Parse VS Photon Engine

Parse

Build applications faster with object and file storage, user authentication, push notifications, dashboard and more out of the box.

Photon Engine

Independent networking engine and multiplayer platform.

Landing page //
2021-10-17

Landing page //
2023-04-25

Parse

Website: parseplatform.org
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Photon Engine

Website: photonengine.com
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Parse features and specs

Open Source
Parse Platform is open-source, which means it is free to use and can be customized to fit the needs of your application without any licensing fees.
Rich Feature Set
Parse provides a wide range of built-in features such as a robust database system, real-time notifications, user authentication, cloud functions, and file storage, reducing the amount of development work needed.
Cross-Platform Support
Parse supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, JavaScript, .NET, and more, enabling easier development across different types of applications.
Community and Documentation
There is a strong community around Parse with extensive documentation and numerous tutorials, which can help developers quickly resolve issues and learn best practices.
Unified Backend
Parse allows developers to manage database, server code, and user authentication in one unified platform, simplifying backend management.

Possible disadvantages of Parse

Self-Hosting Complexity
While Parse is open-source, it requires self-hosting, which involves managing and maintaining your own server infrastructure, adding operational complexity.
Performance
Depending on your server setup and scaling needs, you might encounter performance issues, especially for high-traffic applications, requiring constant monitoring and fine-tuning.
Limited Scalability
Parse might not be as scalable as other backend solutions like Firebase, particularly for apps that need to handle massive amounts of data and users.
Initial Setup Time
The initial setup of a Parse server and its environment can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly for those without DevOps experience.
Feature Limitations
While Parse offers a rich feature set, some advanced features available in other modern backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms may lack, necessitating custom development.

Photon Engine features and specs

Scalability
Photon Engine can handle thousands of concurrent users, making it ideal for both small and large-scale multiplayer games.
Cross-Platform Support
Photon supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and HTML5, allowing developers to reach a wider audience without platform-specific re-coding.
Ease of Use
The engine provides comprehensive documentation and an intuitive API, which makes it easier for developers to integrate and implement multiplayer functionalities.
Real-time Communication
Photon Engine excels in providing low latency and real-time communication, which is crucial for multiplayer gaming experiences.
Community and Support
A robust community and active forums provide support and shared knowledge to solve common issues and improve development workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Photon Engine

Pricing
While Photon Engine offers a free tier, advanced features and higher CCU (concurrent user) limits require a paid subscription, which can be costly for small developers.
Complexity for Beginners
Despite having good documentation, the complexity of setting up multiplayer features can be challenging for novice developers without prior networking experience.
Limited Customization
Some developers may find the out-of-the-box solutions limiting if they require highly customized networking features not directly supported by Photon.
Third-party Dependence
Relying on an external service for networking can make a project dependent on the service's uptime and business decisions.
Latency Variance
Although generally low, network latency can vary based on server locations, which might affect game performance in some regions.

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Photon Engine videos

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Unet vs Photon Engine - A comparison

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Parse and Photon Engine)

Photon Engine

Developer Tools

78 78%

Developer Tools

22% 22

Game Development

0 0%

Game Development

100% 100

Realtime Backend / API

100 100%

Realtime Backend / API

0% 0

App Development

78 78%

App Development

22% 22

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Parse and Photon Engine

Parse Reviews

10 Top Firebase Alternatives to Ignite Your Development in 2024

If you’re looking for a Firebase alternative that gives you full control and the freedom to tinker, Parse Platform is your jam. Again, it’s a popular open-source framework loved by developers who want to build custom backends without being tied to a specific provider.

Source: genezio.com

Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024

Back4App is a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that uses Parse Server, the open-source version of the Parse backend. It simplifies backend development and management, providing developers with a robust platform for building modern applications.

Source: signoz.io

What is AWS Amplify? - AWS Amplify Alternatives

It is well-known for making the development process quick, easy, and simple. Using Parse, you may complete a day's worth of work in a few hours.

Source: mindmajix.com

2023 Firebase Alternatives: Top 10 Open-Source & Free

Community Support – If Firebase comes with the backing of Google, then Parse is also tested and trusted by Facebook. Yes, Facebook is the parent company of Parse. Therefore, it has a big community. You can find resources and solutions regarding Parse on GitHub, Stack Overflow and several other programming forums.

Source: digitalcruch.com

12 Best Open-source Database Backend Server and Google Firebase Alternatives

Parse server is an open-source database backend solution which speed up application building. It features database, user management, authentication, file upload and push notification.I used Parse for a few times, and I was satisfied with the speed and productivity it offers, especially in terms of developer tools as it comes with dozens of SDKs, libraries and sample code to...

Source: medevel.com

Photon Engine Reviews

We have no reviews of Photon Engine yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Parse seems to be a lot more popular than Photon Engine. While we know about 21 links to Parse, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Photon Engine. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Parse mentions (21)

Supabase Alternatives 🔄 in 2025 😼
Parse deserves mention primarily for its historical significance as the precursor that inspired the entire backend-as-a-service space. Founded in 2011, Parse pioneered many concepts that we now take for granted in modern BaaS platforms. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
The 2024 Web Hosting Report
Backend as a Service (BaaS) goes back to early 2010’s with companies like Parse and Firebase. These products integrated everything a backend provides to a webapp in a single, integrated package that makes it easier to get started and enables you to offload some of the devops maintenance work to someone else. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
How to set up a Parse Server backend with Typescript
Parse Server is a great way to quickly spin up a backend for your project. Parse is a Node based utility that sits on top of ExpressJS. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
Free online DB for production app
You can try https://parseplatform.org/, it is self-hosted if you need. And also there are a number of cloud services with compatible API, like https://www.back4app.com/ It has dart-friendly generated API client, much simpler than firebase and is built on top of postgresql and mongodb. Source: over 2 years ago
Supabase Series B
Not to crash the party or anything. Supabase is great and all but in terms of feature completeness and getting actual products built, it doesn't come close to Parse[0]. Same with Appwrite. Both of these are very popular but they either lack essential features or have them behind a subscription wall. For example, the OSS version of Supabase (last I checked) doesn't include the edge functions which are really... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago

Photon Engine mentions (2)

'Foxhole' players launch organised in-game strike to demand change
Source: photonengine.com (provides server networking and hosting for tens of millions of daily users on steam and other platforms). Source: over 3 years ago
steam vs itch.io
With Steam you get 70% of the money you make from your game, and it costs $100 to put your game on the platform. But you get stuff like Steam Networking, VAC, Steam Achievements, etc. You might also get more sales if you put your game on Steam. With itch.io however, you get 100% of the money you make, and it's free to put your game on the platform. The problem is you will get less players than if you were to put... Source: over 3 years ago