NVIDIA GeForce NOW Performance is not a new 2026 service. NVIDIA introduced it on November 7, 2024, as the renamed and upgraded Priority tier. Existing Priority members were moved to Performance automatically, with streaming up to 1440p, ultrawide support and saved graphics settings at no launch-price increase. In the current U.S. listing observed in August 2026, Performance costs $9.99 per month, $99.99 for 12 months or $3.99 for a Day Pass.
What NVIDIA launched—and when
GeForce NOW’s first paid mid-tier was Priority, introduced on March 18, 2021, with priority server access, longer sessions and RTX features. On November 7, 2024, NVIDIA changed the name to Performance and expanded the tier rather than creating an entirely new membership. The announcement added a 1440p ceiling instead of the former 1080p ceiling, ultrawide support and the ability to retain in-game graphics settings between sessions. Existing Priority subscribers were upgraded automatically. See NVIDIA’s announcement at NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW Performance announcement.
Performance remains the standard paid tier below Ultimate in 2026. Later updates added access to Install-to-Play, which lets members reach more owned PC games by installing them in temporary cloud storage.
Current U.S. GeForce NOW prices
The following prices and headline limits were shown in NVIDIA’s U.S. marketplace in August 2026. Taxes, regional pricing, billing channels and promotions can change the amount you pay.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
| Plan | U.S. listed price | Advertised ceiling | Access notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | No subscription price shown | Up to 1080p/60 fps | Ad-supported; lower priority and more restricted access |
| Performance Day Pass | $3.99 for one day | Up to 1440p/60 fps | Temporary access, not a recurring membership |
| Performance | $9.99 for one month | Up to 1440p/60 fps | Priority server access and longer sessions |
| Performance | $99.99 for 12 months | Up to 1440p/60 fps | Annual billing |
| Ultimate Day Pass | $7.99 for one day | Up to 5K/360 fps listing | Temporary access |
| Ultimate | $19.99 for one month | Up to 5K/360 fps listing | RTX 5080-class tier and premium features |
| Ultimate | $199.99 for 12 months | Up to 5K/360 fps listing | Annual billing |
Check the live NVIDIA U.S. marketplace before paying. NVIDIA previously advertised a six-month Performance price of $49.99 in 2025 materials, but that option is not shown in the current public U.S. listing, so availability should be treated as region-, promotion- or date-dependent. NVIDIA says a Day Pass can be applied toward a first month in some circumstances; confirm the timing and eligibility at checkout.
What Performance includes
Priority access and longer sessions
Performance places you ahead of Free users when servers are busy and provides longer play sessions. NVIDIA’s Performance materials describe sessions of up to six hours. Session and account policies can change, so check the terms attached to your account. A queue priority is not a guarantee of zero waiting during major releases, outages or unusually high demand.
1440p, 60 frames per second and ultrawide output
NVIDIA’s current U.S. listing advertises up to 1440p at 60 fps for Performance. Ultrawide resolutions are supported. These are maximums, not guaranteed output: the client, game, display, server assignment, region, network and device all affect the delivered image. A browser, TV app or mobile client may expose fewer options than the native Windows or macOS application.
Rank #2
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
RTX features and saved settings
Supported games can use RTX effects, but ray tracing and related features are game-dependent. Performance also saves supported in-game graphics settings between streaming sessions, avoiding repeated setup for games that previously reset those options.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Install-to-Play
Performance and Ultimate members can use Install-to-Play to download additional owned games into cloud storage before launching them. NVIDIA says this expands the service’s reach by more than 2,200 games. Performance and Ultimate include 100GB of single-session storage for this purpose, according to NVIDIA’s Blackwell announcement at NVIDIA Newsroom. A later session may require another installation when temporary storage expires. Persistent-storage add-ons may exist, but current public pages do not establish their present price or capacity.
Supported devices
GeForce NOW works across supported PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, phones, tablets, TVs and handhelds. NVIDIA lists device support at its GeForce NOW service page. “Supported device” does not mean every device offers every resolution, refresh rate, HDR mode or input method. Check the client and display specifications for the device you intend to use.
Rank #3
- Works with SHIELD TV 2015/2017/2019 models. Requires upgrade to the latest SHIELD Experience.
- Easy to use in the most darkly lit room. Pick up the remote and the buttons will instantly light up.
- Press the microphone button to access the powerful Google Assistant on your Android TV. Search for new movies, TV shows, or YouTube videos, look up stock prices, or check your commute time, all on your SHIELD TV.
- Customize your menu button with more than 25 choices. Launch your favorite app, enable AI upscaling, or mute your sound, or more! Different options can be applied to up to 3 actions: single press, double press, long press.
- Control your home entertainment center with SHIELD Remote’s built in IR blaster. Control volume, power, or input source.
What Performance does not include
Performance is not NVIDIA’s highest-end cloud hardware. Current NVIDIA marketing associates Ultimate with RTX 5080-class servers, DLSS 4, higher-end ray tracing and up to 5K/120 or 360-fps modes in supported scenarios. NVIDIA also advertises 90-fps streaming on Steam Deck for Ultimate. Those capabilities are not Performance specifications. Older articles may describe Ultimate as RTX 4080-based; that was an earlier generation and should not be treated as the current Ultimate description.
Performance also does not buy games for you. It is a streaming service, not a universal PC-game subscription library.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How the game library actually works
You supply the ownership or subscription access
You generally need to own a supported title, or have access through a connected service. NVIDIA names Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PC Game Pass and Ubisoft Connect among the supported sources. You may need to sign in to the relevant store or launcher separately. A game can leave a subscription catalog or lose cloud support if publisher rights, licensing or technical compatibility changes.
