Valve has spent the last few years quietly making your gaming hardware optional. SteamOS now runs on third-party handhelds and ARM is showing up in Steam’s own roadmap, which signals a future where the device in your hand matters less than the library you can stream to it. That same shift has already happened on Android. Today, the best apps for streaming PC games to Android cover three workflows: streaming from your own gaming PC at home, streaming a console you own, and streaming a remote gaming PC from the cloud.
We tested eight options across all three categories, on Wi-Fi 6 at home and 5G away from it. This is the short list of the apps that actually hold up in 2026, with notes on price, latency, and where each one falls down. Whether you have a gaming PC under the desk, a PS5 in the living room, or no hardware at all, one of these will let you play AAA games on a phone or tablet.
What to look for in a PC game streaming app
- Where the game runs. Streaming from your own PC keeps your library and saves yours, no monthly fee, but ties you to your home network. Cloud gaming services run the game on rented hardware, so you pay a subscription but can play anywhere.
- Latency under real conditions. Sub-30ms feels native; 60-80ms is fine for most single-player games; over 120ms is rough for shooters. Test on the network you actually use, not on a 1Gbps fiber demo.
- Library compatibility. Cloud services only run titles their publishers have opted in. Steam Link and Moonlight stream anything you own, including mods.
- Controller support. All eight apps support Bluetooth and USB-C controllers. A handful add touch overlays for button-light games.
- Codec and HDR. AV1, HEVC, and HDR10 are now the bar for premium tiers. Older H.264-only paths look notably softer on a phone OLED.
- Cap on session time and monthly hours. GeForce Now’s 100-hour cap kicks in for almost everyone in 2026. Game Pass and Boosteroid do not yet impose monthly caps. Read the small print.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Link | Streaming your own Steam library | Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, TV | Free | $0 | 4.5 |
| Moonlight | Open-source self-host streaming | Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Mac | Free | $0 | 4.3 |
| GeForce Now | Cloud gaming with games you own | Android, iOS, browser, TV | 1-hour sessions | $9.99 | 4.6 |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Game Pass library on the go | Android, iOS, browser, TV | Free titles only | $9.99 (Essential) | 4.3 |
| PS Remote Play | Streaming your PS5 or PS4 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac | Free | $0 | 4.0 |
| Parsec | Low-latency self-host streaming | Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, web | Free | $9.99 (Warp) | 4.0 |
| Boosteroid | EU-friendly cloud, browser-first | Android, iOS, browser, TV | None | $9.99 (Lite) | 4.5 |
| AMD Link | Streaming from AMD Radeon PCs | Android, iOS, Apple TV | Free | $0 | 3.8 |
1. Steam Link, best for streaming your own Steam library
Steam Link is the default starting point. Install it, open Steam on a PC running on the same network, type the four-digit pairing code, and your full Steam library lives on your Android phone or tablet. There is no subscription, no library limit, and no list of supported titles, anything that runs on Steam runs through Steam Link, including mods and family-shared games. The app supports up to 4K 60fps streaming on a wired LAN, with HDR and AV1 decoding on capable devices, and it works equally well over the open internet via Steam’s relay if you prefer to play away from home.
The reason Steam Link wins position one is the friction. Pair once, leave the app installed, and any time the PC is on, the games are on the phone. We tested with an RTX 3070 host and a Pixel 9 Pro on 5GHz Wi-Fi: input latency held in the 20-30ms band on most titles, and 4K Ultra Cyberpunk 2077 was completely playable.
Where it falls short: Steam Link is at the mercy of your home network. A weak router or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi turns a flagship phone into a stuttering mess. The app also refuses to stream anything that does not run through Steam, so Battle.net, Epic, and standalone launchers need an extra workaround.
Pricing: completely free.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Apple TV, Android TV, Meta Quest.
Bottom line: the obvious choice if you already have a Steam library and a half-decent gaming PC at home.
