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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNeither service is universally better. Steam Remote Play is usually the easier choice when your games are in Steam, you want to use the Steam Link app or a supported Steam Link device, or friends need to join a supported local-multiplayer game through Remote Play Together. Moonlight paired with Sunshine is the more configurable alternative for people willing to install a separate host-and-client system, particularly when broad client support or documented AMD, Intel and Nvidia hardware encoding matters.
Both systems run the game on your gaming PC. The remote device receives an encoded video and audio stream and sends controller, keyboard or mouse input back. Your real result depends on the host CPU and GPU, encoder, client decoder, game settings, network path and display. The official documentation reviewed here does not provide a controlled, head-to-head latency or image-quality test, so claims that one is categorically faster or smoother are not evidence-based.
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Steam Remote Play and Moonlight solve the same problem differently
Game streaming moves where you play, not where the game is rendered. In both approaches, the gaming PC does the rendering and encoding; the client device decodes the stream and returns your inputs.
How Steam Remote Play works
Steam Remote Play is built into Steam. You run Steam and the game on a host computer, sign in to Steam on the client, and launch the title from the library. Valve says all Steam games can be streamed between your own computers. Steam Link extends that experience to supported phones, tablets, televisions, streaming hardware and other devices; availability is device- and app-specific, so confirm support for the exact client you intend to use. Valve’s overview is at Steam Remote Play support and the feature page is at store.steampowered.com/remoteplay.
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- Durable and Secure Design: The connectors of this ethernet cable feature gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots for enhanced durability. Bare copper conductors not only improve cable performance but also comply with communication cable specifications
- High-Speed Data Transfer: With up to 550 MHz bandwidth, this ethernet cord is ideal for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and streaming high-definition video. It also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++) for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring fast and reliable network performance.
Remote Play Together is a related feature rather than a second streaming protocol. One person owns and runs a supported local-multiplayer game, then invites friends through Steam. Valve says up to four people can join, with more possible on fast connections. The game’s store page must indicate Remote Play Together support; ordinary Remote Play availability does not guarantee that friends can join.
How Moonlight with Sunshine works
Moonlight is an unofficial, open-source streaming client. Its current FAQ recommends Sunshine as the host application instead of relying on the older proprietary host software for which Moonlight was originally created. Sunshine is self-hosted and can use hardware encoding on AMD, Intel or Nvidia GPUs, with software encoding available as a fallback. The Sunshine documentation version reviewed for this guide is v2026.214.224301.
You install Sunshine on the gaming PC, install Moonlight on the receiving device, pair the two with a PIN, and launch an application shown by Sunshine. Sunshine includes Steam and a remote-desktop entry; you can add other games or desktop programs manually. Moonlight’s FAQ and setup documentation are at the Moonlight FAQ and the Moonlight Setup Guide.
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Steam Remote Play vs. Moonlight with Sunshine
| Decision point | Steam Remote Play | Moonlight with Sunshine |
|---|---|---|
| Basic workflow | Run Steam on the host, sign in on the client and launch from the Steam library. | Install and configure Sunshine on the host, install Moonlight on the client, pair them, then launch a listed or custom app. |
| Best fit | People whose games are already in Steam and who want the fewest additional components. | People comfortable with a separate host/client stack and additional streaming controls. |
| Friends and local multiplayer | Remote Play Together supports invited friends in supported local-multiplayer games; the host owns and runs the game. | The reviewed documentation describes streaming a host game or application, not an equivalent Steam friends-invite feature. |
| Host requirements | Steam on a host PC. Valve’s guidance recommends at least a quad-core CPU. | Sunshine supports hardware encoding on AMD, Intel and Nvidia GPUs and can fall back to software encoding. |
| Client platforms | Steam Link supports a range of devices, and Valve documents PC-to-PC streaming. Check current support for your exact device. | Moonlight lists clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi 4, Steam Link hardware, Android, Amazon Fire tablets and TV, iOS, Apple TV and ChromeOS. |
| Network guidance | Valve recommends wired networking for the best experience. Lowering game resolution or disabling VSync can help when a stream struggles. | The setup guide recommends a mid- to high-end router with strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) to the client and Ethernet from the host to the router. |
| Internet access away from home | Remote Play can work beyond the local network, subject to the connection and Steam setup. | The Moonlight guide documents Sunshine UPnP and manual alternatives. It recommends retaining at least 1 Mbps of upload capacity beyond the selected bitrate for other household traffic. |
| Built-in diagnostics | Steam provides a performance overlay and hardware-encoding options. | Moonlight provides client performance statistics, although the measurements vary by client and hardware. |
Which one should you choose?
Choose Steam Remote Play when convenience is the priority
- Your games are already in Steam and you want to launch them from the familiar library.
- You want to stream to a supported Steam Link client without assembling another host application.
- You need Remote Play Together for a supported couch-co-op or local-multiplayer title.
- You prefer Steam’s integrated pairing, invitations and troubleshooting controls.
