Lenovo just launched the Legion C700 in China: an Android handheld built specifically for streaming PC games. It is not the first (RG Cube, AYN Odin 2, and every Retroid handheld also do this), and it will not be the last. What actually makes it work is the app on the handheld talking to the gaming PC or cloud service. These eight best apps for PC game streaming on Android handhelds are the ones we test on every new device.
Every pick below runs on Android phones, tablets, and PC-shaped handhelds. Wi-Fi 6 or better in the house is assumed; anything older will bottleneck before the app does.
What to look for in a PC streaming app
Five things separate a working setup from a stuttering mess:
- HEVC and AV1 support. Modern codecs cut bitrate in half for the same quality. Your handheld’s SoC needs to decode them.
- Controller latency mode. The app should expose input latency separately from video latency so you can tune both.
- Wi-Fi 6 optimization. 5 GHz Wi-Fi is the floor. Some apps handle jitter better than others.
- Custom bitrate. 25 to 50 Mbps for local network 1080p. Cloud services are lower.
- Multi-touch or overlay controls. For phones without physical buttons, on-screen overlays that do not eat the middle of the screen.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Streaming from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonlight | Best-in-class NVIDIA GameStream client | Full app | Free | Your own PC with Sunshine or GeForce Experience |
| Steam Link | Official Valve streaming | Free | Free | Your own Steam PC |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Cloud gaming for Game Pass subscribers | Included with Ultimate | Ultimate about $17/mo | Microsoft’s cloud |
| GeForce NOW | Cloud gaming for your existing Steam and Epic library | Free tier | Priority from $10/mo | NVIDIA’s cloud |
| PS Remote Play | Official PlayStation 5 remote play | Free with PSN | Free | Your PS5 |
| Parsec | Low-latency remote desktop for gaming | Free tier | Warp about $10/mo | Any Windows or macOS |
| Chiaki | Open-source PS4 and PS5 remote play | Free | Free | Your own PS4 or PS5 |
| Rainway | Cross-platform streaming without setup | Free | Free | Your own PC |
The apps
1. Moonlight, best-in-class self-hosted streaming
Moonlight is the open-source Android client for NVIDIA’s GameStream protocol. Pair it with Sunshine on the PC side (an open-source Steam-friendly replacement for NVIDIA’s discontinued GameStream host) and you get sub-20 ms local network streaming from any modern gaming PC, not just NVIDIA rigs.
HEVC and AV1 support are first class. The app remembers per-host settings. Bitrate up to 150 Mbps for LAN. This is what serious streamers use.
Where it falls short: Requires PC-side setup (Sunshine takes about 15 minutes to configure). No cloud fallback if your home PC is off.
Pricing: Free, open source Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS
Download: Moonlight on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: The default answer for streaming your own PC to Android. Pair with Sunshine on the PC and you are done.
2. Steam Link, best official Valve client
Steam Link is Valve’s official Android streaming client. Zero setup: install on the phone, sign in, and any PC running Steam in the same house shows up. It works with the Steam Controller, Xbox controller, or on-screen controls.
Steam Link uses its own protocol tuned for the Steam client. In practice for Steam-only libraries it is nearly as fast as Moonlight with less setup.
Where it falls short: Only streams what is in your Steam library (or non-Steam shortcuts). No HEVC on some older builds.
Pricing: Free Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Steam Link on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: The easiest way in if your library is on Steam. Ten minutes from install to playing Cyberpunk on the couch.
3. Xbox Cloud Gaming, best cloud for Game Pass owners
Xbox Cloud Gaming (part of Game Pass Ultimate) streams hundreds of games from Microsoft’s cloud to any Android device. No PC required. Touch controls for games with mobile-friendly control schemes, controller support for everything.
Video quality tops out around 1080p at 60 fps. Latency is real (this is cloud, not LAN) but manageable for most single-player titles.
Where it falls short: Requires Game Pass Ultimate. Regional availability. Not competitive for online shooters where local latency wins.
Pricing: Game Pass Ultimate about $17/mo Platforms: Android, iOS (web), Web
Download: Xbox Cloud on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: The default cloud pick for a Game Pass household.
4. GeForce NOW, best cloud for your existing library
GeForce NOW streams games you already own on Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, or GOG from NVIDIA’s cloud rigs. RTX 4080-class servers are available on the Ultimate tier. Every session boots a fresh instance of your saved account.