2. Moonlight, best free open-source pick
Moonlight is the open-source streaming client that does what NVIDIA’s old GameStream did, plus more. Pair it with Sunshine on your PC (any GPU, not just NVIDIA) and you get up to 4K 120fps HDR streaming with 7.1 surround sound, AV1 codec support, and 16 controllers in local co-op. The app has been refined over years of community work, and the 12.1 release in late 2025 added end-to-end stream encryption and tighter recovery from short network drops.
We use Moonlight as the back-up to Steam Link because it streams the entire Windows desktop, not just your Steam library. Open Battle.net, launch Diablo IV, and the controller still routes through Moonlight. It also supports stylus and S Pen input, which makes it useful for streaming non-game apps too.
Where it falls short: Sunshine setup is slightly more involved than Steam Link’s pairing flow, and some users find the host configuration intimidating. Moonlight will not work without either Sunshine on your PC or NVIDIA GeForce Experience GameStream, the latter of which NVIDIA deprecated.
Pricing: free, no ads, no in-app purchases. The host software (Sunshine) is also free and open-source.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Apple TV, Android TV.
Bottom line: the right call if you want to stream your entire desktop, not just Steam, or if you do not own an NVIDIA GPU.
3. NVIDIA GeForce Now, best cloud streaming for games you already own
NVIDIA GeForce Now is the cloud option that streams the games you already bought on Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, EA, GOG, or Battle.net. There is no game library subscription on top, you bring your existing accounts and play your existing games on NVIDIA’s RTX-powered servers. The Performance tier is $9.99 per month and covers most use cases. The Ultimate tier at $19.99 streams up to 4K 120fps with HDR and DLSS 3 Frame Generation, and Ultimate sessions run on RTX 4080 hardware by default with RTX 5080 servers on optimized titles.
For Android specifically, the native client delivers up to 1600p/120fps on Ultimate, which is better than what most Android phones produce locally. Install-to-Play, rolled out at Gamescom 2025, lets Performance and Ultimate members install around 2,200 extra Steam games on demand from a 100GB cache.
Where it falls short: the 100-hour monthly playtime cap kicks in for almost all paid subscribers from January 1, 2026. Performance hits the cap at $2.99 per extra 15-hour block; Ultimate is $5.99 per block. Heavy users will pay more than the sticker price. Notable absences in the catalog still include Rockstar’s GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, plus Elden Ring.
Pricing:
- Free: 1-hour sessions, basic rigs, queue and ads.
- Performance: $9.99/month, RTX-class servers, 100-hour cap, 1080p/60fps target.
- Ultimate: $19.99/month or $199.99/year, 4K 120fps, HDR, RTX 4080+ servers, 100-hour cap with $5.99 add-on blocks.
- Day Passes: $3.99 (Performance) or $7.99 (Ultimate) for 24 hours.
Platforms: Android, iOS (web app), Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Linux (beta), Android TV, supported smart TVs.
Bottom line: the cleanest cloud gaming option if you already buy PC games and want to play them on a phone without owning a gaming PC.
4. Xbox Cloud Gaming, best for Game Pass subscribers
Xbox Cloud Gaming lives inside the official Xbox app on Android, and it streams the Game Pass catalog on demand. After Microsoft’s April 2026 Game Pass shake-up, cloud streaming is no longer locked to the most expensive tier. Game Pass Ultimate at $22.99 per month gets unlimited cloud streaming with the full 500+ game library, including day-one first-party releases. Lower tiers also stream now, with smaller libraries.
For Android users, this is the most “console on a phone” experience: pick up where you left off on an Xbox Series X, controller paired, full Series S-class output. Touch overlays exist for around 100 of the most touch-friendly titles, so you can play short sessions without a controller.
Where it falls short: the cloud cap is 1080p 60fps, below GeForce Now’s 4K target, and games sometimes drop to 720p when Microsoft’s servers are busy. New Call of Duty entries are no longer day-one on Game Pass after April 2026, so cloud-only players wait around a year. The catalog also rotates, so games you started can leave the service before you finish.
Pricing:
- Game Pass Essential: $9.99/month, 50+ games on console, PC, and cloud, online multiplayer.
- Game Pass Premium: $14.99/month, 200+ games, cloud streaming, first-party games within a year of launch.
