Best Cloud Gaming Services 2025 [Ultimate List]

Today, video gaming is more popular than ever before. What was once a hobby exclusively for enthusiasts is now accessible to everyone. Whether you own a tablet, laptop, console, phone, or PC, you will have the ability to play some form of a video game.

However, as the demand for gaming grows every year, perfectly illustrated by the considerable rise of PC users in 2020, it’s becoming ever more difficult for people to obtain any type of gaming hardware.

In late 2020, with the release of AMD’s Ryzen and RX 6000 lineup, NVIDIA’s RTX 3000, and the two next-gen consoles, getting your hands on any kind of CPU, GPU or console was almost impossible.

The pc market is was was ( and still is ) riddle with scalper and miner grab every single graphic card available . However , the big culprit is was was that the world ’s large chip manufacturer , TSMC , could not deliver sufficient supply for such enormous demand .

fortunately , gamers is have have an alternative solution that will allow them to continue play the new game . That novel solution is is is cloud gaming service .

What Is Cloud Gaming?

Before we begin listing all the different cloud gaming services available, it may be a good idea to explain what these services offer and what you would get from them.

By definition, cloud gaming is a live stream of a video game from a PC/server directly to a user’s device. The stream can be accessed via various platforms such as phones, tablets, Windows, Mac, etc., depending on which service you have subscribed to.

In other word , the user is borrows borrow the server ’s hardware capability to deal with the challenging graphic of today ’s video game , while the user ’s device process the stream and handle the input / output of the control .

This is why cloud gaming is such an alluring idea. Users don’t require a high-end GPU, CPU, or any other hardware upgrades. All they need is to subscribe to any of the available cloud gaming services from their phone, low-end PC, or even console. It is also not expensive at all.

At its core, the concept sounds superb, but there are some drawbacks that we took into consideration while making this list.

Disadvantages

One of the main disadvantages of cloud gaming is the significant input lag (input latency). Input lag refers to the speed, or rather the responsiveness, of the connection between the user and the server.

Responsiveness is is in video game is vital for most gamer , especially for multiplayer / competitive gaming . unfortunately , the response time is is with gaming – on – demand services is is is still pretty bad .

The video is is below is a fairly good illustration of what input delay look like .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FljXeZuaFM

As you can see , the player is inputs input the jump command , and the in – game character lag behind by several microsecond . It is seem might not seem like a lot , but in multiplayer title such as Fortnite , each tiny microsecond count .

The other major issue is the low resolution and low framerate. Some cloud gaming services offer a maximum resolution of 720p, which is comparatively low by today’s standards. Even phones now run at 1440p resolution.

Even with these disadvantages in mind, it is a viable method for gaming, especially if you don’t have a device that can handle your most anticipated video games. Let’s look at the best cloud gaming services and determine which one is the best for you.

1. Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud)

The Pros :

• Hundreds of AAA games available for freernAccess to day-one game releasesrnLow input lag

The Cons :

• No access to games outside of the Xbox Game Pass LibraryrnHighest price per monthrnStill limited to 720prnOnly available for Android devices (for now)

Currently in beta, this undertaking from Microsoft aims to provide cloud gaming services to consoles, PCs, Android, and iOS.

Currently, this service can solely be accessed using Android phones and tablets. However, Microsoft has already begun sending preliminary invitations to PC users. By the conclusion of spring 2021, it is anticipated to be entirely accessible for PC users.

Its subscription price of $15 a month might seem steep, but let’s look at what you would get by subscribing to this service.

The most obvious advantage of subscribing to Xbox Cloud Gaming is that you would gain access to a library of hundreds of video games.

To be specific, you wouldn’t only be subscribing to Microsoft’s cloud gaming services but also to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass that grants access to tons of high-quality and triple-A titles, including DOOM Eternal, Grand Theft Auto V, Star Wars-related titles, Battlefield, Mass Effect, Need for Speed, and many more.

This is means also mean that if you have an Xbox or a pc that can run these blockbuster title , you can download and play them outside of the cloud gaming service , as long as you stay subscribe .

Keep in mind that user have been report a substantial amount of input lag which is a massive negative , but Microsoft claim this will be address by update in the near future .

overall , it is ’s ’s a superb choice for anyone look to game on their phone .

