Parsec vs PXPlay
Parsec
parsec.appPXPlay
streamingdv.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Parsec | PXPlay |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8.33/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 6 |
| Spec score · Game Remote Play Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Integrations | The product page states that Parsec provides seamless Discord integrations. | The app supports third-party gamepads, with controller compatibility depending on platform; Android supports compatible Bluetooth or USB controllers. |
| Licence | Parsec is proprietary software rather than an open-source project. | PXPlay is proprietary software licensed for personal use; a valid key is required for the full PC port and standalone Android APK. |
| Praise: performance | G2 reviewers repeatedly praise low latency, smooth responsive connections, high-quality remote workstations and easy setup. | App Store reviewers repeatedly describe streaming as smooth and better than Sony’s official remote-play app. |
| Purpose | Parsec connects people to work, games, and friends from anywhere on any device through remote access technology. | PXPlay streams a supported gaming console to a device for remote play and can also act as a virtual controller. |
| Support | Teams and Enterprise plans include a 24-hour first-response SLA for product support tickets. | Support is provided by email and through the official PXPlay subreddit. |
| Supported systems | The download page lists Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, Google Chrome web, Android, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop. | Official requirements list Android 5.0+, iOS 14+, tvOS 15+, Windows 10/11, 64-bit Linux and macOS 12.7+. |
| What it does | Parsec is a proprietary desktop-capture and video-streaming application for low-latency remote gaming and remote work. | PXPlay streams PlayStation console games to supported phones, tablets, computers, televisions and handheld devices, and can also act as a virtual controller. |
Plans
Parsec
- Individuals (Warp)$8.33 a month
- Teams$30 a month
- Enterprise$45 a month
- Personal UseFree
- Personal Use (free)Free
- Guest Access credit$25, paid once
PXPlay
- PXPlay iOS/Apple TVFree
- PXPlay Android$6.99, paid once
- PXPlay (PSPlay) PC€12.99, paid once
- PXPlay (PSPlay) Android APK licensePrice not published
- PXPlay (PSPlay) Android Google PlayPrice not published
- PXPlay (PSPlay) iOS / Apple TVPrice not published
In their own words
Parsec
Parsec is a remote access app for connecting to computers from another device for work, games, or time with friends. It supports Windows, macOS, Ubuntu Linux, Android, and a Chromium web client; listed system requirements include Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop. Its gaming design targets 60FPS UHD play with low latency, with keyboard mapping, gamepad support, and advanced settings. Users can share a link so another person can observe or control a computer. Native-app peer-to-peer traffic is encrypted end-to-end with a shared 128-bit AES key; web-client sessions use DTLS. Accounts support multi-factor authentication, and Teams can enforce SAML 2.0 single sign-on. Personal Use and Individuals are licensed for personal, non-commercial use; commercial use requires Teams or Enterprise. Individuals (Warp) costs $8.33 per user per month, billed annually; Teams costs $30 per user per month, billed annually; Enterprise costs $45 per user per month, billed annually only. A free plan and 14-day trial are listed.
PXPlay
PXPlay streams a supported PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console to another device for remote play, and can also make that device a virtual controller. The maker lists customizable on-screen gamepad layouts, button mapping, multiple console profiles, and a gamepad-only mode. Client options include Android, iOS, Apple TV, Windows, Linux, and macOS; the listed maximum resolution is 4k, and the PC and Android store pages describe upscaling. Remote connections can use an experimental automatic mode or manual router port forwarding. Automatic access requires a console PSN connection, current firmware, and account registration; registration must happen on the console's network. The manual recommends 5 GHz Wi-Fi for the client, a wired console connection, and at least 15 Mbps upload and download. Automatic access can fail on some networks, including those where the console has NAT type 3. The PC license costs €12.99 as a one-time purchase purchase for one user, and a demo is available before purchase.