Mirror Networking
6.7#10 in game networking middlewareFree planFree planAndroidiOSWebLinux
VisitMirror Networking vs Photon Realtime
Photon Realtime
8.1#2 in game networking middlewareFrom $0.29 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Mirror Networking | Photon Realtime |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Germany | Hamburg, Germany |
| Integrations | Additional transports connect Mirror with Steam, Epic Online Services, Edgegap Relay, and third-party LiteNetLib and ENet implementations. | The documented Realtime SDK variants are for Unity and .NET, and Photon’s SDK downloads also include JavaScript and native platform packages. |
| Product | Mirror is a system for building multiplayer capabilities for Unity games. | Photon Realtime is a cloud-hosted networking service for building cross-platform real-time multiplayer games. |
| Security | The maker says Mirror follows common information security practices, has over 80% test coverage, and relies on no closed-source dependencies other than Unity. | 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. |
| Support | The maker invites users to contact [email protected] with questions or policy review requests and says it is happy to help with projects. | Photon offers public Discord, email contact and an authenticated support form. |
Mirror Networking plans
- Mirror NetworkingFree
Photon Realtime plans
- Development Only — 20 CCUFree
- 20 CCU Development OnlyFree
- Premium Cloud$0.29 a month
- 100 CCU$95, paid once
- 500 CCU$95 a month
- 1000 CCU$185 a month
Pick Mirror Networking if…
Mirror is for Unity developers building multiplayer games across genres, including small MMORPGs. Its dedicated-server and client-host options give developers different networking setups to work with.
Pick Photon Realtime if…
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.