Colyseus
8.5#1 in websocket toolsFrom $15 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitColyseus vs Photon Engine
Photon Engine
8.0#8 in game backend servicesFrom $125 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Colyseus | Photon Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Company size | LinkedIn lists Colyseus Multiplayer Framework as a self-owned company with one employee. | Crunchbase lists Exit Games in the 11–50 employee range. |
| Documentation depth | Documentation includes getting-started guides for many engines, API references, deployment and scalability sections, recipes, FAQs and migration guides. | Photon publishes product guides, concepts, API references, release notes, tutorials, samples and a machine-readable documentation index. |
| Founded | LinkedIn lists 2016 as the founding year. | 2003 |
| Self-hosting | Colyseus runs as a standard Node.js application and can be deployed on cloud providers or bare metal. | Photon Server can be downloaded and installed on customer servers, while unmonitored Server installations use hardware-ID licensing. |
Colyseus plans
- Open SourceFree
- Colyseus Cloud$15 a month
Photon Engine plans
- Development Only 20 CCUFree
- Free 100 CCUFree
- 100 CCU$95, paid once
- 500 CCU$125 a month
- 1000 CCU$250 a month
- 2000 CCU$500 a month
Pick Colyseus if…
It suits developers building real-time multiplayer games who want server-authoritative state synchronization and matchmaking. Teams can choose self-hosting or Colyseus Cloud, depending on their deployment needs.
Pick Photon Engine if…
Photon suits developers building multiplayer games or applications who need networking, matchmaking, voice, or chat capabilities. Its plans distinguish development-only use, games-only access, and higher connected-user allowances.