Photon Realtime

B tier on Game Matchmaking SoftwareScore 7.6 · #4 of 27

Android app: Yes
Free plan: Yes
Paid plans from: $0.29/mo
Runs on: Android, api, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows

photonengine.com

Summary

Photon Realtime is a cloud-hosted networking service for building cross-platform real-time multiplayer games. Its matchmaking API can pair players randomly, search by parameters, or let them select open rooms. It supports synchronous and asynchronous turn-based play, including rejoining a room after disconnection. HTTP webhooks can persist player and room data, properties, and event caches to Photon Cloud or a developer’s own storage. Client-to-server transport options include Reliable UDP, TCP, HTTP, and WebSockets. Authentication supports providers such as Epic EOS, Facebook, Oculus, Steam, and VIVEPORT, as well as custom authentication. Photon Cloud hosts and scales applications across global regions; the product describes growth from a few users to tens of thousands of concurrent users. Documented SDK variants include Unity and .NET, with JavaScript and native platform packages also available through SDK downloads. Free development use covers 20 concurrent users and 60.0 GB monthly traffic. Paid options include a 100 CCU plan billed for 12 months at 95.00 USD; Enterprise Cloud has no listed price.

Who it is for

Photon Realtime suits multiplayer game developers who need matchmaking, room-based play, and cloud-hosted networking across platforms. Its free development plan is limited to 20 concurrent users, while paid plans address higher usage.

What is good

Offers random, parameter-based, and open-room matchmaking
Supports turn-based play and room rejoining
Webhooks can persist game data and event caches
Supports multiple transport protocols and authentication options
Cloud scaling is described up to tens of thousands of concurrent users

What to know first

Free plan is development-only and limited to 20 concurrent users
100 CCU plan is billed for 12 months
Premium Cloud has a $580 monthly minimum fee
Realtime .NET SDK is only tested for Windows applications

Verdict

Photon Realtime brings matchmaking, persistence hooks, and several transport and authentication options into a hosted multiplayer service. Plan choice matters: free use is for development, and paid options have defined user and traffic allowances or minimums.

Photon Realtime plans and pricing

All plans

Development Only — 20 CCU Free 20 concurrent users · 60.0 GB traffic/month · development only · no CCU burst photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

Premium Cloud $0.29/mo per CCU, invoiced based on monthly usage; $580 minimum fee per month 2,000 CCU minimum · 6.0 TB traffic included · usage-based CCU auto-scaling · DDoS protected by default photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

100 CCU $95 once for 12 months 100 concurrent users · 0.3 TB traffic/month · games only · no CCU burst photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

500 CCU $95/mo per month 500 concurrent users · 1.5 TB traffic/month · CCU burst included · games only photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

1000 CCU $185/mo per month 1,000 concurrent users · 3.0 TB traffic/month · CCU burst included · games only photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

2000 CCU $370/mo per month 2,000 concurrent users · 6.0 TB traffic/month · CCU burst included · games only photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on game matchmaking software

Free plan: Yesphotonengine.com
Paid from: $95/mophotonengine.com

Facts

Product: Photon Realtime is a cloud-hosted networking service for building cross-platform real-time multiplayer games.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Matchmaking: Its matchmaking API lets developers match players randomly, search by parameters, or let them choose from open rooms.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Game modes: It supports synchronous and asynchronous turn-based gameplay, with room rejoin after disconnection.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Persistence: HTTP webhooks can persist player data, room data, properties, and the event cache to Photon Cloud or the developer’s own storage.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Transport: Photon Cloud supports Reliable UDP, TCP, HTTP, and WebSockets for client-to-server communication.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Authentication: Realtime supports external authentication providers including Epic EOS, Facebook, Oculus, Steam, and VIVEPORT, as well as custom authentication.doc.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Integrations: The documented Realtime SDK variants are for Unity and .NET, and Photon’s SDK downloads also include JavaScript and native platform packages.doc.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Scale and hosting: Photon Cloud hosts and scales applications across global regions; the product page describes scaling from a few users to tens of thousands of concurrent users.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security: Photon Engine states that it is ISO 27001:2022 certified and aligned with GDPR and CCPA; it says Photon Cloud does not store personally identifiable information.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Enterprise security: Enterprise Cloud includes dedicated servers, service-level guarantees, priority operations support, server plug-ins, and multi-layered DDoS protection.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: All plans include online documentation, samples, tutorials, videos, and assistance with account and billing issues; paid support options are also described for higher tiers.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Audience: The product is presented for multiplayer game developers ranging from indie developers to AAA studios.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026
Platform constraint: The Realtime .NET SDK is only tested for Windows applications, while the Unity SDK lists Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, consoles, and XR devices.doc.photonengine.com · 30 Sept 2026