Best GeForce NOW Alternatives in 2026

GeForce NOW is great for cloud gaming, until you discover the game you want to play isn't in NVIDIA's library or hit its monthly playtime cap. If you're dealing with any of those frustrations, you're not alone. We compared the top alternatives to GeForce NOW to find which ones actually deliver. Here's what we found.

TL;DR: Quick Verdict

The best GeForce NOW alternatives in 2026 are:

1. Boosteroid - Best for game variety beyond GFN's library
2. CloudDeck - Best for unlimited gaming without restrictions
3. Shadow - Best for a full Windows desktop experience
4. AirGPU - Best for worldwide availability
   
   Of course, each service has its strengths and weaknesses. Keep reading to see which one fits your needs.

Why Look for a GeForce NOW Alternative?

GeForce NOW is one of the most popular cloud gaming services, but it's not perfect. Here are the main reasons people look for alternatives:

Library limitations. GeForce NOW only supports games whose publishers have opted in. That's about 4,000 games. Sounds like a lot until you realize Steam alone has over 70,000. Major publishers like EA and Rockstar have pulled their games in the past or never added them in the first place. If your favorite game isn't supported, you're out of luck.

Monthly playtime caps. Even on the paid Priority tier ($9.99/month), you're limited to 100 hours per month. That's about 3 hours per day, fine for casual players but restrictive for anyone who games seriously. If you're into long RPG campaigns or just have more free time on weekends, you'll hit that cap faster than you think. You can buy additional playtime, but that adds up quickly. The Ultimate tier ($19.99/month) offers better visual quality but still has a playtime cap and doesn't solve the library problem either.

No modding. You can't install mods or customize your games beyond what's officially supported. Steam Workshop works for some games, but manual mod installation? Forget it. That's a dealbreaker if you're into modded Skyrim, custom Minecraft servers, or any game where community-created content is half the experience.

The good news? Several alternatives fix these exact problems.

The 4 Best GeForce NOW Alternatives

1. Boosteroid - Best for Game Variety Beyond GFN

Boosteroid is a cloud gaming service based in Europe that's built a strong reputation for offering games that other platforms don't, including titles that never made it to GeForce NOW.

With over 1,500 games in its library, Boosteroid covers major platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, Origin, and Battle.net. They add games over time and remove them if publishers request it. This means you can play games here that aren't available on GeForce NOW.

The good: Performance is solid for most games. Games run smoothly at up to 4K with high settings. The interface is simple. Pick a game from your library, click play, and you're in within 30-60 seconds.

The bad: Boosteroid uses a queue system during peak hours. Expect 5-10 minute waits on weekend evenings. Not terrible, but still annoying when you just want to play.

Based on current load and game availability, users are also automatically assigned to servers. That means one evening you might get 15ms ping, the next night it's 45ms. Same location, same internet, but you were assigned to a different server. This inconsistency can be frustrating. There's an Ultra Pro tier that lets you select a fixed server, but if you want to play a game that's not available on the selected server, you may still be assigned a different location.

Another limitation: while Boosteroid supports different games than GeForce NOW, it doesn't necessarily support more. It's still a curated library. You can't install any game you own, it has to be in their catalog. New releases take time to get added, so if you're excited about a day-one launch, you might be waiting weeks or months.

Best for: Players who want specific games that aren't on GeForce NOW, and who primarily play single-player or co-op games where occasional sessions with high latency won't ruin the experience.

Pricing: from €12.89/month (monthly) or €7.49/month (annual)

Availability: Europe, North America, and Brazil.

2. CloudDeck - Best for Unlimited Gaming Without Restrictions

Unlike library-based cloud gaming services, CloudDeck gives you a full cloud gaming PC. That's not just a technical difference. It changes how you game in practice.

What CloudDeck actually is: You get a dedicated cloud gaming PC running a SteamOS interface with your own storage. It's your machine, you're just accessing it remotely instead of having it sit under your desk.

The game-changer: You can install games from Steam, Epic, GOG, Battle.net, itch.io, or even that obscure indie game with no launcher. The library isn't 4,000 games or 1,500 games. Roughly 25,000+ Windows games work on Linux according to ProtonDB, and CloudDeck can run them through Proton/Wine compatibility. Most games run, but not every Windows game works, especially those with anti-cheat software that blocks virtual machines.

That includes full modding support. Want to mod Skyrim with 200+ mods? Install them. Want to use Steam Workshop? It works. Want to manually drag files into your game folder for that niche mod? Go ahead. You have full access to the file system.

No restrictions: There's no monthly time limit. Game for 100 hours, 200 hours, or 500 hours, it doesn't matter. Individual sessions have a 6-hour limit, but you can reconnect immediately. No queues, ever. When you want to play, you click connect and you're in within seconds.

Latency is consistently low because you connect to a fixed server rather than being randomly assigned to different locations. Once you're set up, performance stays stable.

The downside: The GPU isn't the absolute latest generation. You're not getting RTX 4090 performance. For most games, this doesn't matter. Modern cloud GPUs handle 1080p at high settings for virtually everything. But if you're chasing 4K ultra settings at 120fps, you'll need to adjust expectations. For most gamers playing at 1080p or 1440p, it runs well.

Steam is pre-installed on CloudDeck. You're dropped into a SteamOS console-like interface, so getting started is easy. Another downside is game installation time. You need to download your games to your CloudDeck, which takes time depending on game size. Once installed, everything runs smoothly.

Best for: Anyone who wants to game without being restricted to a limited library. If you hate being told what you can play, when you can play, or how long you can play, CloudDeck removes all of that. It's also a great option for mod-heavy gaming in the cloud.

