Photon Realtime
8.1#3 in game networking middlewareFrom $0.29 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitPhoton Realtime vs SmartFoxServer
SmartFoxServer
7.5#5 in game networking middlewareFrom €32.50 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Photon Realtime | SmartFoxServer |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 1999 |
| 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. | SFS3 Strict Mode applies stricter protocol rules and disconnects nonconforming requests to deter bots, scrapers, or hacked clients. |
| Support | Photon offers public Discord, email contact and an authenticated support form. | Licenses include one month of direct email support and continuing support through online forums; the maker also offers documentation, examples, and video tutorials. |
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
SmartFoxServer plans
- Community EditionFree
- Elastic license€32.50 a month
- Perpetual license€650, paid once
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.
Pick SmartFoxServer if…
It suits developers building multiplayer games or other multiuser services who need server-side extensions, analytics, and database connectivity. The free edition may suit projects with up to 100 concurrent users that can display the required notice.