Alternatives to Shadow

A subscription cloud PC service that streams a full Windows computer to your own devices. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Shadow.

  • Parsec

    A low-latency remote desktop app for reaching a work or gaming computer from another device.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Parsec streams your own Windows or macOS computer at up to 4K and 60 fps with low latency, rather than renting a cloud PC by subscription.

  • Sunshine

    The open source host that replaced NVIDIA GameStream, so Moonlight can stream from any PC.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Sunshine is a free GPL-3.0 host that streams games from your own PC to Moonlight clients, requiring hardware you own instead of a subscription.

  • Moonlight

    Streams games from a gaming PC to another device on your network, with hardware decoding and a gamepad.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxiOS

    Moonlight is a free GPL-3.0 game streaming client with hardware decoding and HDR, but needs your own Sunshine host rather than a cloud PC.

  • Apollo

    A Sunshine fork for self-hosted game and desktop streaming at the client device's native resolution.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    Apollo is a free GPL-3.0 Sunshine fork for streaming from your own Windows PC at the client's native resolution, needing a compatible client.

  • Amazon DCV

    A remote display protocol and server for streaming graphics-intensive desktops and applications to client devices.

    FreeProprietarySelf-hosted

    Amazon DCV streams graphics-intensive desktops from EC2 or your own data center at no extra charge on EC2, aimed at business workloads.

  • Kasm Workspaces

    Container streaming platform that delivers desktops, applications and isolated browsers to a web browser.

    FreemiumProprietaryWebSelf-hosted

    Kasm Workspaces streams container-based desktops and apps to a browser from a server you run, aimed at organisations and homelabs rather than Windows gaming.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Shadow as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Boosteroid

    A cloud gaming service that streams PC games you already own to many devices.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSWeb

    Shadow streams a full Windows PC instead of a supported game catalog, so any launcher, mod or app can be installed, for an ongoing subscription cost.

  • GeForce NOW

    NVIDIA's cloud gaming service that streams your existing game library to weaker hardware.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    Shadow streams a full Windows PC by subscription, so any launcher, mod or app can be installed rather than only supported titles.

  • Porting Kit

    A macOS app that installs Windows games and applications on a Mac using Wineskin wrappers.

    FreeProprietarymacOS

    Shadow is a paid cloud PC subscription that streams a full Windows machine to a Mac, so any Windows game runs without Wine but needs a fast connection.

  • Winlator

    An Android app that runs x86_64 Windows applications and games using Wine and Box86/Box64.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    Shadow streams a full Windows PC to Android and other devices by paid subscription, so games run remotely instead of locally, needing a fast connection.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.