- Game Pass Ultimate: $22.99/month, 500+ games, day-one releases, full cloud streaming, EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics.
- PC Game Pass: $13.99/month, PC library only, no console cloud streaming.
Platforms: Android, iOS (browser via xbox.com/play), Windows, Xbox console, supported smart TVs, Meta Quest.
Bottom line: the easiest cloud gaming on Android if you are already paying for Game Pass and want a hundreds-strong library on tap.
5. PS Remote Play, best for PS5 owners
PS Remote Play is the official Sony app for streaming a PS5 or PS4 to your phone, tablet, or PC. The setup is short: sign in with the same PSN account on the console and the app, hit Start Remote Play, and you are mirrored. Output caps at 1080p 60fps over a strong connection and 720p 30fps when the link is shaky. Touch overlays cover the DualSense buttons, but a real Bluetooth controller is the only way to play anything more than menu-driven games comfortably.
The 2025 redesign added more reliable reconnects and a quick-resume flow that puts you back into a game in around five seconds. For PS5 owners, this is the cheapest way to play your console library on the go: it is fully free.
Where it falls short: quality is noticeably lower than GeForce Now or Steam Link on the same network, because Sony tunes the encoder for stability rather than peak bitrate. Audio occasionally desyncs after a long session, and the app cannot stream PSVR2 games at all.
Pricing: free with a PSN account and a PS5 or PS4 you own.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, PS Portal, supported smart TVs.
Bottom line: if you own a PlayStation and want to keep gaming when someone else is using the TV, this is the only app you need.
6. Parsec, best low-latency self-host streaming
Parsec is the streaming app most often recommended by competitive players. It was built originally for low-latency couch co-op over the internet and has stayed that focus through Unity Software’s acquisition. The Android client weighs in at a couple of megabytes and connects to a host PC running the Parsec server, with input latency that consistently lands lower than Steam Link’s on the same network. It also handles “host plays, friend joins remotely” flows that Steam Link still does not.
For Android tablets and Chromebook players, Parsec’s gamepad and keyboard support is the most reliable in this list. The free tier covers 60fps streaming. Warp, the paid tier, raises bitrate ceilings, adds 4K and HDR, and unlocks priority hosting servers.
Where it falls short: Parsec is built for hosts you already trust, not for handing out cloud games. If you do not have a gaming PC, Parsec is not useful by itself. There is no Parsec catalog of games to stream.
Pricing:
- Free: 60fps streaming, basic codecs, friend co-op.
- Warp: $9.99/month for 4K, HDR, higher bitrate, mouse and pen smoothing, priority servers.
- Teams: paid plans for studios doing remote rendering work.
- vs the cloud services: same monthly price tier as GeForce Now Performance, but you bring the host hardware.
Platforms: Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, web. iOS is web-only.
Bottom line: the pick for fighting games, shooters, or anything where every frame of input lag matters and you have a PC to host.
7. Boosteroid, best European-friendly cloud option
Boosteroid is the cloud service most worth knowing if you live outside North America. The Ukrainian-founded company runs data centres across Europe and has carved out a strong niche with browser-first delivery and lower latency than GeForce Now in Eastern Europe and the UK. The Android app connects to your existing Steam, Epic, GOG, or Battle.net account and streams up to 1080p 60fps on the standard tier, with 4K and 120fps available on premium plans.
The catalog covers around 1,200 games and grows weekly. There are no monthly playtime caps, which is a real differentiator now that GeForce Now is rationing hours, and the app supports running games you already own as well as a small set of bundled free titles.
Where it falls short: US coverage is thinner than the European footprint, and queue times for new releases can be long during evening peaks. Some controllers do not map cleanly through Bluetooth and need a USB cable. Boosteroid also charges separately if you want 4K, while GeForce Now Ultimate includes 4K in the base price.
Pricing:
- No free tier.
- Lite: around $9.99/month, 1080p 60fps, standard hardware.
- Premium tiers: higher bitrates and faster servers, with 4K available on the top plan.
- Annual plans cut the price by around 30% compared to monthly billing.
- vs GeForce Now: similar entry price, no monthly playtime cap.