Pricing: $19.99/month (monthly) or $14.99/month on a 6-month plan.

Availability: Europe and North America.

Try CloudDeck: clouddeck.app

3. Shadow - Best for a Full Windows Desktop

Shadow takes a similar approach, except you get a full Windows PC in the cloud. It's positioned as an all-purpose cloud computer for both gaming and productivity.

What sets Shadow apart: This is a complete Windows 10/11 desktop environment. You can use it for gaming, but also for work, creative software like Photoshop and video editing, or anything else you'd do on a Windows PC. The hardware is primarily tuned for gaming, though.

Gaming-wise: You can install any game, any launcher, any mod. Performance is good, with decent GPUs that handle modern games well. Latency is generally low inside their coverage area.

The drawback: Price. Shadow starts at $37.99/month. That's reasonable if you're using it as a full computer replacement, but steep if you only use it for casual gaming. As with CloudDeck, games with anti-cheat software that doesn't support virtual machines won't work properly.

Best for: People who need a Windows desktop for both gaming AND other tasks like work, creative projects, or development. If you want one cloud solution for everything and don't mind paying more, Shadow makes sense. If gaming is your only use case, other options on this list may offer better value.

Pricing: Starting at $37.99/month.

Availability: Europe and North America.

4. AirGPU - Best for Worldwide Availability

AirGPU takes a slightly different approach than Shadow. Instead of providing a full Windows PC as a monthly subscription, you rent it by the hour. The service is available worldwide, with servers across 24 datacenter locations.

The advantage: If you're in a region where other cloud gaming services don't operate, AirGPU is often your best bet. They have server locations worldwide, covering areas that Boosteroid, CloudDeck, and Shadow don't reach.

You also get flexibility with GPU options. Need a specific GPU model for testing, development, or a particular game? You can select different configurations any time rather than being locked into one tier for a whole month.

The downside: This is not a 1-click gaming solution. If you just want to click "play" and start gaming, the extra setup might be frustrating.

Pricing is pay-as-you-go (starting around $0.75/hour depending on GPU tier), which works well for occasional gaming but can add up during longer or more frequent sessions.

Best for: Gamers in regions not covered by other services and users who want full control over their cloud GPU configuration. Also good for mixed use (gaming + AI/ML work + rendering) where you need GPU power for multiple purposes.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go, from $0.75/hour depending on GPU tier and region.

Availability: Worldwide (one of the most globally available options).

Quick Comparison

GeForce NOW vs These Alternatives: When to Stay

GeForce NOW is still a great service if:

• You only play games from its supported library (and your favorites are included)
• You play casually and don't hit the 100-hour monthly cap
• You don't care about modding
• You're in a region with good GeForce NOW server coverage

The free tier is useful for trying out cloud gaming, and the 4K Ultimate tier offers some of the best visual quality in cloud gaming if you've got the bandwidth.

But if any of those conditions don't match your situation, one of these alternatives will serve you better.

FAQ: GeForce NOW Alternatives

What is the best free alternative to GeForce NOW?

There isn't a great free alternative that matches GeForce NOW's free tier. Most alternatives are paid-only. If you're looking for free cloud gaming, GeForce NOW's free tier (with queues and 1-hour session limits) remains the best option. The alternatives on this list are better if you're willing to pay for a better experience.

Can I play any game on GeForce NOW alternatives?

It depends on the service. Boosteroid has a curated library of 1,500+ games, different from GeForce NOW's selection but still limited. CloudDeck, Shadow, and AirGPU give you full PC access, meaning you can install any PC game from any store. There are some restrictions around anti-cheat compatibility, but the vast majority of games work fine.

Which cloud gaming service has the lowest latency?

Latency depends more on your location relative to servers than the service itself. CloudDeck and Shadow tend to offer more consistent latency because they don't randomly assign servers. Boosteroid can have variable latency since you're not always assigned the closest server. AirGPU's latency depends on which server region you select, so pick one close to you.

Is cloud gaming worth it without GeForce NOW?

Yes. If GeForce NOW's limitations (library, time caps) are holding you back, these alternatives solve those problems. CloudDeck in particular removes nearly every restriction. No time limits, no library restrictions, no queues. If you game seriously, paying for a service that doesn't limit you is worth it.

Do I need a powerful internet connection for these alternatives?

You need a stable internet connection, but it doesn't have to be incredibly fast. Most cloud gaming services recommend:

• Minimum: 10 Mbps download for 720p gaming
• Recommended: 20 Mbps download for 1080p/60fps
• Ideal: 40+ Mbps download for 1440p or 4K

Upload speed matters less (5+ Mbps is fine). Stability and low ping are more important than raw speed. A consistent 30 Mbps connection with 20ms ping will outperform an unstable 100 Mbps connection that drops packets. Wired ethernet is always better than Wi-Fi if possible.

Can I use a controller with these services?

Yes, all four alternatives support controllers. You can use Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Pro, or most third-party controllers. For all services, plug your controller into your local device and it works immediately.

Conclusion

If you're looking to move beyond GeForce NOW's limitations, here's the breakdown:

• Want more game variety without full PC complexity? Go with Boosteroid.
• Want unlimited gaming without restrictions? Choose CloudDeck.
• Need a full Windows PC for gaming + other work? Pick Shadow.
• In a region other services don't cover? Try AirGPU.

The right pick depends on what's bugging you most about GeForce NOW: the game library, the price, needing a full desktop, or just being in a region without coverage.