No. 11 of 25 ·Game Networking Middleware

Riptide Networking

Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted

Freedom report

Three barsScore 6.7

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely5 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

Riptide Networking is ranked #11 of 25 in game networking middleware on Freedom251. It runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows. There is a free plan.

Riptide Networking plans and pricing

All plans

Riptide Networking Free 100% free to use · MIT license github.com · 7 Oct 2026

Compared on game networking middleware

Free plan: Yes
Network model: client-server
Supported platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android; Unity and .NET environments
Transport protocols: UDP, TCP, Steam

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The record

Purpose: Riptide is a lightweight C# networking library primarily designed for multiplayer games.
What it does: It provides functionality for establishing connections and sending data while leaving developers to choose what data to send and when.
Unity and .NET: The library can be used in Unity and other .NET environments, including console applications.
Transports: The project lists built-in UDP and TCP transports and a Steam transport.
Installation: The project links installation instructions and says it can be used outside Unity in other .NET environments.
Message delivery: Its documentation describes Reliable, Unreliable, and Notify message send modes; reliable messages are resent until delivery is confirmed.
Architecture: The FAQ says it supports dedicated servers, relay servers, and a client that also acts as the host; true peer-to-peer requires source changes.
Platform compatibility: The FAQ says the default UDP transport works on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android; VR and consoles have not been officially tested.
Browser limitation: The FAQ says there is no web transport, so Riptide does not work in browser-based games.
Capacity: The FAQ says supported player count depends on per-player data needs and available server hardware and bandwidth.
Security and compliance: The opened maker pages state that Riptide is distributed under the MIT license and do not specify security certifications or compliance programs.
Support and community: The repository welcomes bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests, and links to a Discord server.
Other-language ports: The repository lists Python and Dart/Flutter implementations, noting that independently maintained ports are not officially affiliated and may not interoperate across versions.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Game Networking Middleware in 2026#11 of 25

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Sources

github.com/RiptideNetworking/Riptide· checked 7 Oct 2026
riptide.tomweiland.net/manual/overview/get-started.html· checked 7 Oct 2026
riptide.tomweiland.net/manual/overview/faq.html· checked 7 Oct 2026