The Sunshine Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Sunshine in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Sunshine
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight clients
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Sunshine’s own pages.
Made by LizardByte · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Sunshine’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Sunshine’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 49 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Sunshine is a free, open-source game streaming host that you install on your own PC. Moonlight clients connect to it from other devices, and a browser-based interface handles settings and pairing. It uses AMD, Intel or NVIDIA hardware encoding where available, with software encoding as a fallback.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Sunshine, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is only the host, so you also need a Moonlight client, and the README warns that its hardware tables are unfinished.
- 1
Best for a free game-stream host for your own PC
Sunshine is a free, open-source game-stream host that runs on your own Windows, Mac or Linux PC.
- 2
It is free
Sunshine has no paid plan at all. Free and open source with no cloud subscription; released under the GPL-3.0 license.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Hardware encoding
Streams with AMD, Intel or NVIDIA hardware encoding for low latency, with software encoding available on all supported systems.
- 5
Works with Moonlight clients
Sunshine is the host half of the pair; you install a Moonlight client on a laptop, phone, TV or handheld and pair it.
- 6
Browser-based management
A web interface lets you choose applications, adjust streaming settings and pair devices, from the host or from a mobile device.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 49 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Sunshine is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Sunshine at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- LizardByte
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free game-stream host for your own PC
Sunshine is a free, open-source game-stream host that runs on your own Windows, Mac or Linux PC. It is only the host, so you also need a Moonlight client, and the README warns that its hardware tables are unfinished.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no cloud subscription, and you run it on your own PC. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap listed, and no account or cloud service to pay for. |
| Features | D | It is a host only: you also need a Moonlight client to use it, so it needs another product to be useful. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It has a browser-based management page, but you configure encoders, ports and pairing yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Hosts run on Windows, macOS and Linux, and clients come through Moonlight. No phone host or web client is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Sunshine is for
- Fits if you want free game streaming from your own PC using Moonlight
- Works for people comfortable with setting up ports and encoders themselves
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need a client, as Sunshine is a host only and needs Moonlight
- Not for you if you want support sessions or unattended admin, since it targets game streaming
- Watch out: the README says its hardware requirement tables are unfinished and should not drive purchases
- Watch out: gamepad support is partial on FreeBSD, and macOS needs a separately licensed Virtual HID Broker
Good to know
Good for
- Streaming a home gaming PC to other screens without a subscription
- People who want an open-source alternative to a commercial host
- Linux and macOS owners who want a game streaming host
Worth knowing
- It is a host only; you also need a Moonlight client on the device you play on.
- The README warns that its hardware requirement tables are a work in progress and should not drive purchases.
- Gamepad support is partial on FreeBSD, and macOS needs a separately licensed Virtual HID Broker for emulated pads.
- It targets game streaming, not support sessions or unattended administration of other people's computers.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Sunshine is free to use.
Free outright with no cap listed, and no account or cloud service to pay for.
Sunshine
$0
Free and open source, run on your own hardware. The site has a Donate link for voluntary support.
The free plan
Free and open source with no cloud subscription; released under the GPL-3.0 license.
Read from sunshine.lizardbyte.dev on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight clients. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, remote desktop.
It is a host only: you also need a Moonlight client to use it, so it needs another product to be useful.
- Hardware encoding
- Streams with AMD, Intel or NVIDIA hardware encoding for low latency, with software encoding available on all supported systems.
- Works with Moonlight clients
- Sunshine is the host half of the pair; you install a Moonlight client on a laptop, phone, TV or handheld and pair it.
- Browser-based management
- A web interface lets you choose applications, adjust streaming settings and pair devices, from the host or from a mobile device.
- Gamepad emulation
- The README lists emulation of generic, DualShock, DualSense, Switch Pro and Xbox controllers, with limits on FreeBSD and macOS.
- Several host systems
- The site lists Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD hosts, each with its own supported capture and encoding methods.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Moonlight
Sunshine is made by LizardByte.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
49/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Sunshine's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 49 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 19.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 71 of 85) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Sunshine has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Sunshine’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 63 of 85
- AFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 85
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 85
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 85
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 85
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Sunshine is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Sunshine is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Sunshine’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Moonlight, Steam Link, Parsec, RustDesk and Shadow PC
The 5 tools Sunshine is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Moonlight
Free
Open-source client for streaming PC games to other devices.
- Only Moonlight lists iOS and Android apps.
- Sunshine is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Steam Link
Free
Stream Steam games from your PC to phones, TVs and other PCs.
- Only Steam Link lists iOS and Android apps.
- Sunshine is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Parsec
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Low-latency remote desktop for games and creative work.
- Only Parsec lists a web app.
- Only Parsec lists an Android app.
- Sunshine is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
RustDesk
Free plan · from $11.88/mo
Open-source remote desktop you can run on your own server.
- Only RustDesk lists a web app.
- Only RustDesk lists Android and iOS apps.
- 1.8GPA
Shadow PC
From $29.99/mo
A full Windows PC in the cloud for gaming and creative work.
- Sunshine has a free plan. Shadow PC does not.
- Only Shadow PC lists a web app.
- Only Shadow PC lists iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Sunshine free?
Yes. Sunshine is free to use.
How much does Sunshine cost?
Sunshine lists one plan. Sunshine: $0.
What platforms does Sunshine work on?
Sunshine is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Sunshine have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sunshine is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Sunshine have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sunshine is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Sunshine open source?
Yes. Sunshine is open source, according to its own site.
What does Sunshine integrate with?
Sunshine's listing names Moonlight. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Sunshine?
Sunshine is made by LizardByte.
What are the alternatives to Sunshine?
The closest alternatives to Sunshine in our directory are Moonlight, Steam Link, Parsec, RustDesk and Shadow PC.
How does Sunshine compare with other remote desktop apps?
Sunshine's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 49 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 19.
Is Sunshine good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Sunshine A for value for money. Sunshine has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Sunshine?
Sunshine is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Sunshine’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from LizardByte's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by LizardByte. Prices change, so check sunshine.lizardbyte.dev before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Sunshine, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sunshine
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Sunshine: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sunshine
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sunshine/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Sunshine, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Sunshine’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Sunshine is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by LizardByte. Prices and plans change: check sunshine.lizardbyte.dev before you buy.