Rank #4
- 【TV SPECIFICATION】Remote Works with SHIELD TV 2015/2017/2019 all models Streaming Media Player(Base on requires upgrade to the latest SHIELD Experience),compatible models including for 2015 NVIDIA SHIELD TV,for 2017 NVIDIA SHIELD TV,for 2019 NVIDIA SHIELD TV Cube,and for 2019 NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro.
- 【VOICE FEATURES】Press and release the Voice Search button and then say your command. Voice search feature making navigation a breeze.Simply speaking into the remote to find your favorite TV shows, launch apps, and control your TV's volume.voice remote adds a level of convenience that becomes indispensable.
- 【EASY TO PAIR】Hold the new remote within 2 foot of your SHIELD TV.Press and hold the Select button on your remote until the remote light flashes. The remote should connect after a few moments.
- 【BATTERY TYPE】This remote control requires two AAA batteries，but batteries not included batteries,please prepare by you，You will get Voice Remote and User Manual
- 【REMOTE ADVANTAGE】Great sense of touch, good form factor, this remote is super in hand, good pressure point for keys. The voice control is very accurate, and it usually understands what you're saying even in noisy environments.And it is possible to use 2 or more remotes on the TV at the same time, including the original remote control.
Instant-play versus Install-to-Play
| Access method | What happens | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Instant-play catalog | NVIDIA has prepared the game for immediate cloud launching. | Only supported titles appear; the catalog changes over time. |
| Install-to-Play | You install an owned, compatible game into temporary cloud storage and then launch it. | It is not every Steam game, and a later session may require a fresh installation. |
NVIDIA’s public pages cite more than 4,500 PC games for the broader service, while the current marketplace lists 4,000-plus games for monthly and annual Performance and 2,000-plus for the Performance Day Pass. These are dated, moving figures and should not be read as a permanent instant-play count.
Install-to-Play still depends on launcher, anti-cheat, publisher and platform restrictions. A title can fail even when you own it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Performance versus Free and Ultimate
| Choose | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Occasional play, compatibility testing and users who accept advertisements and lower priority. | Lower access priority and more restricted sessions; 1080p/60-fps listing. |
| Performance | Owners of PC games who want 1440p cloud gaming, longer sessions and a lower-cost paid tier. | No RTX 5080-class hardware, DLSS 4 or Ultimate’s highest resolution and frame-rate modes. |
| Ultimate | 4K or high-refresh display owners, competitive players and enthusiasts seeking the strongest ray-traced performance. | About twice Performance’s monthly U.S. price and unnecessary for many 1080p/1440p screens. |
Performance is the practical middle choice if your local computer is weak but your display is 1440p or below and your connection is stable. Ultimate makes more sense when you can actually use a 4K/high-refresh display, demanding ray tracing, DLSS 4 or NVIDIA’s highest advertised frame-rate modes.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBest Value
- Our fastest-ever streaming media player - Brings lightning-fast app starts with an octa-core processor and is 2X as powerful as Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Hands-free Alexa with built-in mic and speakers - Control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers with your voice, even from across the room.
- Seamlessly navigate between your entertainment - Connect compatible devices and easily go from streaming to your cable box, game console, or webcam.
Device, display and network limits
- Client support: The app or browser must expose the resolution and frame-rate mode you want.
- Display: A 1440p screen cannot show a 4K Ultimate stream, while a 4K/120 display can reveal Performance’s lower ceiling.
- Connection quality: Latency, packet loss, bandwidth and Wi-Fi congestion affect responsiveness and image stability. Ethernet or a strong, uncongested Wi-Fi connection is preferable.
- Game type: Competitive shooters are less forgiving of input and display delay than turn-based or slower single-player games.
- Controls: Phones, TVs and handhelds may require a compatible controller; keyboard and mouse support varies by client and title.
- Cloud delay: No cloud service removes the time required for input transmission, server processing, video encoding, internet transit and display response.
Important limits to check before subscribing
- A subscription does not grant ownership of a game.
- A supported Steam title can still require a separate launcher login.
- Publisher rights or technical problems can remove a title from availability.
- Install-to-Play uses temporary storage and may require reinstalling later.
- RTX, HDR, ultrawide output and 1440p/60 fps depend on the game and device.
- The advertised game count differs by plan and access method and changes over time.
- NVIDIA announced a 100-hour monthly allowance with rollover and paid extra hours for Performance and Ultimate in 2024. Because the current public membership page does not display those terms, verify the limits shown in your account before relying on them.
Who should buy Performance?
- Choose Performance if you own games on supported stores, lack a powerful gaming PC, want 1440p rather than Free’s 1080p ceiling, and value longer sessions and priority access.
- Choose Ultimate if you have a 4K or high-refresh display, compete in latency-sensitive games, or specifically want RTX 5080-class performance, DLSS 4 and the highest advertised modes.
- Stay with Free if you play occasionally, are testing whether your device and network work, or do not mind ads, queues and shorter access.
Performance is a poor fit when your connection is unreliable, your main games are unsupported, or your existing PC already runs them comfortably. It is also not a replacement for a subscription catalog if you expect every game to be included automatically.
The Bottom Line
GeForce NOW Performance is the renamed Priority tier, introduced on November 7, 2024 and still available in 2026. For $9.99 per month in the U.S. listing observed in August 2026, it offers priority cloud access, up to 1440p/60-fps streaming, longer sessions, RTX features in supported games and Install-to-Play—without including the games themselves. It is the value choice for 1440p cloud gaming; Ultimate is for premium displays and maximum performance.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
