Best Amazon GameLift Servers Alternatives in 2026
The top Amazon GameLift Servers alternatives are PlayFab, brainCloud and Beamable: 15 game backend services our editors would look at instead of Amazon GameLift Servers, in our ranking order.
Amazon GameLift Servers: A deep AWS option for dedicated hosting, matchmaking, placement, and live operations. Where it falls short: no built-in player account service.
Switching from Amazon GameLift Servers? For most game backend services buyers the best Amazon GameLift Servers alternative is PlayFab, built for teams building cross-platform live games. On a budget, GamePush starts at $5.99/mo.
Why People Look for an Amazon GameLift Servers Alternative
- No built-in player account service
- No permanent free plan
- Usage-based AWS pricing requires infrastructure cost planning
- No free plan — 11 of the alternatives below have it
- No player accounts — 14 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallPlayFab9.4
Teams building cross-platform live games
Visit PlayFab - Lowest priceGamePush7.7
Paid plans from $5.99/mo
Visit GamePush - Best free optionPlayFab9.4
Has a free plan (Amazon GameLift Servers has none)
Visit PlayFab - Best for player accountsPlayFab9.4
Player accounts (Amazon GameLift Servers: no)
Visit PlayFab
All 15 Amazon GameLift Servers Alternatives, Ranked
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Best forTeams building cross-platform live games
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.1
A broad managed backend for games, from player accounts and multiplayer to LiveOps.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
9.4/10★★★★★Visit PlayFab -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing a broad backend
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.1
A broad game backend with free access, low-cost entry pricing, and hybrid deployment.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
9.1/10★★★★★Visit brainCloud -
Best forStudios building multiplayer and live-service games
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Player accounts
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.1
A broad backend for multiplayer, commerce, social systems, and LiveOps.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Beamable -
Best forOpen-source, extensible multiplayer backends
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.1
A flexible, self-hostable backend for multiplayer games with deep social and live-ops features.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Nakama -
Best forTeams prioritizing networking and low-cost hosting
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.1
A focused backend for authoritative multiplayer games, starting at $15/month in the cloud.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Colyseus -
Best forLive-service mobile game studios
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.1
A broad backend and LiveOps stack for studios building server-authoritative mobile games.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Metaplay -
Best forLarge cross-platform game services
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.1
A broad managed backend for cross-platform online, multiplayer, and live-service games.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit AccelByte -
Best forCross-platform real-time multiplayer
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.5 vs 8.1
A cross-platform game backend family covering networking, matchmaking, accounts, and communications.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Photon Engine -
Best forMature self-hosted multiplayer deployments
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.4 vs 8.1
A broad self-hosted backend for real-time multiplayer games and virtual worlds.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit SmartFoxServer -
Best forCross-platform accounts, inventory, and LiveOps
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.3 vs 8.1
A broad backend for cross-platform accounts, inventory, progression, and LiveOps.
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
- Live-ops tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit LootLocker -
Best forManaged Nakama operations at scale
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Player accounts
- Editor score 8.2 vs 8.1
A managed Nakama platform for studios running multiplayer and live-service games.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Heroic Cloud -
Best forOpen-source identity and persistent game data
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
A focused backend for identity, persistent data, live operations, and real-time game state.
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
- Multiplayer networking
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Talo -
Best forFree cross-platform social game services
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
A free modular game backend with multiplayer, social services, storage, and anti-cheat.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forSmall games needing an affordable managed backend
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
An affordable managed backend for small games needing saves, multiplayer, and live-ops tools.
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
- Multiplayer networking
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit GamePush -
Best forReal-time multiplayer spaces and voice chat
- Better than Amazon GameLift Servers:
- Free plan
- Player accounts
A focused Unity backend for real-time multiplayer, persistent spaces, and voice chat.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Normcore
Amazon GameLift Servers Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Amazon GameLift Servers?
PlayFab: #1 in our Game Backend Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad managed backend for games, from player accounts and multiplayer to LiveOps.
Is there a free alternative to Amazon GameLift Servers?
Yes. PlayFab, brainCloud, Nakama, Colyseus and Metaplay have a free plan or a free tier (12 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Amazon GameLift Servers?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, GamePush starts lowest, at $5.99/mo.
Why do people look for Amazon GameLift Servers alternatives?
No built-in player account service; No permanent free plan; Usage-based AWS pricing requires infrastructure cost planning.
How do I switch from Amazon GameLift Servers?
Back up your world, configs and mods from Amazon GameLift Servers's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Amazon GameLift Servers after a test session.
How to Switch from Amazon GameLift Servers
- Back up your world, configs and mods from Amazon GameLift Servers's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Amazon GameLift Servers after a test session.
Amazon GameLift Servers vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Multiplayer networking | Player accounts | Matchmaking | Cloud data | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Amazon GameLift Servers | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 1 | PlayFab | Yes | $99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | brainCloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Beamable | No | $125/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | Nakama | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Colyseus | Yes | $15/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 6 | Metaplay | Yes | €195/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 7 | AccelByte Gaming Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | Photon Engine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 9 | SmartFoxServer | Yes | €32.50/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 10 | LootLocker | No | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |||
| 11 | Heroic Cloud | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Talo | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Epic Online Services | Yes | 7.8 | |||||
| 14 | GamePush | Yes | $5.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 15 | Normcore | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update