Moonlight and Sunshine: Open Source Steam Link Alternatives

Yes, if you’re frustrated with Steam Link, open source alternatives Moonlight and Sunshine are worth trying. They stream games from your PC to other devices for free, often with lower latency and better quality than Steam Link. This guide explains how they work, how to set them up, and how they compare.

What Are Moonlight and Sunshine?

Moonlight and Sunshine are two separate open source projects that work together. Moonlight is the client software that runs on the device you want to play on (like a laptop, phone, or TV). Sunshine is the host software that runs on the gaming PC and streams the games. They are not affiliated with Valve or NVIDIA, but they build on technology originally developed by NVIDIA for its GameStream feature.

When NVIDIA discontinued GameStream in early 2023, Moonlight and Sunshine became the go-to replacement for many users. They are free, open source, and actively maintained by a community of developers. Because they are open source, you can inspect the code, contribute, or just trust that there are no hidden surprises.

Why People Switch From Steam Link

Steam Link is convenient because it’s built into Steam and requires little setup. But it has limitations that frustrate some users:

• Latency: Steam Link often adds more input lag, especially on Wi-Fi, making fast-paced games feel sluggish.
• Quality: The video bitrate and resolution are capped, so the image can look soft or blocky on large screens.
• Compatibility: Steam Link only streams games from Steam (though you can add non-Steam games manually). It also doesn’t support HDR or G-Sync on many setups.
• Control: Some users report issues with controller mapping or keyboard/mouse input not working perfectly.

Moonlight and Sunshine address these by giving you more control over bitrate, resolution, and frame rate, and by supporting any game or application, not just Steam titles.

How Moonlight and Sunshine Work

The streaming process is similar to Steam Link but with more flexibility. The Sunshine host captures the PC’s display and audio, encodes it using hardware (NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, or Intel Quick Sync), and sends it over your network. The Moonlight client receives the stream, decodes it, and sends your input back.

Key features that make them stand out:

• High bitrate: You can set bitrate up to 150 Mbps or higher, which looks much better than Steam Link’s ~40 Mbps cap.
• HDR support: If your PC and display support HDR, Moonlight can stream it.
• G-Sync/FreeSync: The stream can match your display’s refresh rate, reducing tearing.
• Per-app settings: You can configure different resolutions and frame rates for different games.
• Wake-on-LAN: Sunshine can wake your PC from sleep when you start a stream.

Sunshine runs as a background service on Windows, Linux, or macOS. Moonlight clients are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even some smart TVs and Raspberry Pi.

Setting Up Sunshine and Moonlight

Setup is straightforward, but it does require a few more steps than Steam Link. Here’s a general guide:

1. Install Sunshine on your PC: Download from the official GitHub releases page and run the installer. It will create a service and open a web interface at https://localhost:47990.
2. Set a PIN: The first time you open the web interface, you’ll be asked to set a PIN. This is used to pair your client.
3. Install Moonlight on your client device: Get it from the app store or the official site.
4. Pair the client: Open Moonlight, and it should automatically find your PC on the same network. Click it, enter the PIN, and you’re paired.
5. Add games (optional): Sunshine automatically detects installed games, but you can add any application manually in the web interface.
6. Adjust settings: In Moonlight, you can change resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and other options before starting a stream.

If Moonlight doesn’t find your PC automatically, you can add it manually by entering the PC’s IP address.

Performance and Troubleshooting

To get the best experience, you need a solid network. Here are the most common issues and fixes:

• High latency or stuttering: Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible. If you must use Wi-Fi, make sure your router supports 5 GHz or Wi-Fi 6, and that your PC is connected via Ethernet.
• Blurry image: Increase the bitrate in Moonlight settings. A good starting point is 50 Mbps for 1080p, 80 Mbps for 1440p, and 100+ Mbps for 4K.
• Audio not working: Check that Sunshine’s audio driver is installed (it installs a virtual audio device). In the Sunshine web interface, make sure the correct audio device is selected.
• Controller not detected: In Sunshine, go to the ‘Input’ tab and make sure the controller type is set correctly (Xbox, PlayStation, etc.). Also, ensure the controller is connected to the client device, not the host PC.
• No video, only black screen: This can happen if the game is running in exclusive fullscreen. Try switching to borderless windowed mode.

If you have an NVIDIA GPU, you might need to disable GameStream in GeForce Experience if it’s still installed, as it can conflict with Sunshine.

Moonlight and Sunshine vs. Steam Link

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

• Setup: Steam Link is easier (just log in). Moonlight/Sunshine requires a few extra steps but is still manageable.
• Latency: Moonlight generally has lower latency, especially with NVIDIA GPUs, because it uses NVENC directly.
• Quality: Moonlight supports higher bitrate and HDR, so the image is often better.
• Compatibility: Moonlight streams anything on your PC, not just Steam games.
• Cost: Both are free. Steam Link is proprietary; Moonlight and Sunshine are open source.
• Support: Steam Link is officially supported by Valve, while Moonlight and Sunshine rely on community support.

For most people, Moonlight and Sunshine are the better choice if you want maximum performance and are willing to spend 15 minutes on setup. If you want the simplest possible solution and don’t mind the limitations, Steam Link is still fine.

Security and Privacy

Because Sunshine exposes your PC to the network, you should be aware of security. By default, it only listens on your local network, and pairing requires a PIN. However, if you want to stream over the internet, you’ll need to forward ports or use a VPN. In that case, it’s strongly recommended to:

• Use a strong PIN and change it regularly.
• Enable HTTPS in Sunshine settings (it’s on by default).
• Never expose Sunshine directly to the internet without a firewall or VPN.
• Keep Sunshine and Moonlight updated to get security patches.

Since it’s open source, you can also review the code if you’re concerned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moonlight legal?

Yes, Moonlight and Sunshine are legal open source software. They don’t bypass any DRM or copy protection. They simply stream your own PC’s display to another device you own.

Can I stream over the internet?

Yes, but it’s more complex and requires a good upload speed (at least 10 Mbps, ideally more). You’ll need to configure port forwarding on your router or use a VPN like ZeroTier or Tailscale. Expect higher latency than on a local network.

Does it work with AMD or Intel GPUs?

Yes. Sunshine supports AMD AMF and Intel Quick Sync encoders, not just NVIDIA NVENC. The quality and performance may vary, but it works.

Can I use a keyboard and mouse?

Yes, Moonlight supports keyboard and mouse input. You can also use a controller. On some clients, you may need to enable ‘Gamepad’ mode in Moonlight settings for the controller to work properly.

Is Moonlight better than Parsec?

Both are excellent, but they have different strengths. Parsec is more polished and has built-in multi-user support, but it’s partly proprietary. Moonlight is fully open source and gives you more control. For local streaming, many users find Moonlight to be just as good or better.

Do I need to keep Steam running?

No, Sunshine does not require Steam to be running. It streams any application or game you launch, including Epic Games, GOG, or even the Windows desktop.

If you’re tired of Steam Link’s limitations, Moonlight and Sunshine are a powerful, free alternative. They take a bit more effort to set up, but the result is a smoother, better-looking stream that works with any game. Try them out on your next gaming session.

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