Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rainway VS Shells

Compare Rainway VS Shells and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Rainway logo Rainway

Rainway is a free video game streaming service that allows you to play your favourite games on any device.

Shells logo Shells

Shells is your personal workspace in the cloud. Join Shells now to access your own, private virtual desktop environment powered by a cloud computer.
  • Rainway Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-07
  • Shells Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-17

Shells.com offers a virtual cloud computer that can be accessed from any web-enabled device. As we offer multiple Linux distributions or Windows preloaded on the virtual desktop, it gives the user the opportunity to use the operating system that they want on the device that they want. This is great for new users who would like to give Linux a test run without having to install on their hardware or for developers who would like to test and deploy all on one device. Schools and businesses can rapidly deploy computers and phones to those who need them at a low-cost.

Rainway

$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
2017 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
Washington
City
Seattle
Founder(s)
Andrew Sampson
Employees
10 - 19

Shells

Website
shells.com
$ Details
paid $4.95 / Monthly (Shells Lite)
Platforms
Browser Android Windows iOS Mac OSX Linux Web
Release Date
-

Rainway features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Rainway allows you to stream your PC games to various devices, including phones, tablets, and other PCs, enabling you to play your games anywhere.
  • Platform Compatibility
    It is compatible with multiple operating systems and platforms, such as Windows, Android, iOS, and web browsers, providing versatile gaming options.
  • Free Service
    Rainway is free to use, removing the barrier of entry for users who might be reluctant to pay for a streaming service.
  • Low Latency
    The platform aims to offer low-latency streaming, making the gameplay experience smoother and more enjoyable.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all technical skill levels.

Possible disadvantages of Rainway

  • Internet Dependency
    A strong and stable internet connection is required for optimal performance, which can be a limiting factor in areas with poor internet infrastructure.
  • Hardware Requirements
    The performance of Rainway heavily depends on the power of your gaming PC, which may limit its effectiveness for users with lower-end hardware.
  • Potential Lag
    Despite aiming for low latency, users may occasionally experience lag or disruptions, particularly during high-demand periods or due to network issues.
  • Limited to PC Games
    Rainway is designed for streaming PC games, so it doesnโ€™t support console-exclusive games, which limits its use for console gamers.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since Rainway involves streaming data from your PC to other devices, there may be potential privacy concerns related to data security and unauthorized access.

Shells features and specs

  • Cross-device compatibility
    Shells allows users to access their virtual desktop environment from any device with an internet connection, whether it's a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This flexibility enables seamless work and play across different devices.
  • Ease of setup
    Shells offers a straightforward and user-friendly setup process, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge. Users can quickly get their virtual desktop up and running without the need for complex configurations.
  • Versatility
    Shells provides users with the ability to run multiple operating systems, including Linux and Windows, which adds flexibility for a variety of tasks and software requirements.
  • Cloud storage integration
    Shells offers cloud storage options, allowing users to easily store, access, and manage their files within their virtual desktop environment. This ensures data safety and convenience.
  • Scalability
    Users can easily scale their resources based on their needs, such as upgrading RAM or storage capacity. This ensures that Shells can grow alongside the user's demands.

Possible disadvantages of Shells

  • Dependent on internet connection
    Shells requires a stable and fast internet connection for optimal performance. Users with inconsistent or slow internet may experience lag or connectivity issues.
  • Recurring costs
    Using Shells involves a subscription-based payment model, meaning users must pay recurring fees to maintain access. This could be a con for users seeking a one-time purchase model.
  • Limited offline access
    Because Shells is cloud-based, users have limited functionality when they are offline, which could be disadvantageous for those needing constant access to their virtual desktops.
  • Potential security concerns
    Although Shells implements security measures, storing data in the cloud may still pose security risks, such as data breaches or unauthorized access, which may concern privacy-focused users.
  • Performance constraints
    Depending on the chosen plan and resource allocation, there may be performance limitations, particularly for users running resource-intensive applications compared to high-performance local machines.

Analysis of Rainway

Overall verdict

  • Rainway is generally considered a good option for gamers looking to stream their PC games to other devices.

Why this product is good

  • Rainway offers a user-friendly interface, low-latency streaming, and wide device compatibility, allowing users to play games on various platforms such as smartphones, tablets, and even smart TVs. It supports high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay, making it an attractive choice for gamers who want flexibility in gaming locations. Additionally, it is free to use, which adds to its appeal.

Recommended for

    Rainway is recommended for PC gamers who want to play their games on different devices without being restricted to their primary gaming rig. It's ideal for those who value convenience and accessibility in their gaming experience, especially individuals who often travel or share gaming equipment.

