Normcore
7.5#4 in game networking middlewareFrom $49 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebLinux
VisitNormcore vs Photon Realtime
Photon Realtime
8.1#3 in game networking middlewareFrom $0.29 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Normcore | Photon Realtime |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Normcore is positioned for multiplayer games, esports, remote collaboration, productivity, enterprise, live events, installations, and government applications. | The product is presented for multiplayer game developers ranging from indie developers to AAA studios. |
| Founded | 2016 | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York, United States | Hamburg, Germany |
| Product | Normcore is a complete networking solution for Unity that scales to millions of users. | Photon Realtime is a cloud-hosted networking service for building cross-platform real-time multiplayer games. |
| Security | Normcore Private Cloud includes Cloudflare L3/L4 DDoS protection and L7 protection built into private game servers. | 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 | Normcore offers community support through its official Discord and enterprise support through a private Slack channel and dedicated account manager. | Photon offers public Discord, email contact and an authenticated support form. |
Normcore plans
- PublicFree
- Pro$49 a month
- Unlimited$49 a month
- Enterprise SupportPriced on request
Photon Realtime plans
- 20 CCU Development OnlyFree
- Development Only — 20 CCUFree
- Premium Cloud$0.29 a month
- 500 CCU$95 a month
- 100 CCU$95, paid once
- 1000 CCU$185 a month
Pick Normcore if…
Normcore suits Unity developers building multiplayer games, social or collaborative experiences, and applications for VR, AR, or WebGL. Private deployment options may also suit organizations that need on-premises or dedicated-server hosting.
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.