Skip to content
ToolGPA

Alternatives · Remote Desktop

Shadow PC alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Shadow PC alternative is Steam Link (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.

Shadow PC compared with 7 alternatives: Paperspace, Vagon, Parsec, Shells, Moonlight and 2 more.

Shadow PC is a paid product, starting at $29.99 per month, no commitment. 4 of the 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Shadow PC sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Shadow PCThis toolFrom $29.99/moNoWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
PaperspaceFrom $22/moNoWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
VagonFree trial · from $7.99/moTrial onlyWeb
ParsecFree plan · from $8.33/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
ShellsFrom $14.95/moNoWeb, iOS, Android
MoonlightFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Steam LinkFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
SunshineFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux

Price against what you get

Shadow PC starts at $29.99 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 7 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Paperspace, Vagon, Parsec, Shells, Moonlight, Steam Link and 1 more start lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessShadow PCPaperspaceVagonParsecShellsMoonlightSteam LinkSunshine

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of remote desktop apps, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Shadow PC

  1. Paperspace

    Cloud desktops and GPU machines you rent by the hour or month

    • Paperspace starts at $22 per month for the Air desktop; hourly machines from $0.0045 per hour.
    • Paperspace lists no iOS and Android apps, which Shadow PC has.

    Suits: Running a Windows desktop with a GPU for CAD or rendering

    Paperspace vs Shadow PCPaperspace pricing and details

  2. Vagon

    Cloud workstations with GPUs, billed by the minute

    • Vagon starts at $7.99 per month for storage, plus usage from $0.25 per hour.
    • Vagon lists no Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps, which Shadow PC has.
    • Vagon also covers file sharing.

    Suits: Occasional heavy rendering, editing or CAD without owning a workstation

    Vagon vs Shadow PCVagon pricing and details

  3. Parsec

    Low-latency remote desktop for games and creative work

    • Parsec starts at $8.33 per user / month, billed annually ($9.99 billed monthly).
    • Parsec has a free plan, which Shadow PC lacks.
    • Parsec lists no iOS app, which Shadow PC has.
    • Parsec does not cover AI agents, which Shadow PC does.

    Suits: Playing games on a home PC from another computer or an Android device

    Parsec vs Shadow PCParsec pricing and details

  4. Shells

    A personal cloud computer you open from any device

    • Shells starts at $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
    • Shells lists no Windows, macOS and Linux apps, which Shadow PC has.
    • Shells also covers file sync.
    • Shells does not cover AI agents, which Shadow PC does.

    Suits: Students and coders who want a Linux desktop on a tablet or Chromebook

    Shells vs Shadow PCShells pricing and details

  5. Moonlight

    Open-source client for streaming PC games to other devices

    • Moonlight is free.
    • Moonlight has a free plan, which Shadow PC lacks.
    • Moonlight lists no web app, which Shadow PC has.
    • Moonlight is open source, according to its own site.
    • Moonlight does not cover AI agents, which Shadow PC does.

    Suits: Gamers streaming from a home PC to a phone, TV or laptop

    Moonlight vs Shadow PCMoonlight pricing and details

  6. Sunshine

    Self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight clients

    • Sunshine is free.
    • Sunshine has a free plan, which Shadow PC lacks.
    • Sunshine lists no web app and iOS and Android apps, which Shadow PC has.
    • Sunshine is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Sunshine does not cover AI agents, which Shadow PC does.

    Suits: Streaming a home gaming PC to other screens without a subscription

    Sunshine vs Shadow PCSunshine pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Shadow PC

  • Playtime is a fair-use cap that resets on the 1st of each month; Lite allows 120 hours.
  • Peak-hour queue priority depends on the tier, from Lite to Premium.
  • The vendor notes that not every game or app will run, flagged with an asterisk on its page.
  • A separate Cloud Workstations line for businesses has its own pricing page.
Shadow PC pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Shadow PC?

The alternatives to Shadow PC in this directory are Paperspace, Vagon, Parsec, Shells, Moonlight, Steam Link and Sunshine. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Shadow PC.

Is there a free alternative to Shadow PC?

Yes. Moonlight, Steam Link and Sunshine are free to use. Parsec has a free plan alongside paid ones.

Is there an open-source alternative to Shadow PC?

Moonlight and Sunshine are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.