A free, open source GitHub project called Open NOW is getting a lot of attention in the PC gaming community as an alternative to the native NVIDIA GeForce Now app.
OpenNOW, developed and maintained by the OpenCloud community, is designed for use with it Windows (ARM64 support included), macOSagain Linux (x64 or ARM64), and as its creators say, “aims to provide players with a transparent, customizable path to the official client without hiding technical components from contributors..”
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Why is OpenNOW getting so much attention as an alternative to GeForce Now?
Watch it open
It is expressly stated that you must use your GeForce Now account through OpenNOW; this is not a specific way to earn subscription money. So why is OpenNOW getting so much attention? Although it has been around and is under development since late 2025, it has now taken 1.5K stars on GitHub.
The biggest advantage for many gamers is the lack of AFK limitations. You know how GeForce Now will kick you out of a game if you walk away and get distracted for more than a few minutes? That doesn’t happen in OpenNOW.
It is also clearly stated on the OpenNOW GitHub page that the app does not collect any kind of telemetry. Verification of your GeForce Now account is all done through NVIDIA servers, and game settings and any media you download stay on your PC.
Despite privacy and telemetry concerns, OpenNOW is easy to use. It offers a robust set of streaming controls that you can use to adjust performance and graphics. It has built-in performance monitoring and diagnostic tools. Search is made for your games and secret games. And the app handles capture, audio, and controller navigation.
Perhaps the best part is that it is open source. That means experienced developers can fork their version and apply changes as they see fit.
The website for the OpenNOW app shows that it is working on adding features like voice chat, instant playback, themes, and custom scripts and extensions, and at the rate the app is currently being updated, I don’t expect these features to be around for too long.
NVIDIA GeForce Now vs. OpenNOW: Which one should you use?
OpenNOW has some limitations compared to its official NVIDIA counterpart, and I’m sure that many PC gamers will not want to give up features such as Discord integration or Android compatibility. Not to mention HOTAS for all the flight sim enthusiasts out there.
Still, OpenNOW should be a good choice for anyone with privacy and advanced streaming controls. For those looking for a more targeted experience with official support, GeForce Now is still the go-to option.
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