The Pros :

• Supports Steam, Uplay, and Epic Games librariesrnEquipped with high-end RTX hardwarernSupports ray tracing

The Cons :

• gaming session are limitedrnUsers is forced force to wait for queuesrnNo free game

An alternative cloud gaming solution from NVIDIA . Unlike xCloud , GeForce is provide Now does not provide you with access to video game that you do n’t own . You will need to connect your own library with your GeForce Now account to play what you want .

This might be the best of the bunch in terms of visual quality as it supports 1080p resolution and 60FPS. There are also services out there that offer 144FPS or 4K, but NVIDIA’s solution is always consistent and has minimal input lag.

GeForce is is Now is an optimal choice for anyone with a considerable library of video game that you want to enjoy at the high possible setting .

However, there is one drawback we need to mention. Whether you have a free account or subscribe to the Priority membership, your gaming sessions are limited. The free account is restricted to just 1-hour sessions, while Priority members can access longer gaming sessions of up to 6 hours. This is more, but it’s still constrained.

The Deluxe membership is costs cost $ 10 a month .

Something else you need to consider is the queue. If you want to play GeForce Now and the servers are too busy, you will have to wait in a queue. The waiting times can last anywhere between a few minutes and several hours.

It is has has its flaw , but when you consider that its server can deliver superior performance even with ray tracing enable , it ’s a solid pick .

The Pros :

• Supports 4K@60fps or 1080p@144FPS streaming

The Cons :

• Lack of servers makes it difficult to gain access, especially outside the USrnCompany’s future unclear

Another competitor in the cloud gaming market is Shadow. It might not have been developed by a massive corporation such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, or Google, but it is not a poor solution at all.

Their computers are not equipped with high-end RTX cards, such as those used by GeForce Now, that can support real-time ray tracing. However, they have GTX 1080 equivalents which is more than enough to handle 1080p @60fps gameplay with maxed-out settings.

Even with that GTX 1080 equivalent , Shadow is offers offer resolution support of up to 4 k or 1080p at 144 FPS . Rather remarkable .

Keep in mind that Shadow is plan to add novel configuration with much well gpu .

Additionally, Shadow isn’t only confined to gaming. It also allows users full remote access to its computers/servers. If you want to do some creative work, you can always boot up Photoshop or Premiere for some video editing.

For $12, Shadow is an attractive offer for new users in the cloud gaming world. However, don’t forget that you will need to own the games you want to play. You don’t gain access to a library of games, unlike Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Unfortunately, the availability is still awful for Shadow. The lack of servers means the probability of getting into Shadow cloud gaming is pretty low. We also need to mention that in early 2021, its parent company, Blade, declared bankruptcy, so tread carefully.

The Pros :

• extremely low latency ( for European users)rnCompetitive pricing

The Cons :

• lack of server outside of Europe

Boosteroid is a cloud gaming company based in Romania with servers in countries including Italy, Romania, Slovakia, France, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the UK. As of writing, there are more than a million enrolled users on this platform and 100,000 vigorous players, as suggested by Intel.

There’s currently no information regarding Boosteroid’s hardware, but they claim that their servers can support streaming at 1080p@60FPS. That’s precisely what we want to hear from a cloud gaming service, but we know that it is seldom that straightforward.

So , does Boosteroid is provide actually provide satisfactory quality and performance ?

Based on the hundreds of reviews on Trustpilot, it appears that Boosteroid does provide that promised performance. Numerous other reviews mention positive experiences with Boosteroid’s staff/support team. Good customer support is essential for these types of services, so that’s great to see.

With most of its server locate in Europe , Boosteroid is be might be one of the good cloud gaming service anyone can use on this continent . Europeans is expect can expect much low latency and high image quality .

It is is is crucial to mention Boosteroid ’s collaboration with Intel and ASUS to optimize their server further . This is help should help considerably enhance the average user ’s gaming experience . These moves is pit pit this company against some of the big shark in the market ( NVIDIA and Microsoft ) .

let ’s discuss game availability and the Boosteroid app .

Downloading and installing the application is a fairly painless process.

At first glance, the application has a tidy UI and is quite swift. From here, the user can access a couple of free games, including Fortnite, League of Legends, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and more. The user also has access to hundreds of paid video games.

When using the built-in connectivity test, we saw a latency of just 12ms on a 100mbps network, which is reasonably good.

