CheddaBoards

Overview

CheddaBoards is a gaming backend for developers who need competition, player identity, and authentication without building those systems into a game server. It is best suited to indie projects, prototypes, game jams, and student games. Its no-per-player-fee entry plan is appealing, but score checks should not be treated as a defense for high-stakes competition.

The service runs on the Internet Computer, and its backend and SDKs are MIT-licensed; developers can use the service or self-host. It covers leaderboards, achievements, cross-game player profiles, authentication, and event tracking, rather than presenting itself as a complete game server. That narrower focus can reduce infrastructure work for a small project, while teams needing broader backend services may want to compare alternatives.

Key features

Competition and score checks

Daily, weekly, and monthly boards reset automatically, and developers can add custom intervals. Season management, historical results, and real-time updates help games organize ongoing competitions without building each board workflow separately. Developers can set per-game score caps and apply checks for session duration, streak limits, and other server-side rules. These checks can screen implausible submissions, but they do not make a public API cheat-proof: the maker warns that determined users may reverse-engineer it or create bots that mimic realistic play. Ranked or prize-based PvP needs additional protections.

Player identity and developer controls

Players can start anonymously and later link an account through Google or Apple sign-in using a short code. That supports a low-friction first session while giving players a way to keep an identity across games. Developers can delete individual scores or wipe a player from boards in the dashboard, with a deletion log, and track in-game events through API calls.

Engine and hosting options

Drop-in SDKs are available for Godot and Unity; other engines can connect through the REST API if they can make HTTP requests. The maker lists Unreal, GameMaker, Construct, native iOS and Android, web, and custom engines among supported options. Self-hosting is available on the Internet Computer, and the service is designed so developers do not need to maintain a game server or database. That can be useful for lean teams, though teams should weigh the Internet Computer hosting model against their own infrastructure requirements.

Pricing

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and allows three games per account, unlimited players, and no per-player fees. Extra game slots can be requested. This makes it a practical starting point for prototypes or a small portfolio, but the three-game cap may constrain a developer managing several active titles. There is no free trial; the product is already offered on a free plan.

CheddaBoards’ free entry point is especially relevant for projects that want to avoid player-based charges. It does not come with a stated paid tier to compare against, so developers who outgrow the game-slot allowance should consider whether requesting extra slots meets their needs.

Platforms

CheddaBoards supports web, Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile, and consoles, with engine and integration support spanning Godot, Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Construct, native mobile, and custom engines. Its SDKs cover Godot and Unity, while the REST API provides a route for other HTTP-capable clients. API access is included.

Who it's for

CheddaBoards makes the most sense for indie developers, game jams, student projects, and MVP testing—especially when leaderboards and player identity matter more than a broad game-backend feature set. It is also a reasonable candidate for teams that prefer open-source components or want the option to self-host. Developers running cash prizes or serious ranked PvP should not rely on its validation controls alone.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Unlimited players and no per-player fees on the free plan keep costs from scaling with a growing audience.
• Pros: The free plan includes API access, while open-source SDKs, Godot and Unity integrations, and a REST API give developers several implementation paths.
• Pros: Anonymous play followed by Google or Apple account linking supports a lighter onboarding path without giving up account continuity.
• Cons: The free plan is limited to three games per account, which can become restrictive for developers maintaining a larger catalog.
• Cons: Score validation has clear limits against API reverse-engineering and realistic bots, so prize-based or highly competitive play requires added safeguards.
• Cons: The backend is focused on player-facing game features, not a full game server, so it may not replace broader backend infrastructure.

Alternatives

For a leaderboard-focused comparison, browse Game Leaderboard Software.

LEADR is worth considering when a monthly submission allowance is a better fit than CheddaBoards’ three-game cap: its free plan includes 10,000 score submissions per month, basic anti-cheat, LEADR branding, and community support.

LightLeaderboard may suit developers who want its Pro plan’s unlimited games and players, JSON export, priority support, and seven-day data grace on cancellation, at 19.00 USD per month.

PlayNANOO SDK offers a free API-call plan with 1GB of disk free monthly, while its Basic plan costs 19.99 USD per month and includes 500,000 API calls.

brainCloud is another freemium option with a free trial and free development and support plans.

Skillz is a player platform rather than a general-purpose developer backend; its free-to-join offering includes free tournaments and cash tournaments with entry fees from $0.60.

Xsolla Backend may appeal to developers who prefer a revenue-based charge: its plan is 5.00 USD per month, billed at 5% of game gross revenue, with free hosting and source available.

Metaplay offers a free local development plan with the full SDK and local server, and includes a free trial.

OpenLeaderboard is another option for teams comparing leaderboard software.

Verdict

CheddaBoards is a strong fit for small teams that want free, player-facing backend features, especially leaderboards and account continuity, without per-player fees. Its open-source components and self-hosting option add flexibility. Choose it for prototypes and modest competitive features; look elsewhere or add substantial protections when score integrity has financial stakes, and reconsider if three games per account is too tight.