BACKND

BACKND is a game backend API and SDK for developers adding online features to games. It is strongest for teams that want accounts, chat, matchmaking and persistent worlds under one service. Its free options make it approachable to explore, but Database FREE caps and the separate plan allowances deserve close attention.

Overview

BACKND combines player-facing services with tools for operating a live game: Base covers accounts, data and player management, while separate products address chat, matchmaking and persistent worlds. That breadth can reduce the number of backend components a team must assemble, particularly when its game already uses Unity or Unreal Engine.

AFI, Inc. is based in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. BACKND says it encrypts data, monitors for customer-information leakage risks and holds TTA V&V quality certification. It is an AWS Official Partner and is available through AWS Marketplace. The company advertises 24/7 expert support; its listed contact hours are KST 10:00–18:00.

Key features

Accounts, game data and operations

Base handles authentication, cloud data, social functions, rankings, notices, events, coupons, push notifications and receipt verification, with an admin console for backend management. Players can sign in with custom ID and password, use guest login, or federate through Google, Apple or Facebook. This is a substantial set of common services for a team that wants its backend and live-game operations together.

Database stores user-specific and shared game data, with access permissions, SQL-like queries, indexes, backups and downloads. The Database FREE plan allows 300 MB of read bandwidth, 100 MB of write bandwidth and 200 MB of storage. Those are meaningful constraints for a growing or data-heavy game: exceeding the allowance can restrict game usage, so a free launch should include a plan for monitoring consumption and moving up if needed.

Multiplayer, chat and persistent worlds

Match supports 1:1, individual and team matchmaking, plus result processing, reconnection and in-game chat. BACKND Chat adds real-time channels, auto-scaling, moderation tools, profanity filtering, reports, sanctions and translation. Channel capacity can expand to 5,000 users, with concurrent users scaling to 100,000. These features suit games that need managed communication and player matching, though chat plan allowances vary considerably.

Worlds provides persistent game servers and real-time state synchronization for MMO and other large multiplayer games. Unity is officially supported; games using other engines can connect through server APIs. BACKND also offers server-side functions in C# with Unity-style syntax, Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code extensions, and a CLI.

Integrations and security

Developer documentation covers Unity SDKs, an Unreal SDK, a Platform API and a .NET SDK across products. The Webshop feature supports authentication, item delivery, refunds and delivery-history management without extra integration or operation cost; named webshop integrations include Newplay and Xsolla. Refund Management supports Google Play, the App Store and ONE Store, with real-time refund webhooks and automatic user blocking. It requires Base SDK integration and store webhook registration.

Chat SDK platforms include Android, iOS, Windows, Mac (Editor) and Linux. The product also supports remote configuration, live-event tools and in-game messaging. This range is useful for teams building across platforms, but engine and product support is not identical: Worlds officially supports Unity, while other engines rely on direct API calls.

Pricing

BACKND is freemium, and its homepage says all features can be tested for free, without stating a trial duration. The free chat plan, named Free, costs nothing and includes up to 50 CCU, 1 GB/month traffic, core chat features and translation. That is a modest starting point for a small chat workload, not a substitute for the higher channel limits.

The separate FREE Plan also costs nothing. It permits unlimited users, up to 100K free transaction calls per feature/month and up to 25 projects. Those generous project and user terms do not remove the Database FREE bandwidth and storage caps, which should be assessed separately.

For chat, BASIC 100 costs $9 a month and provides up to 100 users per channel, essential chat features and 5 GB/month traffic. PRO 100 costs $19 a month for the same channel capacity, core chat features and Pro management features. PRO Translate 100 costs $28 a month for up to 100 users per channel, Pro features and translation. BASIC is the lower-cost fit when essential chat is enough; the two Pro tiers add management features, with translation explicitly included in PRO Translate 100.

Database PRO costs $29 a month and includes 15 GB read bandwidth, 10 GB write bandwidth, 2 GB storage, 10 indexes and 100 tables. SCALE costs $829 a month, raising those allowances to 300 GB read, 150 GB write, 20 GB storage, 10 indexes and 300 tables. PRO is the more proportionate paid step for a game beyond the free caps; SCALE is aimed at substantially heavier data workloads, but its price is a major commitment.

Basic has no monthly base fee: it includes FREE benefits, charges for usage beyond free limits and includes paid technical support. That can suit teams preferring usage-based costs, provided they can manage overage exposure. Enterprise uses custom pricing and offers a stable service environment and a dedicated server option. Teams should match the plan to each service's limits rather than assume that one free allowance covers every BACKND product.

Platforms

BACKND lists support for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, Windows and API. Unity and Unreal Engine are named game engines. The broad platform list is useful for cross-platform projects, while the specific SDK and engine support should be matched to the service being adopted.

Who it's for

BACKND is a strong candidate for game developers who want account management, game data, matchmaking, chat and persistent-world services in one backend offering, especially teams working with Unity. Its event, notice, coupon, push and refund tools also suit games with ongoing player operations. It is less compelling for a small project that can stay within free limits indefinitely, or for a project that needs non-Unity Worlds integration without taking on direct API work.

Pros and cons

• Broad multiplayer toolkit: Base, Match, Chat and Worlds address accounts, game operations, player matching, communication and persistent servers in one product family.
• Useful player-operation tools: Events, coupons, push notifications, receipt verification and refund handling extend beyond basic data storage.
• Free entry points: The free plans include meaningful chat features and up to 25 projects, giving teams room to evaluate different parts of the service.
• Free database caps can affect live usage: Database FREE is limited to 200 MB storage and low bandwidth allowances, and exceeding them can restrict game usage.
• Paid database capacity becomes expensive at scale: SCALE costs $829 a month, a substantial step for teams that outgrow PRO.
• Worlds is Unity-first: Other engines can use server APIs, but do not receive the same official engine support.

Alternatives

brainCloud is another freemium option for developers who want to compare game-backend platforms; its free Developer support plan provides best-effort support on weekdays during 9x5 hours through chat and forums.

Metaplay may suit teams prioritizing local development: its free plan includes the full SDK and a local server, with no hard limits on local development.

GameAnalytics is the alternative to consider when analytics is the priority: its free plan includes dashboards, events, funnels, cohorts, retention and real-time reporting without MAU limits.

Hyperstone is another freemium option, with a free plan that includes unlimited seats and all platform features, plus a limit of up to 2,000 installs per month.

AccelByte Gaming Services offers a free Public Cloud Foundations plan while building, with usage fees as players arrive; it is worth comparing if that pricing structure better fits a project.

PlayFab is a further freemium option, with a Free to Start plan that applies before a title passes 100K players and includes 10 titles in Development Mode and 1,000 lifetime players per title.

Unity Version Control is an adjacent tool to compare for version control rather than game backend services; its free tier includes unlimited cloud seats and 25 GB storage.

Balancy is another freemium alternative, with a free CMS plan that includes payment validation and cloud storage.

Game LiveOps Software is the broader category for comparing tools used to operate live games.

Verdict

Choose BACKND if you want a broad game backend with multiplayer, live-operations and player-management capabilities, and its engine and service limits fit your project. Its breadth and free entry points are the strongest reasons to start there; the main reasons to look elsewhere are tight Database FREE allowances, costly higher-scale storage, or a need for official Worlds support beyond Unity.