Steam’s integration does not remove the need to check individual game and device support. A title can stream to your own computer while lacking Remote Play Together, and a particular television or mobile device may not support every Steam Link feature.
Choose Moonlight with Sunshine when flexibility is worth extra setup
- You want to stream a desktop application or a non-Steam game from the same interface.
- Your client is one of Moonlight’s broad range of officially listed platforms.
- You want Sunshine’s documented hardware-encoder support across AMD, Intel and Nvidia graphics hardware.
- You are willing to pair devices, manage firewall or router settings and tune bitrate, resolution and codec options yourself.
Moonlight is not a plug-in replacement for Steam’s social features. Its strength is the independent host/client design and the control it gives you over the applications and stream settings.
Requirements before you start
Steam Remote Play checklist
- A host PC running Steam and the game.
- Valve’s documented minimum guidance of a quad-core host CPU.
- A client with hardware-accelerated H.264 decoding; without it, decoding work can overwhelm the client.
- A wired host connection when possible and a strong connection to the client.
- The current Steam client and a supported Steam Link device or another computer signed in to Steam.
These are recommendations, not a promise of a particular frame rate or latency. Valve’s support page also suggests lowering the game’s resolution or turning off VSync when diagnosing a poor stream.
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Moonlight and Sunshine checklist
- Sunshine installed and running on the gaming PC.
- Moonlight installed on the chosen client device.
- A client capable of hardware-accelerated H.264 decoding for the smoothest 60-frame-per-second experience. Older computers may have to decode on the CPU and can fail to maintain 60 fps without lag.
- A host-to-router Ethernet connection if feasible, plus a strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 link to a wireless client.
- Firewall permissions for Sunshine and a pairing path between host and client.
Exact operating-system versions, codec capabilities and supported devices change. Check the live Moonlight setup guide for the target platform rather than assuming that every device in a category behaves identically.
How to set up Steam Remote Play
- Prepare the host. Install or update Steam, sign in, and install the game on the gaming PC. Leave Steam running while you test.
- Prepare the client. Install Steam on another computer or install the Steam Link app on a supported device. Sign in to the same Steam account for your own library.
- Pair the devices. On Steam Link, follow the on-screen pairing code. For PC-to-PC streaming, the host should appear in the Steam client’s library or Remote Play interface when both devices are online.
- Launch a game. Start the title from the Steam library on the client. The game remains installed and running on the host.
- Check performance. Enable Steam’s performance overlay while testing. If you see stutter, try Ethernet, reduce the game’s output resolution, and test with VSync disabled as Valve suggests.
- Invite friends if supported. Open a game that advertises Remote Play Together on its store page, launch it on the host, and send Steam invitations. Friends join through the invitation rather than installing the game locally.
How to set up Moonlight with Sunshine
- Install Sunshine on the host. Download the current Sunshine build for the gaming PC, install it, and open its management interface. Allow it through the operating system firewall when prompted.
- Confirm the available apps. Sunshine normally exposes Steam and a desktop entry. Add a game or other application if it is not listed, using Sunshine’s application settings.
- Install Moonlight on the client. Choose the Moonlight build for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi 4, Steam Link hardware, Android, Amazon Fire tablets or TV, iOS, Apple TV or ChromeOS, as applicable.
- Pair Moonlight and Sunshine. Open Moonlight on the client, select the discovered host, and enter the PIN shown by Sunshine. Pairing normally occurs on the same local network first.
- Start a stream. Select Steam, the desktop entry or a custom app. Begin with a conservative resolution, frame rate and bitrate, then raise them only after the connection is stable.
- Inspect statistics. Use Moonlight’s performance statistics to distinguish network delay, decoder problems and host-side encoding load. Available measurements differ between clients.
Network and stream tuning that matters more than the logo
Put the host on Ethernet
Both projects’ guidance points toward a wired host connection. A gaming PC connected to the router by Ethernet avoids one wireless hop and reduces contention. If the PC is not already wired, a suitable Cat 6 Ethernet cable is a practical way to make that connection; the cable itself does not guarantee lower latency.
Use the right wireless band for the client
Moonlight recommends a mid- to high-end router and a strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 connection. Keep the client close enough to maintain that link and avoid crowded channels where possible. Steam’s guidance likewise favors wired networking for the best experience.
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- High-Performance Connectivity: This Cat 6 ethernet cable is designed for superior performance, with a 24 AWG copper wire core. It provides universal connectivity as an ethernet cord for LAN network components such as PCs, servers, printers, routers, and more, ensuring reliable and fast network connections
- Advanced Cat6 Technology: Experience Cat6 performance with higher bandwidth at a Cat5e price. This network cable is future-proof, ready for 10-Gigabit Ethernet and backwards compatible with any existing Cat 5 cable network. It meets or exceeds Category 6 performance according to the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard
- Reliable Wired Network Solution: Known variously as a Cat6 network cable, ethernet cable Cat 6, or Cat 6 data/LAN cable, this RJ45 cable offers a more secure and reliable connection than wireless networks. It's ideal for internet connections that demand consistency and security
- Durable and Secure Design: The connectors of this ethernet cable feature gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots for enhanced durability. Bare copper conductors not only improve cable performance but also comply with communication cable specifications
- High-Speed Data Transfer: With up to 550 MHz bandwidth, this ethernet cord is ideal for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and streaming high-definition video. It also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++) for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring fast and reliable network performance.
