XDA’s Proxmox piece this week showed Steam streaming out of an LXC container with no GPU passthrough, which is the sort of setup that even a year ago would have been dismissed as impossible. It works because a new generation of streaming hosts targets headless setups directly. No monitor plugged in, no active display session, no GPU pinned to a Windows VM. Just a Linux host with a compatible GPU and the right daemon. We tested eight of the best apps for headless Steam game streaming on desktop, on a Proxmox LXC and a bare-metal Debian server, focused on what “headless” actually needs from each tool and how each one handles a client dropping the connection mid-game.
What to look for in a headless Steam streaming app
- No login session required. Anything that needs a Windows user to be logged in and a monitor plugged in is not headless.
- Virtual display support. Headless hosts need a virtual monitor. The tools worth using either create one automatically or ship the driver to do it.
- Latency profile. For local network streaming, target under 20 ms end-to-end. For internet streaming, under 60 ms is realistic.
- Codec support. H.264 works on every client. H.265 halves the bandwidth for the same visual quality. AV1 on newer clients is the future.
- Client breadth. The stream should reach a Steam Deck, a phone, a browser, an Apple TV, and a Raspberry Pi with an HDMI monitor, not just another PC.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf | Container-native headless streaming | Linux, Docker | Free, open source | Free | Runs multiple concurrent sessions per host |
| Sunshine | Cross-platform GameStream host | Windows, Linux, macOS | Free, open source | Free | Moonlight-compatible, huge community |
| Moonlight | Cross-platform client | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, tvOS, Chrome | Free, open source | Free | Every client you might reach for |
| Steam Link | Steam’s own streaming | Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, TV | Free | Free | Best out-of-the-box Steam integration |
| Parsec | Low-latency streaming to remote friends | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web | Free, tier-limited | Parsec Warp subscription | Multi-user co-op streaming |
| Apollo | Sunshine fork for advanced features | Windows, Linux, macOS | Free, open source | Free | Virtual gamepad, per-client resolution |
| Selkies-Project | Browser-based container game streaming | Linux, Kubernetes | Free, open source | Free | Runs any GL app in a browser tab |
| NoMachine | Commercial remote desktop with game mode | Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile | Free, personal | NoMachine Enterprise licenses | Solid for lower-latency remote work-plus-play |
The apps
1. Wolf — Best for container-native headless streaming
Wolf is a Games-on-Whales project designed from the start for headless container hosts. Run it in Docker or a Linux container, pair a Moonlight client, and the container spins up a game process with a virtual display for the duration of the session. Multiple clients can each hold their own concurrent session on the same host if the GPU has the room, which is the trick that makes it different from every other tool on the list.
Where it falls short: Linux and Docker only. Setup is not turnkey; you need a compatible GPU (NVIDIA is the smoothest path), the right kernel modules, and container-runtime privileges. Not for a Windows-only reader.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Linux, Docker
Download: games-on-whales.github.io/wolf
Bottom line: Wolf is the pick when the host is a Linux server in a rack and multiple family members want to stream different games at the same time.
2. Sunshine — Best for a Moonlight-compatible host on any OS
Sunshine is the community-standard streaming host that reimplements NVIDIA GameStream and adds features NVIDIA dropped. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, hosts sessions to any Moonlight client, and works headless on Linux with a virtual display setup. On Windows it needs a monitor or a virtual display driver, but the setup path is well-documented.
Where it falls short: Windows headless setup requires a virtual display driver. Sunshine’s own web UI is functional and dated compared to a commercial tool.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS
Download: github.com/LizardByte/Sunshine
Bottom line: Sunshine is the pick when the host runs any OS other than Linux-in-a-container and you want the widest client support.
3. Moonlight — Best for the client half of every setup
Moonlight is the client that talks to Sunshine, Wolf, Apollo, and older NVIDIA GameStream hosts. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Nintendo Switch (unofficial), and even the browser. Every headless streaming host on this list needs a client, and Moonlight is what you install on every device you want to reach the host from.
Where it falls short: Not a host itself. If you only install Moonlight, you get a client with nothing to connect to.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, tvOS, Chrome, more
Download: moonlight-stream.org
Bottom line: Moonlight is not optional. Install it on every device you plan to stream to.
4. Steam Link — Best for out-of-the-box Steam integration
Steam Link is Valve’s own streaming solution. On a phone, tablet, or Steam Link box, it discovers a Steam client on the local network and streams the running Steam game to it. It is the easiest setup on the list: install Steam on the host, install Steam Link on the client, and it works.
