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Sunshine alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sunshine: more setup than Steam Remote Play or Parsec, and needs a good home network for smooth play. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sunshine, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Apollo currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Parsec logoParsecFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 552.2
2Steam logoSteamFreeNoWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 550.3
  1. Parsec logo

    1. ParsecTop pick

    Best for: Gamers and creative teams who need smooth, high-frame-rate remote sessions

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web

    52.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sunshine

    Easier setup with its own client and low-latency streaming, plus remote co-op with friends.

    Pros

    • Very low latency and high frame rates
    • Free personal tier works well for remote gaming
    • Drawing-tablet and multi-monitor support on paid plans

    Cons

    • Hosting requires Windows or macOS, not Linux
    • Needs a decent GPU and connection on the host
    • Team plans cost more than general remote access tools
    Visit Parsec Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.352
    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 Parsec a good Sunshine alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Personal use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Warp (individual) price
    $8.33 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Teams price
    $30 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Host OS
    Windows 10+ or macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Frame rate
    Up to 240 FPS (60 FPS at 4K)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Steam logo

    2. Steam

    Best for: PC gamers who want the widest catalogue, frequent sales and their friends in one place

    FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sunshine

    Steam Remote Play streams your Steam library with almost no setup if your games are on Steam.

    Pros

    • Largest PC game catalogue, with frequent deep sales
    • Proton lets many Windows games run on Linux and Steam Deck
    • Workshop makes installing mods for supported games easy
    • Cloud saves, achievements and friends built in

    Cons

    • Most games are tied to the Steam client by DRM
    • The client is heavy and keeps background services running
    • You buy licences, not DRM-free copies like on GOG
    Visit Steam Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    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 Steam a good Sunshine alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Mobile app
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mods
    Steam Workshop, ~1,000 supported games
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chat
    Text and voice
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment options
    100+ methods, 35+ currencies
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Languages
    28
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Sunshine alternative for…

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

Apollo logo

Best Sunshine alternative for most people

Apollo

Sunshine fork for Windows that streams at the client's native resolution with built-in virtual displays.

Steam logo

Best Sunshine alternative for a free option

Steam

Steam Remote Play streams your Steam library with almost no setup if your games are on Steam.

Parsec logo

Best Sunshine alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Parsec

Easier setup with its own client and low-latency streaming, plus remote co-op with friends.

Apollo logo

Best Sunshine alternative for open source

Apollo

Sunshine fork for Windows that streams at the client's native resolution with built-in virtual displays.

Apollo logo

Best Sunshine alternative for self-hosting

Apollo

Sunshine fork for Windows that streams at the client's native resolution with built-in virtual displays.

Parsec logo

Best Sunshine alternative for Mac

Parsec

Easier setup with its own client and low-latency streaming, plus remote co-op with friends.

Apollo logo

Best Sunshine alternative for Windows

Apollo

Sunshine fork for Windows that streams at the client's native resolution with built-in virtual displays.

Parsec logo

Best Sunshine alternative for Linux

Parsec

Easier setup with its own client and low-latency streaming, plus remote co-op with friends.

Steam logo

Best Sunshine alternative for iPhone and Android

Steam

Steam Remote Play streams your Steam library with almost no setup if your games are on Steam.

Parsec logo

Best Sunshine alternative for working in the browser

Parsec

Easier setup with its own client and low-latency streaming, plus remote co-op with friends.

Sunshine alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sunshine?

Apollo ranks first right now. Sunshine fork for Windows that streams at the client's native resolution with built-in virtual displays. Parsec and Steam follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sunshine?

Yes. Apollo (open source), Parsec (free plan + paid) and Steam (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Sunshine?

Yes: Apollo. Apollo can also be self-hosted.

Which Sunshine alternatives work on Linux?

Parsec and Steam run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Sunshine?

The complaints we hear most: more setup than Steam Remote Play or Parsec; needs a good home network for smooth play; macOS host support is limited.

How is this list ranked?

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