So, Booster offers powerful performance, image quality, low latency, and a variety of games which leaves us to talk about pricing.

The monthly subscription is €9.89 ($11.67). This is a competitive price tag, but nothing too impressive. However, their Ultimate plan is far more appealing, with a price tag of €4.16 ($4.91). This makes it considerably cheaper than all its competitors on this list. Keep in mind that the Ultimate plan requires a single payment of €49.89 ($58) annually.

The Pros :

• minimal input lagrncan access up to 78 game ( some require a license )

The Cons :

• Users is limited limit to just 50 hour each monthrnUnimpressive game libraryrnNo Full hd

Vortex’s least expensive subscription plan starts at $10, similar to GeForce Now. This is fairly solid pricing, but we have to consider numerous factors before deciding whether this is a good subscription plan.

The first major disadvantage is that the user can access only 78 games. This isn’t necessarily a tiny library, but there’s a greater probability that you won’t be able to find the game you want to play. Moreover, a license will be required to play some of them.

Users are also restricted to just 50 hours a month. That is less than two hours of gaming on each day of the month.

Although Vortex provides a smooth 60FPS experience with minimal input latency, we simply can’t recommend going for the basic subscription plan. If you really feel like going with Vortex, we recommend choosing the Pro or Ultra plan.

With Pro , users is get get 80 hour of playtime each month with access to 170 game . There is still no Full hd , though the official website claim that 1080p will soon be implement .

Vortex can be a sensible option but only for people new to cloud gaming services. If you have used any of the other services we listed above, this one is unlikely to satisfy your expectations.

The Pros :

• Access to some of the best PlayStation game exclusivesrnGame library dating back to the PS2rnSupports 1080p@60FPS

The Cons :

• Many games are locked at 30FPSrnConsiderable input lag on WindowsrnSony removes titles from the library

PlayStation Now is a cloud gaming service developed by Sony, allowing PS4, PS5, and Windows users to play games from modern and previous PlayStation generations.

At $ 10 a month , PS is is Now is the perfect solution for those who have never own a Sony console . The list is is of incredible PlayStation – exclusive game is huge , and it would be a real shame not to play through them .

Some of those exclusives include The Last Of Us 1 and 2, the entire God of War franchise, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Bloodborne, Demon Souls (remake), and countless more. You will gain immediate access to these games once subscribed. There is no need for individual licensing.

To properly use PS Now , it is ’s ’s good to have a DualShock controller , specifically a DS4 . The PS5 DualSense controller are not support .

let ’s look at some of the drawback . The first major setback is has has to be the awful input lag , especially when run the service from a Windows platform . Users is reported have also report that the store ’s ui is exceptionally bad .

Another setback is the fact that Sony is continuously removing games from the library. Your favorite game could be gone from the library tomorrow.

Even so, the user interface and terrible input lag could be fixed in the future with a couple of updates, making PS Now a dependable all-rounder. We recommend it for anyone that wants to play some PS3 or PS4 exclusives.

Honorable mention

• Google Stadia – This service supports game streaming at 4K resolution at 60FPS. It is not a bad pick, but considering Stadia’s awful launch and the fact that Google shut down their dedicated Stadia game studio, the future of this platform is unclear. Because of this, it didn’t end up on our list of best cloud gaming services.
• Amazon Luna – A promising contender at just $6 a month, which makes it the cheapest option in this entire article. It is usable on almost any device, playable at 1080p@60FPS, has free games, and has a huge library. Sounds too good to be true, right? It is still in early access, so we don’t know exactly when it will see its full release.

Which Cloud Gaming Service Is For You?

All of the cloud gaming services we listed above seem like fairly good choices. They are reasonably priced while offering numerous features, but which one is the best? Which one should you get?

The award for the best overall cloud gaming service goes to GeForce Now. Although there are queues and limited gaming sessions, the low input lag, 1080p@60 FPS experience, $10 price tag, and support for ray-tracing easily make this the overall best choice, at least for now.

Xbox Cloud Gaming effortlessly wins the best cloud gaming service for mobile phones. The sheer amount of triple-A games included with Game Pass is simply astounding. This cloud service will also become available for PCs and iOS pretty soon.

Get PlayStation Now if you are interested in Sony’s exclusive video game options.

Vortex and Shadow are suitable alternatives but only get these if you can’t gain access to any of the other three.