For someone with a big Steam library and no gaming PC, this is the closest thing to owning one.
Where it falls short: Some games are excluded (publishers can opt out). Session length limits on free tier.
Pricing: Free tier (1-hour sessions), Priority from $10/mo, Ultimate about $20/mo Platforms: Android, iOS (web), Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Shield
Download: GeForce NOW on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: Best cloud pick if your library is already on Steam and Epic. No new store to buy from.
5. PS Remote Play, best PlayStation 5 stream
PS Remote Play is Sony’s official remote play app for PS5 and PS4. Wake your console from sleep, stream to the handheld, and use the touchscreen or a DualSense over Bluetooth. Works on any modern Android device.
Video quality is capped at 1080p60 on PS5. Latency over LAN is very good; over the internet is workable for most single-player games.
Where it falls short: PS5 must be on or in Rest Mode with Remote Play enabled. Controller support for DualSense is best; other pads work but with fewer features.
Pricing: Free (a PSN account is required) Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Download: PS Remote Play on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: The only official way to stream PS5 to Android. Solid on both LAN and 5G.
6. Parsec, best low-latency remote desktop for gaming
Parsec is the low-latency remote desktop app that indie devs and pro gamers use to remote into their own machines. It handles game input, controller passthrough, and multi-user sessions. It works over LAN or the internet.
For playing your desktop PC from an Android handheld at 60 fps with hand-tuned bitrate, Parsec is one of the smoothest options.
Where it falls short: Free tier is Windows and macOS host only. Warp subscription adds 4K and higher framerates.
Pricing: Free personal tier, Warp about $10/mo Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Parsec on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: The one to try if Moonlight or Steam Link do not play nice with your specific PC setup.
7. Chiaki, best open-source PS remote play
Chiaki is the open-source alternative to Sony’s PS Remote Play, with lower latency, better controller mapping, and community-driven improvements. It supports PS4 and PS5. Setup takes an extra step (registration key from a paired console) but pays back in performance.
For LAN streaming from PS5, Chiaki is often faster than the official app.
Where it falls short: Setup is more technical than Sony’s app. No official support if something breaks.
Pricing: Free, open source Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Chiaki on Aptoide, Chiaki on GitHub
Bottom line: For PS5 owners on Android who want more control than Sony’s app gives.
8. Rainway, best zero-setup PC streaming
Rainway streams your own PC to Android with roughly the same convenience as Steam Link but without requiring a Steam library. Install the app on the PC, install on the Android device, sign in, done.
Great for streaming individual games (emulators, Epic titles, standalone launchers) that Steam Link does not want to catalogue.
Where it falls short: Smaller community than Moonlight or Steam Link. Less codec tuning.
Pricing: Free Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
Download: Rainway on Aptoide, Google Play
Bottom line: Good third-pick if Moonlight and Steam Link both are not clicking on your setup.
How to pick the right one
If you have a gaming PC and want the fastest LAN experience: Moonlight with Sunshine.
If most of your games are on Steam and you want zero setup: Steam Link.
If you subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate: Xbox Cloud Gaming.
If you have a big Steam library but no gaming PC: GeForce NOW.
If you have a PS5: PS Remote Play for simplicity, Chiaki for performance.
If Moonlight and Steam Link both misbehave on your setup: Parsec or Rainway.
FAQ
What is the best free PC streaming app for Android?
Moonlight paired with Sunshine on the PC. Both are free and open source, and the combination is the fastest of any option on this list.
Do these apps work on the Lenovo Legion C700 and other Android gaming handhelds?
Yes. Any Android 12-and-newer handheld runs every app on this list. Physical controls on the handheld map to controller input in each app.
How much bandwidth do I need for PC game streaming?
LAN is not about bandwidth; it is about jitter. Wi-Fi 6 in the same room is comfortable at 40 to 80 Mbps per session. For cloud services (Xbox, GeForce NOW) plan for 25 to 45 Mbps down and low jitter.
Can I stream my PC to a phone anywhere in the world?
With Moonlight and Sunshine plus a tunneling tool (Tailscale, WireGuard) you can stream over the open internet. Latency depends on your network more than the app.
What is the best cloud gaming service for Android?
GeForce NOW if your library is already on Steam and Epic. Xbox Cloud Gaming if you have Game Pass. Both cover most needs; they overlap less than you would guess.