Where it falls short: The host still needs a running Steam client with a display session. It is not truly headless in the way Wolf and Sunshine are. Streaming outside the local network needs Remote Play Together or a VPN.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (host); Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, TV OS, Steam Deck (client)
Download: store.steampowered.com/app/353380/Steam_Link
Bottom line: Steam Link is the pick for the easiest Steam-to-couch experience on a local network.
5. Parsec — Best for low-latency remote play with friends
Parsec targets the “I want to play a local co-op game with a friend a thousand miles away” case. Latency tuning is aggressive, the client is polished, and Parsec Warp adds features remote workers use for desktop streaming during the workday too.
Where it falls short: The free tier drops some features that most users assume are core. Ownership changed to Unity in 2021, and roadmap priorities have shifted.
Pricing:
- Free: Core streaming, tier-limited features
- Paid: Parsec Warp subscription for team and desktop features
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web
Download: parsec.app
Bottom line: Parsec is the pick when the goal is streaming to a specific remote friend, not a home lab of screens.
6. Apollo — Best for a feature-loaded Sunshine fork
Apollo forks Sunshine and adds per-client resolution, a virtual gamepad, better multi-client behavior, and quality-of-life tweaks that Sunshine’s upstream is slower to accept. If Sunshine’s core is what you want but the missing features are annoying, Apollo is worth trying.
Where it falls short: Smaller community than Sunshine. Features can be experimental. Compatibility with the Moonlight ecosystem is intentional but not guaranteed on every build.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS
Download: github.com/ClassicOldSong/Apollo
Bottom line: Apollo is the pick when Sunshine’s feature gaps are the reason you keep switching tools.
7. Selkies-Project — Best for browser-based streaming out of a container
Selkies-Project streams a Linux GL application to a browser tab from inside a container. It is the pick when the client cannot install Moonlight (a locked-down work laptop, a school Chromebook, a shared library computer) and the host is a Kubernetes cluster or a Docker environment already.
Where it falls short: Latency profile is worse than Moonlight’s; the browser adds an unavoidable step. Setup requires Docker or Kubernetes plus a compatible GPU.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
Download: github.com/selkies-project/selkies-gstreamer
Bottom line: Selkies-Project is the pick when the client must be a browser tab and nothing else.
8. NoMachine — Best for lower-latency remote work with a game mode
NoMachine is a commercial remote desktop tool that added a game mode with H.264 and H.265 hardware encode paths. It is not a purpose-built game streamer, but for a homelab that already runs it for remote work, adding light gaming on top is a one-config-flag move.
Where it falls short: Not built for AAA gaming. Latency is workable for indies and slower-paced titles, not competitive shooters. Enterprise features are the commercial half of the pricing.
Pricing:
- Free: Personal use, unlimited
- Paid: NoMachine Enterprise licenses for team and server features
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Download: nomachine.com
Bottom line: NoMachine is the pick when you already use it for remote work and want to reuse it for occasional gaming.
How to pick the right one
- If you are running a Linux server or Proxmox with an NVIDIA GPU: Wolf on the host, Moonlight on every client.
- If the host is Windows or you need the widest OS coverage: Sunshine on the host, Moonlight on every client.
- If you want the easiest possible Steam-to-couch setup on the local network: Steam Link.
- If the target is one specific remote friend: Parsec.
- If Sunshine’s missing features are the sticking point: Apollo.
- If the client must be a browser tab: Selkies-Project.
- If you already run NoMachine for remote work: NoMachine with game mode enabled.
FAQ
Do I need GPU passthrough in Proxmox for Steam streaming? Not any more. Wolf and Sunshine both support headless streaming from an LXC container that shares the host GPU, without exclusive passthrough to a VM.
What GPU works best for headless streaming on Linux? NVIDIA with the proprietary driver is the smoothest path today, because NVENC hardware encoding is mature. Recent AMD cards work with VAAPI, and Intel Arc improved substantially over 2024 and 2025.
Can I stream Steam without owning a Steam Deck? Yes. Moonlight runs on almost every consumer device, including phones, tablets, Raspberry Pis, and TVs. A Steam Deck is one client option among many.
Does headless streaming work over the internet? Yes, on a good uplink. Sub-60 ms round-trip and 30 Mbps of upload from the host puts most games in playable territory over the internet.
Do these apps work with non-Steam launchers like Epic or GOG? Sunshine, Wolf, Apollo, and Parsec stream any application, not just Steam. Steam Link is Steam-only.
Is streaming safe for the account? Steam does not flag streaming as suspicious activity. Login events show the same account regardless of how the game reaches the client. Anti-cheat systems may flag some remote-play configurations; check per game.
