Pulsar vs Sunshine

Pulsar9.0Visit Sunshine8.6Visit

Higher score Pulsar #4 in Game Remote Play Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit PulsarDesk

vs

Sunshine #7 in Game Remote Play Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Sunshine

• Pulsar fits best

  Privacy-focused self-hosted streaming

• Sunshine fits best

  Free self-hosted streaming hosts

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Pulsar 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Sunshine 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.6
Ranking	#4 in Game Remote Play Software	#7 in Game Remote Play Software
Best for	Privacy-focused self-hosted streaming	Free self-hosted streaming hosts
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Self-hosted
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business
Features Pulsar 1/3 · Sunshine 1/3
Console support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Multi-monitor support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Local co-op support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Host platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Client platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Maximum resolution	4k	4k
Maximum frame rate	Not checked yet	120 fps
Our review
Pros	Free and open-source with self-hostable relay and device identity Supports 4K, H.265/AV1, HDR and streaming up to 120 fps Encrypted peer-to-peer connections with adaptive bitrate and relay fallback	Free, open-source hosting across Windows, macOS, and Linux Supports AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Apple, and software video encoding Includes HDR, virtual gamepads, and remote keyboard and mouse input
Cons	Current client coverage excludes iOS The project is in Alpha Self-hosting requires managing relay and device identity infrastructure	Primarily a host rather than a complete client experience Requires Moonlight for client-side streaming 4K and 120-frame streaming depend on hardware and configuration
Our verdict	Pulsar is a free, open-source application for low-latency game streaming and remote desktop access. It is designed for gamers who want control over their streaming infrastructure, as well as IT and support teams that need remote access… Read the review →	Sunshine is a free, open-source, self-hosted game and desktop streaming host from LizardByte. It is designed for people who want to stream games from their own Windows, macOS, or Linux computer instead of using a cloud gaming subscription.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Pulsar — where it wins

  • Free and open-source with self-hostable relay and device identity
  • Supports 4K, H.265/AV1, HDR and streaming up to 120 fps
  • Encrypted peer-to-peer connections with adaptive bitrate and relay fallback

  Where it doesn't

  • Current client coverage excludes iOS
  • The project is in Alpha
  • Self-hosting requires managing relay and device identity infrastructure

• Sunshine — where it wins

  • Free, open-source hosting across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Supports AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Apple, and software video encoding
  • Includes HDR, virtual gamepads, and remote keyboard and mouse input

  Where it doesn't

  • Primarily a host rather than a complete client experience
  • Requires Moonlight for client-side streaming
  • 4K and 120-frame streaming depend on hardware and configuration

• Pulsar9.0/10 · Free plan

  A free, self-hostable streaming tool for privacy-focused gamers and support teams.

  Visit PulsarDeskFull verdict →
• Sunshine8.6/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source host for streaming games and desktops from your own hardware.

  Visit SunshineFull verdict →