Blacknut vs Cloudy Pad
Blacknut
blacknut.comCloudy Pad
cloudypad.ggSide by side
| Figure | Blacknut | Cloudy Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Spec score · Cloud gaming services | 8.9 (#5) | 8.9 (#6) |
| Game access model | subscription | byo_library |
| Licence | FAUN.dev categorizes Blacknut as closed-source software operated by a single vendor. | The GitHub repository identifies the project as GNU AGPL-3.0 licensed and says a business-oriented licence is available by contacting the maintainer. |
| Support | Blacknut provides FAQ categories for setup, subscriptions, saves, parental controls, account management, and technical assistance, and offers a contact form for help. | The maker directs users to Discord for questions and GitHub issues for bug reports. |
| Supported devices | Web browsers,Windows,macOS,Ubuntu/Linux,Android,iOS/iPadOS,Samsung TV,LG TV,Google TV,Chromecast,Amazon Fire TV,Titan OS TV,VIDAA OS TV,VIZIO,WhaleTV,Tivo | The homepage lists macOS, iOS, Apple TV, Windows, Linux, SmartTV, Android and tablets as supported client systems. |
| What it does | Blacknut streams a curated library of PC and console games from the cloud through a subscription, without requiring local game downloads. | Cloudy Pad deploys gaming instances on user-owned servers or cloud providers so users can stream their own PC games remotely. |
Plans
Blacknut
- Focus Entertainment$9.99 a month
- Focus Entertainment Pass€9.99 a month
- SNK$9.99 a month
- SNK Pass€9.99 a month
- Ubisoft+ Classics€14.99 a month
- Ubisoft+ Premium€24.99 a month
- Blacknut Cloud Gaming via HKT/csl49 HKD a month
- Annual subscription€89.94, paid once
- Annual subscription with 1 free Ubisoft game$95.94, paid once
In their own words
Cloudy Pad
Cloudy Pad lets users deploy a cloud gaming instance on their own server, machine, or cloud provider and play games from their own library. It can be self-deployed, including directly on a server via SSH, or used through Cloudy Pad App, a web platform for deploying a gaming instance. Listed launchers include Steam, Epic, GOG, Heroic, and Lutris; listed providers include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Scaleway, and Paperspace. Cloudy Pad can deploy a Sunshine or Wolf streaming server for use with the Moonlight client, with streaming up to 1440p. Its documentation describes hourly billing without a subscription, automated cost alerts, and Spot instances that can be up to 90% cheaper. The self-deployment guide requires Docker, a Moonlight client, an NVIDIA GPU or supported cloud provider, and a stable internet connection with at least 20 Mbps download speed. Steam use requires Proton, and compatibility can be checked on ProtonDB. Cloudy Pad is free and open source, though cloud provider usage may incur charges. The maker describes the project as experimental and says breaking changes may occur.