Moonlight Web

Moonlight Web is a self-hosted way to stream games from a gaming PC to a browser. It suits players who want to use a mix of phones, computers, tablets or TVs without installing a client. Its broad reach comes with a firm requirement: the host needs a capable encoding GPU, and the browser must support a usable video codec.

Overview

Only the gaming PC needs a server installed. Players connect by opening a URL, with no client app or account to set up. That makes Moonlight Web a good fit for households with varied devices, but browser access cannot compensate for an unsupported browser or an underpowered host.

On a local network, it can find Sunshine, Wolf and MultiSeat hosts and pair with them using a PIN. Remote play uses direct peer-to-peer WebRTC; an outgoing connection to an introduction server helps the browser locate the PC without requiring exposed public web ports. The maker says streams go directly from the PC to the browser.

Key features

The project states support for up to 4K HDR at 240 fps and under 20 ms latency over Wi-Fi, using WebRTC over UDP with adaptive congestion control. Those are ambitious capabilities, not a promise for every setup: the result depends on the host’s encoding GPU, network and browser.

Video decoding uses WebCodecs for H.264, HEVC and AV1. Codecs the browser cannot use are greyed out, so the browser’s capabilities shape the available stream options. Client-side WebGPU upscaling and sharpening offers SGSRv1 and FSR1 shaders without adding that processing load to the gaming PC, a useful distinction for a host already busy encoding.

Controls include Xbox and PlayStation controllers with rumble, keyboard, pointer-lock mouse, touch trackpad and virtual keyboard. A session can include up to four players: the host and three invited friends, making local co-op and shared play part of the offer rather than a solo-only stream.

Hosts pair with a PIN, and the remote entry link is served over HTTPS. The maker says no statistics are sent before consent; optional anonymous usage statistics cover resolution, frame rate, codec, connection type, session duration, app version and operating system. The website also uses self-hosted, cookieless Umami analytics and says it does not store visitors’ IP addresses.

Pricing

MoonlightWeb costs free. The GPL-3.0 project has no accounts, subscriptions or paid tiers, and the maker mentions optional tips. There is no trial to weigh against a subscription, and no paid plan with extra features; the trade-off is that users bring and maintain the gaming PC and its encoding hardware themselves.

Platforms

The server supports Windows, Apple Silicon macOS and Linux. The client runs in modern browsers on PCs, Macs, tablets, phones and TVs. Linux hosting has narrower requirements: x64, a hardware-encoding-capable GPU and a distribution at least as recent as Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or Fedora 36. Linux-host HDR is not implemented yet, so Linux users should not expect the advertised HDR capability from that host setup.

Who it's for

Moonlight Web is best for players who already have a gaming PC with hardware encoding and want browser access across several kinds of devices, including multiplayer sessions. It is less suitable for anyone expecting a turnkey cloud gaming service, or whose browser lacks the needed decoding support. The FAQ sends unanswered questions to GitHub.

Pros and cons

Pro: Browser clients need no app or account, making it practical for mixed-device households.

Pro: Up to four players, broad control options and client-side enhancement support flexible play without shifting the enhancement work to the host PC.

Pro: Direct peer-to-peer remote streaming avoids exposing public web ports.

Con: The gaming PC must have a hardware-encoding-capable GPU, and codec availability varies by browser.

Con: Linux hosts require recent x64 distributions, and Linux-host HDR is not implemented.

Alternatives

Choose Moonlight Game Streaming if you want a completely free streaming client with apps across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows rather than a browser-only client. Parsec is worth comparing if you want desktop streaming and sharing with a freemium plan and a free trial; its personal-use plan is for non-commercial use.

PXPlay is an option for someone willing to pay once for its PC plan, while PeaSyo is another permanently free choice. Consider Steam if you want a free platform where game and content prices vary. Chiaki-ng is a free, open-source PlayStation Remote Play client, and Pulsar is another free, open-source option. Greenlight offers a free open-source alternative under the MIT license.

Browse the Game Remote Play Software directory for more options.

Verdict

Choose Moonlight Web if you have a capable self-hosted gaming PC and want flexible browser access, especially across household devices or for sessions with friends. Its strongest reasons to choose it are the no-app client, wide control support and direct remote streaming; look elsewhere if you need a managed service or cannot rely on compatible host encoding and browser decoding.