streaming and sharing, plus an Individuals (Warp) plan at $8.33 a month. It is worth comparing if a paid tier is acceptable; Moonlight Web instead has no paid tiers.

Chiaki-ng is a free, open-source PlayStation Remote Play client for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. Greenlight is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, web and Windows. Steam is free to use across mobile and desktop platforms, though game and content prices vary and some subscriptions may be free. Sunshine is free, self-hosted software that runs on your own hardware. Nearcade and Pulsar are also free alternatives.

Browse more options in Game Remote Play Software.

Verdict

Moonlight Web is a strong choice for players with a capable encoding GPU who want account-free browser streaming across varied devices and sessions of up to four people. Its main reason to look elsewhere is compatibility: host encoding hardware and browser codec support set real boundaries, and Linux-host HDR is not ready.