Side by side
DarkRift 2 vs netcode.io
Both stand on game networking middleware. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose DarkRift 2 if you need a free networking library for authoritative multiplayer servers on Unity or .NET and want clustering or built-in metrics. It offers TCP and UDP transport, matchmaking, and extensibility. Look elsewhere if you require vendor-maintained support or a release without pre-release status.
Visit DarkRift 2Choose netcode.io if you need a UDP protocol for multiplayer client-server connections, with token-based authorization and packet security. Look elsewhere if matchmaking must be part of the protocol; it is not included.
Visit netcode.ioThe facts
| DarkRift 2 | netcode.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | github.com |
| On game networking middleware | #5 of 29 | #9 of 29 |
DarkRift 2: what it does well
- Free and open source, with no concurrent-user limits.
- Supports TCP and UDP with bi-channel communication.
- Can run servers embedded in Unity or standalone.
- Includes Prometheus metrics and basic matchmaking.
- Developers can replace its low-level network listener.
What to know first
- Support is community driven through Discord.
- Building requires Visual Studio 2022 or newer.
- Release 2.11.0 is marked as a pre-release.
- Most source files use MPL 2.0, while Unity scripts use MIT.
netcode.io: what it does well
- Encrypts and signs packets using libsodium.
- Protects against crafted packets, replay, and amplification attacks.
- Supports IPv4 and IPv6 connections.
- Lists implementations in seven languages and engine environments.
- Free under the BSD 3-Clause license.
What to know first
- Matchmaking is not included.
- Building requires CMake 3.16 or later.
- The project says versions 1.3.5 and earlier had a nonce-reuse issue.
Alternatives to DarkRift 2 Alternatives to netcode.io The whole list