Photon Engine Alternatives

Photon Engine is described as 'Global cross platform multiplayer game backend as a service (SaaS, Cloud) for synchronous and asynchronous games and applications. SDKs are available for android, iOS, .NET., Mac OS, Unity 3D, Windows, Unreal Engine, HTML5 and others' and is an app. There are more than 10 alternatives to Photon Engine for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Windows, Linux, Mac and Android apps. The best Photon Engine alternative is Nakama, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Photon Engine are PlayFab, GameSparks, Steamworks and Unity Multiplayer.

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Photon Engine alternatives are mainly Game Development Tools but may also be Backend as a Services. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Photon Engine.
  • FreemiumProprietary
  • ...

Global cross platform multiplayer game backend as a service (SaaS, Cloud) for synchronous and asynchronous games and applications. SDKs are available for android, iOS, .NET., Mac OS, Unity 3D, Windows, Unreal Engine, HTML5...

More about Photon Engine
Photon Engine alternatives page was last updated May 12, 2022
  1. Nakama icon
     10 likes

    Nakama is an open-source distributed social and realtime server for games and apps. It has a large set of services for users, storage, and realtime communication; as well as specialized APIs like realtime multiplayer, groups/guilds, and chat.

    40 Nakama alternatives
    Nakama screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Unity

    Nakama Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    2.  Backend
    Nakama icon

    Nakama VS Photon Engine

    Is Nakama a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
    • Nakama is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Photon Engine.

    • Nakama is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Photon Engine.

    • Nakama is Freemium and Open SourcePhoton Engine is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Nakama is MultiplayerPhoton Engine is not according to our users
  2. PlayFab icon
     4 likes

    PlayFab is a powerful backend platform for your game.

    67 PlayFab alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Microsoft Azure

    PlayFab Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    2.  Server Monitoring
    3.  Real-time analytics
    4.  Backend
    PlayFab icon

    PlayFab VS Photon Engine

    Is PlayFab a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  3. GameSparks icon
     3 likes

    GameSparks is a Backend-as-a-Service solution provider to mobile game developers to help them reduce the overall cost of development of their games and improve retention of their players and monetization of games post launch.

    22 GameSparks alternatives
    GameSparks screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online

    GameSparks Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    2.  User Management
    GameSparks icon

    GameSparks VS Photon Engine

    Is GameSparks a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  4. Steamworks icon
     1 like

    Steamworks is a free suite of tools available to any developer to use in their game or software on Steam. Here is a small sampling of the available features:

    8 Steamworks alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Steamworks icon

    Steamworks VS Photon Engine

    Is Steamworks a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
    • Steamworks is the most popular commercial alternative to Photon Engine.

    • Steamworks is Paid and ProprietaryPhoton Engine is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Unity Multiplayer icon
     1 like

    Unity Multiplayer is the way to create multiplayer games for Unity. Unity-provided servers ensure that your players can find and play with each other.

    16 Unity Multiplayer alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Online

    Unity Multiplayer Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    Unity Multiplayer icon

    Unity Multiplayer VS Photon Engine

    Is Unity Multiplayer a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  6. Colyseus icon
     1 like

    Colyseus is a Authoritative Multiplayer Game Server for Node.js. It allows you to focus on your gameplay instead of bothering about networking.

    3 Colyseus alternatives
    Colyseus screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Node.JS

    Colyseus Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    2.  Backend
    Colyseus icon

    Colyseus VS Photon Engine

    Is Colyseus a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  7. Reactor Multiplayer Engine icon
     Like this app

    Reactor is a fully server-authoritative multiplayer system which includes integrated hosting and orchestration as well as the most efficient networking stack available.

    11 Reactor Multiplayer Engine alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Reactor Multiplayer Engine Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    Reactor Multiplayer Engine icon

    Reactor Multiplayer Engine VS Photon Engine

    Is this a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
    • Reactor Multiplayer Engine is the most popular SaaS alternative to Photon Engine.

    • Reactor Multiplayer Engine is Paid and ProprietaryPhoton Engine is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Reactor Multiplayer Engine is MultiplayerPhoton Engine is not according to our users
  8. Xbox Live Creators Program icon
     Like this app

    With the Xbox Live Creators Program, anyone can integrate Xbox Live into their title and publish to Xbox One and Windows 10.

    6 Xbox Live Creators Program alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Xbox Live Creators Program icon

    Xbox Live Creators Program VS Photon Engine

    Is this a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  9. SocketWeaver icon
     1 like

    Multiplayer gaming cloud designed for Unity game developers.

    9 SocketWeaver alternatives
    SocketWeaver screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    SocketWeaver Features

    1.  Multiplayer
    2.  Matchmaking
    SocketWeaver icon

    SocketWeaver VS Photon Engine

    Is SocketWeaver a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
    • SocketWeaver is the most popular Android & iPhone alternative to Photon Engine.

    • SocketWeaver is Paid and ProprietaryPhoton Engine is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SocketWeaver is MultiplayerPhoton Engine is not according to our users
  10.  Like this app

    DarkRift Networking is a high performance, multithreaded networking system for Unity designed for speed and flexibility. It aims to be the ideal solution for every type of game, be it a First Person Shooter, a Trading card game or a Massively Multiplayer Online game.

    6 DarkRift Networking alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Unity

    DarkRift Networking Features

    1.  Multiplayer

    DarkRift Networking VS Photon Engine

    Is DarkRift Networking a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
  11. SmartFoxServer icon
     Like this app

    SmartFoxServer is a comprehensive SDK for rapidly developing multiplayer games and applications with Adobe Flash/Flex/Air, Unity, HTML5, iOS, Windows Phone 8, Android, Java, Windows 8, C++ and more.

    7 SmartFoxServer alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    SmartFoxServer Features

    1.  Mmo
    SmartFoxServer icon

    SmartFoxServer VS Photon Engine

    Is SmartFoxServer a good alternative to Photon Engine?
     
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