Match encoder and decoder capabilities
Hardware encoding on the host and hardware decoding on the client generally leave more CPU headroom than software paths. Confirm that the client can decode the selected H.264 or other supported format smoothly. An older client that decodes on its CPU can produce stutter even when the network is fast.
Leave upload headroom for remote Internet play
When streaming outside the home, the home’s upload capacity is shared with every other service. Moonlight’s guide recommends at least 1 Mbps of upload capacity beyond the chosen streaming bitrate. That is headroom, not a universal minimum speed: the required bitrate still depends on resolution, frame rate, codec and image complexity.
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Change one setting at a time
For a reproducible tune-up, hold the game, client, network and controller constant. Change bitrate first, then resolution or frame rate, and record whether the symptom is input delay, dropped frames, blocky video, audio breakup or a disconnect. This prevents a network problem from being mistaken for a GPU or game-setting problem.
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HDR, codecs and VR have separate caveats
HDR is conditional
Moonlight’s documentation describes HDR10 support only for certain clients, codecs and displays and lists known issues. The presence of an HDR option in an app does not mean every host-client combination can deliver HDR correctly. Verify the required codec and display path for the exact device.
VR Remote Play is a different requirement set
Valve’s VR Remote Play guidance is not a specification for ordinary game streaming. For its stated VR use case, Valve lists Windows 10 or newer, a GTX 970 or better, 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5, a wired PC-to-router connection and a Meta Quest 2, 3 or Pro. Remote Play Together is not supported for VR. Do not apply those requirements to a normal monitor, television or phone stream.
A fair way to compare them at home
No controlled official comparison establishes a universal latency or image-quality winner. If you want an answer for your own equipment, compare like with like:
- Use the same gaming PC, client device, controller, game and gameplay scene.
- Keep output resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate as close as each application allows.
- Use hardware encoding and decoding on both paths when supported.
- Run each stream for several minutes on the same network location.
- Record perceived input response, stutter, image artifacts, audio behavior and connection stability.
- Repeat the test over the network location you actually plan to use, such as another room or an outside Internet connection.
- Read each application’s overlay or logs, but do not treat unlike measurements as a laboratory benchmark.
For example, a wireless client may make Moonlight look worse because of a congested access point, while a Steam test may benefit from a different decoder. Conversely, a weak host encoder or a client with poor H.264 support can dominate the result regardless of the software brand.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The picture is blocky or changes quality
- Lower the streaming bitrate or output resolution.
- Move the client to a stronger 5 GHz connection or connect it by Ethernet.
- Wire the host to the router and stop large uploads on the same connection.
- Check that the host is using hardware encoding rather than an overloaded software path.
Input feels delayed but the video is clear
- Test the host with Ethernet and the client near the access point.
- Reduce frame-rate or bitrate demands temporarily to identify congestion.
- Disable VSync in the game if Valve’s troubleshooting guidance applies to your Steam stream.
- Compare a local-network test with an Internet test; a remote route can add delay that no app setting removes.
The stream stutters at 60 fps
- Check client hardware H.264 decoding. Older PCs may fall back to CPU decoding and fail to sustain 60 fps.
- Lower resolution or frame rate and watch the client statistics.
- Check host GPU/CPU load and select hardware encoding where available.
The host or game does not appear
- Confirm Steam or Sunshine is running and that the firewall allows the application.
- Pair on the same local network before attempting an Internet connection.
- For Steam, verify the title and target device support the Remote Play feature you want.
- For Sunshine, add the missing game or application in Sunshine’s app configuration.
Remote access works at home but not from the Internet
Sunshine is self-hosted, so router and firewall configuration are your responsibility. Moonlight documents automatic UPnP as one option and describes manual and other paths in its setup guide. If the connection lacks a dedicated public IP, the FAQ notes that ZeroTier can be used with additional configuration. Understand the security implications of exposing a host service and use only the access method you can maintain.
Bottom line: pick the workflow, then test the hardware
Steam Remote Play is the practical default for a Steam-centered library, Steam Link devices and Remote Play Together. Moonlight with Sunshine is the better fit for a configurable, cross-platform setup that can expose Steam, the desktop and custom applications while using documented hardware encoding from AMD, Intel or Nvidia hosts. Neither choice guarantees lower latency or better image quality. Start with the workflow you need, wire the host, provide the client with a capable decoder and compare the same game and network under the settings you will actually use.
Quick Recap
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