Google Stadia vs. PlayStation Now: Which is better?

Google Stadia and PlayStation Now both allow you to pay $10/month to stream games across devices. Both services offer free trials so you can test them yourself, but this guide lays out the features to help you figure out what's right for you.

[Knightofelemia]

No brainer PSNow is the winner Sony has been doing it longer and you're comparing a library of 800 games to a magazine rack of 40 games.

[UltraNova]

...and the amazingly unique option of being able to buy new games for full price, on a streaming-only service!

[CaptainCook]

Streaming and games. Stadia is suprior in every aspect.

Stadia:

Streaming quality - 1080p upwards with no monthly payments unless you want 4k Streaming

Games - New triple A games releases on the service all the time.

[TKCMuzzer]

Eh but you have the option to download loads of games on the PS4, no lag, no picture loss and so on. Also, there are a lot of quality titles on the PSNow, Stadia, not so much.
Plus, correct me if I’m wrong, it may be free but you still have to buy the games if you want to play them. So, pay £ 8.99 and get access to 800 games and play them when you want and just cancel if you no longer use it, or pay nothing, fork our for a controller and chrome cast if you want the tv experience and then start purchasing full price games to start streaming from a pretty dismal collection.
In its current state, Stadia is the poorer choice, both in value and content.

[Knightofelemia]

@Captain Cook

Sony has it better then Stadia disc based games which opens up another library if the game is not on PSNow. Yeah you can do 4k and 1080p but for what you're paying to access 40 games on a magazine rack is not worth it. PSNnow accesses the library of the older Playstation consoles sure Stadia gets access to newer games day one. But you compare the numbers of people who own and play on Stadia and people who play and own a Playstation the numbers surpass Stadia. I have a feeling Sony will allow day one new released games on PSNow even they have to play catch up and keep up with features.

[RazzerRedux]

"Stadia is suprior in every aspect."

False statement. Unlike PS Now, you have to buy the games and you cannot download the games and play locally at all. Those are two aspect where PS Now is factually superior.

[JackBNimble]

You sound like a Google rep.
Stadia isn't doing anything better , in fact I don't think they should sell any games on that platform. It should be a subscription plan for access to all games on stadia.

[DragonWarrior19]

Streaming for gaming never wins. It's all trash.

[XBManiac]

I only can play Stadia with wired connection on PC, because artifacts, changes in resolution and lag is too high. Only racing games are really playable on Stadia and selection of games available is not made with experience and quality on first place. It seems that everything can be on Stadia and it only makes the service worse, because not all games can be well played on streaming yet. Exclusives like Gylt, tend to kill the experience on very dark passages, where I only can see stain covering the screen... it really ruins a dark game. Competitive modes like Destiny 2 Cruzible tend to compensate too much, with autoaiming and it is not comparable to playing on PC with 120+ fps. But... yes... not having cheats and hacks is a positive point for Stadia.
In the other side... PlayStation Now tends to care about what games come to the service and it is a better experience, for the moment.
PSNow wins in 2020. Maybe with 5G it can change... but Stadia is a no go (expensive, not good product and bad selection).

[Vits]

Stadia is technically the better. Newer games, better streaming quality and more supported devices.

However PS Now have a much better value as you don't have to pay for each individual game. And also feature the larger library. So between the two I would go with PS Now. Just be sure to not hook it up to a 4K TV. Or you going to have a blurry mess.

[TKCMuzzer]

Er, I’m not sure the games are better, newer yes but I have just looked at the list and it’s not great if we are being honest.

[Vits]

I never said the games were better. I said the service is overall better as far quality goes. But the games are newer.

[caddytrek]

What does newness have to do with anything? I played Control on PSNow last month and I am 100% certain I enjoyed it just as much last month as I would have day 1.

I'll take the variety in both numbers and genres PSNow offers over any other service hand down. Any game I haven't played is new to me.

And the service is only $5 a month an amazing price for what you get.

[Vits]

Good for you buddy.

[caddytrek]

Thanks, it was good for me.

I also enjoyed playing Warriors All Stars and Nights of Azure and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, all of them were new to me. And when I get some free time I am going to play The Evil Within 2.

All games I was interested in but never got the chance to play.

[TheEnigma313]

Stadia is just pathetic

[Tross]

If you have to ask you must not have gotten the memo that Stadia is a dumpster fire.

[TheSaint]

At least a dumpster fire can keep you warm.

[Tross]

Lulz.

[JEECE]

PSNOW lets you download some games (PS4 games, not PS3 games). This alone makes it better. If companies are going to insist on streaming, download should always be an option for those of us who don't enjoy input latency.

[badz149]

"SOME" is an understatement. There are more downloadable PS4 games on PSNow than the whole of Gamepass even, let alone Stadia.

But why are we even comparing these 2? You pay $10/month for PSNow and get access to 800 games but you pay $10/month for Stadia, you still need to buy the games amd most of them are full priced. How the hell is the Stadia even a comparison here??

[Pughski]

Honestly, I forgot all about the stadia.

[Benficaman]

what is Stadia?

[badz149]

some sort of STD maybe...

[Perez]

got in on stadia's 3 month free offer but its never actually worked for me and so I cancelled it and play on systems that just work.

[FyBy]

really?