--- title: "Cloud Gaming Comparison: Which Platform is Best for You?" description: "GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna, and Boosteroid compared. Discover which includes a catalog, which requires owned games, and 2026 updates." url: "https://www.alemasone.com/en/cloud-gaming-platform-comparison-guide/" language: "en" published: 2025-06-10 updated: 2026-09-20 categories: ["Gaming"] translations: it: "https://www.alemasone.com/it/piattaforme-cloud-gaming/" es: "https://www.alemasone.com/es/comparativa-mejores-plataformas-cloud-gaming/" fr: "https://www.alemasone.com/fr/comparatif-plateformes-cloud-gaming/" pt: "https://www.alemasone.com/pt/comparativo-plataformas-cloud-gaming/" de: "https://www.alemasone.com/de/cloud-gaming-plattformen-im-vergleich/" --- # Cloud Gaming Comparison: Which Platform is Best for You? Before price, there is another question that matters in cloud gaming: **does the service include games, or do you need to have already purchased them?** [GeForce NOW](https://www.nvidia.com/it-it/geforce-now/) and Boosteroid stream titles from your Steam or Epic library; Xbox Cloud Gaming, PS Plus, and Luna provide a catalog. These are two different models, suited for different types of people. The game runs on a remote server that sends you the video feed and receives your commands. This allows you to play heavy titles on a modest laptop, a TV, or a phone without downloading anything. In exchange, you are entirely dependent on your connection. 2026 brought two changes that shift the comparison: **GeForce NOW has introduced a 100-hour monthly cap** on paid plans, and **Luna has removed external library linking**. ## Services compared Prices change frequently: check official pages before subscribing. | Service | Model | Maximum Resolution | Notes | |----------|---------|---------------------|------| | GeForce NOW | Your library | 4K with the top plan | 100-hour monthly cap starting January 1, 2026 | | Xbox Cloud Gaming | Included catalog | 1440p with Ultimate | Included in Game Pass Essential, Premium, and Ultimate | | PS Plus Premium | Included catalog | Up to 4K | PlayStation ecosystem titles only | | [Amazon Luna](https://www.amazon.com/luna/) | Included catalog | 1080p | No external libraries as of June 2026 | | [Boosteroid](https://boosteroid.com/) | Your library | 1080p | Affordable alternative to GeForce NOW | ### GeForce NOW It is the most powerful and has the lowest latency. It doesn't sell games: you connect your existing store accounts (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, Xbox) and it streams the titles you own, with high graphics and ray tracing on the top plans. It works on PC, [Mac](/en/virtualization-apple-silicon-windows-linux-macos/), Chromebooks, browsers, phones, and various TVs. ![High-resolution gameplay streamed from GeForce NOW with the streaming quality indicator on screen](geforce-now-gioco-streaming-alta-risoluzione.png "GeForce NOW streams titles already in your library") Keep in mind the limit introduced in 2026: one hundred hours a month is more than three per day, so you won't notice it with normal use, but if you play for many hours on weekends, you might hit it. There is also a **free plan** to try it out: sessions are up to one hour long, with waiting queues and lower quality. It's enough to see if your connection can handle it. Not all games are available: publishers must authorize them, and some have opted out. ### Xbox Cloud Gaming It is included in all Game Pass plans (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), but only Ultimate streams up to 1440p and includes Microsoft games from day one. You don't need to own anything: just choose from the list and play. With some titles, you can also stream games you have purchased, even if they aren't in the catalog. ![Xbox Cloud Gaming catalog cover grid in a browser](catalogo-giochi-xbox-cloud-gaming.png "With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you choose from the catalog without owning the games") It works via browser, consoles, phones, and directly on some Samsung and LG TVs as well as Fire TV, without extra devices. The maximum resolution is lower than GeForce NOW, but for a living room gaming session, the difference matters less than it seems. ### PlayStation Plus Premium Sony's highest subscription tier includes streaming part of the catalog, including many PS1, PS2, and PS3 classics, as well as some of your own games on PS5. It is used via consoles and PC with the PlayStation Plus app. If you are already in the PlayStation ecosystem and want to revisit classic titles, it's the natural choice; outside of that, it makes less sense. ![PlayStation Plus Premium catalog featuring classic games and exclusives available for