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Moonlight alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Moonlight: needs a separate host such as Sunshine, and internet play requires port forwarding or a VPN. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Moonlight, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Parsec currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Jump Desktop logoJump DesktopFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS, Windows +23 of 362.6
2Chrome Remote Desktop logoChrome Remote DesktopFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 359.6
3NoMachine logoNoMachinePaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 457.2
  1. Jump Desktop logo

    1. Jump DesktopTop pick

    Best for: Mac and iPad users who want a premium remote desktop client without a subscription

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Moonlight

    High-frame-rate streaming that also covers everyday remote work.

    Pros

    • One-time purchase on Mac and iOS
    • Fluid protocol handles video and gaming smoothly
    • Also works as an RDP and VNC client
    • Free on Windows, Android and web

    Cons

    • Team management needs a separate subscription
    • Paid apps are bought separately per platform
    • Less suited to ad-hoc support of strangers
    Visit Jump Desktop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Jump Desktop a good Moonlight alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free clients
    Windows, Android, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac and iOS pricing
    One-time purchase, 14-day Mac trial
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max frame rate
    480 fps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Chrome Remote Desktop logo

    2. Chrome Remote Desktop

    Best for: Home users who want free, simple access to their own computers

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Moonlight

    Simple free remote desktop when you need work access rather than gaming.

    Pros

    • Free with no commercial-use restrictions
    • Works from any modern browser
    • One-time codes make quick help sessions easy

    Cons

    • Few admin, logging or team features
    • Basic file transfer and multi-monitor support
    • Requires a Google account on both ends
    Visit Chrome Remote Desktop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Chrome Remote Desktop a good Moonlight alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Host platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Support codes
    Single-use access codes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Unattended access
    PIN-protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. NoMachine logo

    3. NoMachine

    Best for: Linux and mixed-OS users who want fast, multimedia-friendly remote desktops

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Moonlight

    Fast remote desktop for general use, including Linux hosts.

    Pros

    • Efficient NX protocol for video and audio
    • Excellent Linux and Raspberry Pi support
    • Enterprise terminal server options

    Cons

    • Free edition discontinued from version 10
    • Internet access without port forwarding needs a Network subscription
    • Product line-up is complex
    Visit NoMachine Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NoMachine a good Moonlight alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free edition
    Discontinued from version 10
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocol
    NX
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SSH client
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Network trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Moonlight alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Parsec logo

Best Moonlight alternative for most people

Parsec

Easier setup with internet connections handled for you, free for personal use.

Chrome Remote Desktop logo

Best Moonlight alternative for a free option

Chrome Remote Desktop

Simple free remote desktop when you need work access rather than gaming.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Moonlight alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Jump Desktop

High-frame-rate streaming that also covers everyday remote work.

NoMachine logo

Best Moonlight alternative for Mac

NoMachine

Fast remote desktop for general use, including Linux hosts.

Parsec logo

Best Moonlight alternative for Windows

Parsec

Easier setup with internet connections handled for you, free for personal use.

Parsec logo

Best Moonlight alternative for Linux

Parsec

Easier setup with internet connections handled for you, free for personal use.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Moonlight alternative for iPhone and Android

Jump Desktop

High-frame-rate streaming that also covers everyday remote work.

Parsec logo

Best Moonlight alternative for working in the browser

Parsec

Easier setup with internet connections handled for you, free for personal use.

Moonlight alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Moonlight?

Parsec ranks first right now. Easier setup with internet connections handled for you, free for personal use. Jump Desktop and Chrome Remote Desktop follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Moonlight?

Yes. Parsec (free plan + paid), Jump Desktop (free plan + paid) and Chrome Remote Desktop (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Moonlight?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Moonlight alternatives work on Linux?

Parsec, Chrome Remote Desktop and NoMachine run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Moonlight?

The complaints we hear most: needs a separate host such as Sunshine; internet play requires port forwarding or a VPN; no file transfer or admin features.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Moonlight, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.