Parsec

Parsec is a low-latency remote desktop built for work and play where frame rate and input lag matter: 3D and video editing on a studio workstation, cloud GPU machines, and co-op gaming. If you are looking for a Parsec download, Parsec is shareware (conditionally free): the app and a personal-use plan cost nothing, while work use requires a paid Teams or Enterprise plan.

Parsec is owned by Unity Technologies. Instead of the classic RDP or VNC approach, it captures the host’s screen and encodes it with the GPU’s hardware encoder (H.264, or H.265 on supported hardware). The stream goes peer-to-peer over UDP, falling back to a relay when a direct path is not possible.

Parsec at a glance

What it does

• Streams a full desktop at high frame rates with hardware encoding on the host and hardware decoding on the client.
• Peer-to-peer encrypted connections with a configurable UDP port range for hosts behind firewalls.
• Keyboard, mouse and gamepad input; several guests can join one host, each with their own controller.
• Single-link sharing to invite a friend or colleague to a session.
• Paid individual features: multi-monitor streaming, enhanced colour mode, privacy mode and Wacom tablet support.
• Teams and Enterprise: admin panel, SSO, team computer management, audit logs; Enterprise adds an API, high-performance relay servers and role-based access control.
• Build 150-105a added an “Always Relative” mouse mode and better handling of hosts going to sleep.

How IT teams use it

Give an editor access to a studio workstation

1. Install Parsec on the workstation with the Per Computer option (formerly called Shared). It then starts at the Windows login screen, and its service can capture elevated windows such as UAC prompts and Task Manager.
2. Sign in with the account that will own the machine and make sure Hosting Enabled is on in the host settings (app_host=1 in the advanced configuration).
3. On the editor’s laptop install Parsec, sign in, and connect from the computers list. Under a Teams plan the admin assigns the machine; otherwise share it with the user.
4. For colour-critical work, test enhanced colour mode and the display settings before the user relies on them.

Open ports for a host behind a strict firewall

Parsec normally punches through NAT on its own. When it cannot, set a fixed host start port and forward a UDP range to the host, one port per simultaneous guest. Parsec’s docs recommend 8000-8010. In the advanced configuration file:

network_server_start_port=8000

Then forward UDP 8000-8010 on the router to the host’s LAN address. The value must be above 1024; 0 means a pseudo-random port.

Cloud GPU workstation

1. Launch a Windows VM with a GPU that has a hardware encoder.
2. Install the GPU driver first, then Parsec with the Per Computer option, and sign in. NVIDIA-based cloud instances may also need Parsec’s virtual display driver.
3. Use RDP only for the initial setup, then close every RDP session before connecting with Parsec. Parsec can run alongside RDP, but performance gets much worse, and on recent Windows builds the combination can cause capture errors such as -14003.

Install and first run

• Windows host or client: Windows 10 or later. Minimum host hardware for H.264 is in the range of an Intel HD 4200, NVIDIA GTX 650 or AMD Radeon HD 7750 with 4 GB RAM. For H.265 Parsec recommends Intel Xe, NVIDIA 2000 series or AMD RX 5700-class graphics and 8 GB RAM.
• macOS: 10.15 Catalina or later with Metal; for hosting Parsec prefers 2019 or newer hardware. Grant Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions when prompted, or guests will see a black screen and have no control.
• Linux: client only, packaged for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop.
• Android and web: client only; the web client runs in Chromium-based browsers.
• Accounts: both host and client must be signed in to a Parsec account.
• Gotchas: headless hosts without a monitor may give a black screen or wrong resolution. Hybrid laptops can pick the wrong GPU. Corporate firewalls that block UDP push sessions onto the relay, which raises latency.

Limitations

• No hosting on Linux, and no iOS or iPadOS app (Safari is not supported for the web client either).
• The free plan is for personal, non-commercial use only; any work use needs a paid plan.
• Needs a capable GPU on the host; it is not a lightweight tool for helping users on old office PCs.
• Account sign-in is mandatory and connections are brokered through Parsec’s service, so it does not fit offline or air-gapped networks.
• No built-in file manager or remote terminal like classic support tools have.

Parsec vs alternatives

For classic help-desk work, AnyDesk or TeamViewer run on almost any PC and include file transfer and unattended access tools. For a free, self-hosted option, RustDesk covers support sessions, but it is not tuned for 60 fps creative work. On Linux and enterprise desktops, ThinLinc and X2Go handle session-based access far better. Gamers often compare Parsec with Moonlight plus Sunshine, an open-source streaming pair that needs more manual setup.

FAQ

Is Parsec free?

The app download is free and the personal plan is free for non-commercial use, including gaming. Using it for work requires a paid Teams or Enterprise plan, which is why we list it as shareware.

Is there Parsec for Mac?

Yes. macOS 10.15 or later with Metal can both host and connect; hosting works best on 2019 or newer Macs.

Does Parsec work on Linux?

As a client only. Parsec provides a client for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop; you cannot host a Linux machine.

Is Parsec available for iPhone or iPad?

No. Parsec does not support iOS or iPadOS, and its web client does not work in Safari. Android and Chromium-based browsers are supported.

Parsec vs RDP: which is better?

RDP is built into Windows and is efficient for office apps and server work. Parsec uses GPU video encoding, so it handles fast motion, 3D viewports and games much better, but it needs a decent GPU on the host.

Parsec vs Moonlight: what is the difference?

Moonlight is an open-source client that pairs with an open-source host such as Sunshine; you manage everything yourself. Parsec is a managed service with accounts, link sharing and team administration.

What is Parsec for Teams?

The commercial plan for businesses. It adds an admin panel, SSO, centralised computer management and audit logs on top of the streaming features.

Last checked against official sources: 1 October 2026 (developer website: parsec.app). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in production.