Rainway videos

Rainway 1.0 Launch Review - Early 2019

More videos:

  • Review - Rainway Beta - First Impressions & Gameplay 2018
  • Review - Rainway Basics Part 1: Setting up Rainway

Shells videos

Shells Explainer Video

More videos:

  • Review - Shells.com - Complete Review of Best Virtual Machine [ 2021 ]
  • Review - Linux Desktops in the Cloud with Shells.com
  • Review - Home Defense: Aguila 12ga. mini shells.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rainway and Shells)
Games
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Computing
0 0%
100% 100
Game Streaming
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Rainway and Shells. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Rainway and Shells

Rainway Reviews

Top Remote Desktop Software for Gaming
Rainway cannot guarantee a high-quality and latency-free gaming experience. The quality of your game streaming with Rainway entirely depends on your internet connection. The better your connection is, the faster your game will perform.
Source: cloudzy.com
Moonlight game streaming alternatives
Rainway game streaming service is a very recent release. The application allows you to stream the games on your Windows 10 computer through any supported device via the internet. The service is free with no ads whatsoever. With all the features and reviews considered, it can surely be one of the alternatives for Moonlight game streaming. The only thing holding it back is its...
Source: androidgram.com
11 Best Parsec Alternatives & Similar Apps
Sometimes you will run into issues like slow connections, some bugs, and other technical problems. Still, Rainway is an excellent cloud gaming platform for almost any operating system. Thus, there is no reason to not give this software a try.
Stream games with these Google Stadia alternatives
In a similar vein to Google Stadia, Rainway allows you to host access your gaming PCs library of games across the internet via basically any browser. It claims to have an ultra-low delay for streaming, based on the Pulsar Engine, and can drive 1080p60 streams with low latency.
15 game streaming services you can try before Google Stadia arrives
Rainway is a game streaming service that allows you to remotely stream games from your preexisting Steam, Origin, Battle.net, or uPlay libraries, and its claim to fame is the web: you can stream games directly to a web browser window, as well as Mac or Windows PCs or Android phones, with an iOS version planned for a later date. Rainway makes sense if you want to stream games...

Shells Reviews

We have no reviews of Shells yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rainway seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Rainway mentions (14)

  • iPad Pro M2
    Code-server https://github.com/coder/code-server works fairly well and can be saved to the home screen as a web applet to get rid of the browser URL bar. Their are a few UI issues related to touch but it has server well enough for some light work. You can also use an remote apps like Rainway/TeamViewer/RDP/VNC somewhat successfully to get a more full desktop experience. Unfortunately they all seem to have their... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • why you shouldn't buy shadow.
    Rent your Server own at Google, Amazon or even Microsoft Microsoft has also a Windows in the Cloud Service There is Amazon with LUNA if you only want to play There is NVidia GForce now There is STADIA (Which I use by myself. Better than expected) There is XBox Cloud Streaming (XCloud) There is https://parsec.app/ There is Playstaion now Streaming There is https://welcome.playkey.net There is... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Rainway is Dead
    We just donโ€™t offer support anymore. Our business is entirely focused on B2B offerings now https://rainway.com/. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Has anyone ever received a partnership deal with Rainway?
    I too found this in my emails. And funnily enough, that one was in my Spam folder. But I know that not everything in there is necessarily spam. I was curious though as took me less than 2 mins to track-down https://rainway.com/gaming/ and I did also notice the email as rainway.us That and no website link. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Has anyone ever received a partnership deal with Rainway?
    These emails are sent from [scott@rainway.us](mailto:scott@rainway.us) The real domain is rainway.com. So it's 100% fake. By the way I once got a scam email where they managed to fake some real company domain. So even if domain is real you should definitely double check. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

Shells mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Shells yet. Tracking of Shells recommendations started around May 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rainway and Shells, you can also consider the following products

Parsec - Streams games locally or over the internet

V2 Cloud - Cloud Computing Made Easy: V2 Cloud. Increase Your Productivity, Reduce Costs and Manage Risks with Our No-IT Skills Required Solution.

GoToMyPC - Remotely access your computer from anywhere on any device! Discover productivity and flexibility with GoToMyPC remote desktop software. Try it Free!

Virtual Desktop Enhancer - Virtual Desktop Enhancer is software designed for your window system, adding some alluring features to your virtual desktop.

LogMeIn - LogMeIn gives you fast, easy remote access to your PC or Mac from your browser, desktop and mobile...

VirtuaWin - VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called 'workspaces').