Pulsar vs PXPlay

Pulsar combines remote desktop control and low-latency game streaming in one free, open-source app. It is aimed at gamers and IT or support teams connecting to servers, client machines, or personal computers. Remote desktop tools include ID and one-time-password access, unattended access, file transfer, clipboard sync, session chat, multi-monitor support, and remote restart. Connections try peer-to-peer first and automatically use a relay if needed. For games, Pulsar supports hardware H.265 or AV1 encoding at up to 120 fps, HDR, ultrawide displays, multichannel audio, adaptive bitrate, and Xbox and PlayStation controller mapping. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android; the iOS App Store release is in development. The maker says no account is required and there are no ads or telemetry. Encryption keys are generated on user devices, and users can self-host a relay and device identity server with a Docker command. The plan is free, free forever.

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.