Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Unity Multiplayer VS SmartFoxServer

Compare Unity Multiplayer VS SmartFoxServer and see what are their differences

Unity Multiplayer logo Unity Multiplayer

Create real-time, networked games.

SmartFoxServer logo SmartFoxServer

Massive multiplayer platform
  • Unity Multiplayer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17
  • SmartFoxServer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-24

Unity Multiplayer features and specs

  • Integrated Solution
    Unity Multiplayer provides a tightly integrated solution within the Unity ecosystem, streamlining multiplayer game development by eliminating the need for external networking tools.
  • Scalability
    The backend services offer scalable infrastructure, allowing developers to handle large numbers of concurrent players without worrying about server capacity and scaling complications.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Unity's multiplayer solutions support cross-platform development, enabling games to connect players across various devices such as PCs, consoles, and mobile devices.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Unity provides extensive documentation and resources for developers, facilitating easier adoption and troubleshooting of multiplayer features.
  • Customizability
    Offers developers flexibility to customize networking features and gameplay synchronization to suit unique game requirements and player experiences.

Possible disadvantages of Unity Multiplayer

  • Cost
    Using Unity Multiplayer and its associated cloud services can incur significant costs, especially for games with a large user base or complex networking needs.
  • Complexity
    Implementing multiplayer features can be complex and requires a good understanding of networking concepts, which can be challenging for beginners.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying on Unity's backend services can lead to vendor lock-in, making it difficult to migrate to other platforms or solutions if the need arises.
  • Performance Overheads
    Depending on the implementation, there may be performance overheads associated with using managed networking solutions compared to building a custom solution.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Developers might encounter a steep learning curve when adapting to Unity's multiplayer framework, particularly if they are accustomed to other networking tools.

SmartFoxServer features and specs

  • Scalability
    SmartFoxServer is designed to handle large numbers of concurrent users, which makes it suitable for massively multiplayer online games and applications.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    It supports multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to deploy on various operating systems without additional configuration.
  • Rich Feature Set
    The server offers extensive features such as real-time messaging, lobby systems, virtual worlds, and custom server-side extensions, enhancing game and application functionality.
  • Extensibility
    SmartFoxServer provides APIs that allow developers to create custom extensions using Java, JavaScript, and other languages, facilitating tailored solutions to meet specific needs.
  • Robust Documentation and Community
    It comes with comprehensive documentation and an active community, assisting developers in troubleshooting and learning the platform effectively.

Possible disadvantages of SmartFoxServer

  • Complexity for Beginners
    New developers might find the platform complex due to its rich feature set and the learning curve associated with understanding its architecture and functionality.
  • Cost
    While SmartFoxServer offers a free community edition, the more advanced versions come with licensing costs, which may not be suitable for small projects or independent developers.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running SmartFoxServer, especially in high-load environments, demands considerable server resources, which could lead to increased operational costs.
  • Java Dependency
    As SmartFoxServer is primarily built on Java, it requires Java runtime environments, which could be a limitation or additional overhead for developers not familiar with Java.

Unity Multiplayer videos

No Unity Multiplayer videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

SmartFoxServer videos

SmartFoxServer 2X and VaultNetworks: provisioning a server

More videos:

  • Review - 10,000 NPCs in 1 room - SmartFoxServer

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Unity Multiplayer and SmartFoxServer)
Developer Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Game Development
62 62%
38% 38
Game Engine
64 64%
36% 36
App Development
61 61%
39% 39

User comments

Share your experience with using Unity Multiplayer and SmartFoxServer. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Unity Multiplayer should be more popular than SmartFoxServer. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. 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.

Unity Multiplayer mentions (2)

  • 3D models, avatars, gestures
    Unity is what they are using, I just know from seeing it in the browser code and researched it a little last year. https://unity.com/solutions/build-backend. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I teach Unreal. I had an easier time making my game in LittleBigPlanet. That cannot be right, what am I missing.
    I never said that Unreal is bad for non BRs, just that it is very good for BRs. The amount of work they put into making Fortnite work as well as it does puts it way above anything else for large match based shooters. I agree that Unity's old multiplayer code was an absolute mess, and I would have previously suggested using a third party solution. I was saying that I've heard good things about their new multiplayer... Source: almost 3 years ago

SmartFoxServer mentions (1)

  • SmartFoxServer Multiplayer Godot Examples
    We just completed the conversion of 5 SmartFox Unity examples to Godot 4 Mono. Check them out and download for free. SmartFox Download Site. Source: almost 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Unity Multiplayer and SmartFoxServer, you can also consider the following products

Photon Engine - Independent networking engine and multiplayer platform.

PlayFab - PlayFab is a backend platform for games, delivering powerful real-time tools and services for LiveOps.

Nakama - Nakama is an open-source distributed social and realtime server for games and apps.

Colyseus - Multiplayer Game Server for Node.js. Focus on the gameplay instead of networking.

PlayFlow Cloud - Simplified Multiplayer Game Server Hosting

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.