Platforms: Android, iOS (browser), Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android TV, supported smart TVs.
Bottom line: the strongest non-GeForce Now cloud option in 2026, especially for European players who hit GFN’s 100-hour cap.
8. AMD Link, best for AMD Radeon PC owners
AMD Link is the surprise pick. It is AMD’s official streaming companion to the Adrenalin driver, and it lets Radeon GPU owners stream their PC to Android the way Steam Link does for everyone else, but with deeper hooks into AMD’s hardware. Real-time GPU and CPU telemetry, stream quality presets that match Adrenalin’s profiles, and one-tap remote screen capture make AMD Link a useful tool even when you are home and at the desk.
The app is free, supports up to 4K 60fps over Wi-Fi 6, and works equally well over the open internet via AMD’s relay. For Radeon users, it is the cleanest way to keep playing your existing games when you walk away from the desk, and it pairs nicely with a Bluetooth controller for couch sessions on a phone or tablet.
Where it falls short: AMD Link only matters if your PC has an AMD Radeon GPU. NVIDIA users get nothing from it. The catalog is also “your library” only, the same constraint as Steam Link, so there is no service-level game library on offer.
Pricing: free with the AMD Adrenalin driver suite. No subscription.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Apple TV.
Bottom line: install it if you own a Radeon RX 6000-series or newer. Skip it on any other machine.
How to pick the right app
If you want the simplest option and own a gaming PC: Steam Link. Free, official, two-tap setup.
If you need to stream games outside Steam from the same PC: Moonlight. It captures the whole desktop, Sunshine works on any GPU, and there is no monthly fee.
If you have no PC at all and play a wide range of titles: GeForce Now Performance at $9.99/month. Plays your existing libraries and includes 100 hours.
If you are already paying for Game Pass: Xbox Cloud Gaming inside the official Xbox app. The library is huge and you do not pay extra for streaming on Ultimate.
If you own a PS5 or PS4: PS Remote Play. Free, official, the fastest way to keep your console games portable.
If you care about input lag for fighting games or shooters: Parsec, paired with a Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet host.
If you live in Europe or hit GeForce Now’s 100-hour cap: Boosteroid. No monthly playtime limit, deep European server coverage.
If you have a Radeon PC and want a tighter integration than Steam Link: AMD Link. Free, deeper telemetry, AMD-only.
FAQ
What is the best free app for streaming PC games to Android?
Steam Link is the best free option for Steam users. Moonlight matches it for everything else and stays free across both ends, since the host software (Sunshine) is also open-source. PS Remote Play is the best free option for console owners.
Can I play PC games on Android without a gaming PC?
Yes, through cloud gaming. NVIDIA GeForce Now streams games you already own from major stores, Xbox Cloud Gaming streams the Game Pass catalog without ownership, and Boosteroid covers a similar model with a focus on European servers. All three need a steady connection of at least 15-25 Mbps.
Does GeForce Now still have unlimited playtime?
Not for new subscribers. Starting January 1, 2026, all paid GeForce Now plans are capped at 100 hours of playtime per month, with extra 15-hour blocks at $2.99 (Performance) or $5.99 (Ultimate). Founders members who maintain an unbroken subscription keep unlimited playtime.
Can I stream Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android with the basic Game Pass plan?
Yes, after the April 2026 update. Cloud streaming is no longer locked to Game Pass Ultimate; Essential ($9.99/month) and Premium ($14.99/month) tiers now include cloud streaming, with smaller libraries than Ultimate’s 500+ games.
What is the lowest-latency way to stream PC games to a phone?
A wired Ethernet host on the PC side, a Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet client on the phone side, and either Parsec or Moonlight as the app. We measured 18-25ms input latency in this setup, which is below most local Bluetooth controller paths.
Do I need a controller to stream PC games to Android?
For most games, yes. Touch overlays exist on Steam Link, GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and they cover menu-driven and turn-based titles fine. For shooters, racing games, or anything fast, plug in a USB-C controller or pair one over Bluetooth. The Backbone One, GameSir G8, and Xbox Wireless Controller all work across every app on this list.