streaming](schermata-playstation-plus-premium-streaming.png "PS Plus Premium: Sony classics and exclusives via streaming") ### Amazon Luna It is the most affordable option, with a selection of games included for Prime members, and it integrates with Twitch and Fire TV devices. However, the 2026 update significantly scales it back: you can no longer link external libraries, so you can only play what's in the catalog. ![Amazon Luna controller with the devices it can be played on](controller-amazon-luna-streaming-televisore.png "Luna also has its own controller, which connects directly to the cloud") ### Boosteroid Less well-known but solid, it works like GeForce NOW: it streams the games you own, at a lower price and with less powerful hardware. It's the alternative to try if the time limit or the price of GeForce NOW seems too much for you. ## What you need for good gaming This is where you decide whether you'll have fun or get frustrated. - **Speed:** 15-25 Mbps download is enough for 1080p, and about 40 Mbps for 4K. - **Stability over speed.** A 200 Mbps connection with latency spikes performs worse than a steady 30 Mbps connection. - **Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.** This is the single best piece of advice to solve most problems. If you can't use a cable, at least use 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) Wi-Fi and keep your device close to the router. - **Latency under 40 milliseconds** to the server: all services have a test you should run before subscribing. 5G is fine if the signal is good, but latency is more variable than fiber. ![Diagram of network thresholds to check before subscribing to a cloud gaming service](test-rete-cloud-gaming-soglie.png "Values to check in a network test before subscribing") > **Watch your mobile data.** Streaming gameplay consumes between 7 and 12 GB per hour in high definition. With a metered data plan, you'll run out of data in one evening. ## What works well and what doesn't Cloud gaming performs best with adventure games, RPGs, management sims, sports games, and generally anything that doesn't require millisecond-perfect reflexes. It performs worse with competitive online shooters: the added delay, even if small, adds to the in-game lag and is noticeable. For serious play, you still need local hardware. ## Is it worth it? The math is simple: a high-end subscription costs about two hundred and fifty euros a year. A mid-range gaming PC costs a thousand and lasts four or five years, with the difference being that it remains yours and works even without an internet connection. Cloud gaming makes sense in three scenarios: when your current hardware isn't enough and you don't want to upgrade; when you play sporadically and only activate a subscription when needed; and when you want to play on multiple devices, including your TV and phone, without having to buy everything twice. It is not worth it if you play competitive titles every day, if your connection is unstable, or if you already have an adequate computer. ## FAQ ### Do you need a console or a powerful PC? No, that's the best part: the servers handle all the heavy lifting. All you need is a device capable of streaming video and receiving your commands: a modest laptop, a recent smart TV, a phone, or a tablet with a controller. ### Do my saves remain if I cancel my subscription? With services that stream your existing library, yes, because the saves are stored in the cloud of the store where the game is from. With subscription catalogs, progress is usually tied to your account, but to play again you'll need to reactivate the service or purchase the game. ### Why are some games unavailable? Because each publisher decides whether to authorize their titles on a specific platform. This is why a game you own might be missing from a list: it doesn't depend on the service, but on the publisher. ### How much bandwidth does an hour of gaming consume? Between 7 and 12 GB per hour in high definition, and even more in 4K. On an unlimited fixed-line connection, this isn't a problem; if you are on a metered data plan, keep an eye on it. ### Can I use my own controllers? Yes. Almost all services support Bluetooth controllers, such as Xbox controllers, PlayStation's DualShock 4 and DualSense, as well as those connected via USB. For phones, there are also clip-on controllers like the Backbone or Razer Kishi. Many Xbox Cloud games also work using on-screen touch controls. ### Can two people play on the same screen? It depends on the game and the service: some titles support local multiplayer even when streaming, with two controllers connected to the same device. There are no guarantees: [check it game by game](/en/best-remote-desktop-software-comparison/).