YiLink vs Parsec / Moonlight
Latency is broadly in the same tier. The main differences are in quality strategy, feature support, virtual drivers, and networking ease.
TL;DR
Want the simplest setup, cross-device quick access, and minimal networking hassle? Choose YiLink.
Care about poor-network adaptation and a powerful ecosystem of virtual drivers (display/mic/USB, etc.)? Parsec is stronger.
Best for mobile/TV, widest controller compatibility, and features like HDR/10-bit? Moonlight (Sunshine) is more complete.
Feature Comparison
| Category | YiLink | Parsec | Moonlight(Sunshine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency | Same tier (slightly better) | Same tier (industry benchmark) | Same tier, usually slightly worse (small difference) |
| Quality / Bitrate Strategy | Higher bitrate available; tune as you like | Bitrate cap ~50Mbps; more aggressive auto bitrate drop | Higher bitrate available; more headroom for quality |
| HDR / 10bit | Not yet | Supported | Supported |
| Virtual Drivers / System Integration | Requires extra virtual display/controller drivers | Includes many virtual drivers (display/mic/USB, etc.)—very strong | Includes virtual controller; requires extra virtual display |
| Networking Ease | Strong NAT traversal; optional manual or paid Auto Relay fallback | Weaker NAT traversal; no relay in free plan | No NAT traversal—IP/domain direct connect or VPN/virtual LAN |
| Poor-network Adaptation | Tune resolution/bitrate/FPS, but more manual optimization | Stronger adaptation | More dependent on network quality and tuning |
| Controller Compatibility | Basic support (browser gamepad APIs + implementation) | Supported | Widest support |
| Clipboard | Supported | Supported | Not supported |
| File Transfer | Supported | Paid plan required | Not supported |
These conclusions reflect typical experience. Actual results vary by version, encoder settings, and network conditions.
Side-by-side Latency Videos
Two side-by-side recordings to visualize latency differences.
When YiLink Fits Better
- Want to connect from phone/tablet/public PC directly in the browser
- Often share with friends/colleagues and want link/QR access
- Don’t want to deal with ports/VPN; want relay fallback for complex NAT
When Parsec Fits Better
- You need a mature ecosystem of virtual drivers and system-level features
- You care more about adaptation on poor networks
- Your use is mostly fixed-device connections
When Moonlight (Sunshine) Fits Better
- You want features like HDR/10-bit
- You care a lot about controller compatibility across many devices
- You’re fine with direct connect/VPN-style networking