Best Hiro Alternatives in 2026
The top Hiro alternatives are PlayFab, brainCloud and Beamable: 15 game backend services our editors would look at instead of Hiro, in our ranking order.
Hiro: A focused Nakama add-on for multiplayer economies, progression, and LiveOps. Where it falls short: requires a nakama server rather than operating as a standalone backend.
Switching from Hiro? For most game backend services buyers the best Hiro alternative is PlayFab, built for teams building cross-platform live games. On a budget, GamePush starts at $5.99/mo.
Why People Look for a Hiro Alternative
- Requires a Nakama server rather than operating as a standalone backend
- Pricing uses contact sales and an annual per-developer license
- Platform listing is web-only despite client libraries for several engines
- No free plan — 10 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 (Hiro has none)
Visit PlayFab
All 15 Hiro Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forTeams building cross-platform live games
- Better than Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.9
A managed Nakama platform for studios running multiplayer and live-service games.
- Matchmaking
- Player accounts
- Cloud data
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Heroic Cloud -
Best forDedicated-server session hosting
- Better than Hiro:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.9
A deep AWS option for dedicated hosting, matchmaking, placement, and live operations.
- Matchmaking
- Cloud data
- Multiplayer networking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forOpen-source identity and persistent game data
- Better than Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.9
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 Hiro:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.9
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
Hiro Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Hiro?
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 Hiro?
Yes. PlayFab, brainCloud, Nakama, Colyseus and Metaplay have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Hiro?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, GamePush starts lowest, at $5.99/mo.
Why do people look for Hiro alternatives?
Requires a Nakama server rather than operating as a standalone backend; Pricing uses contact sales and an annual per-developer license; Platform listing is web-only despite client libraries for several engines.
How do I switch from Hiro?
Back up your world, configs and mods from Hiro'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 Hiro after a test session.
How to Switch from Hiro
- Back up your world, configs and mods from Hiro'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 Hiro after a test session.
Hiro vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Multiplayer networking | Player accounts | Matchmaking | Cloud data | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Hiro | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 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 | Amazon GameLift Servers | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 13 | Talo | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Epic Online Services | Yes | 7.8 | |||||
| 15 | GamePush | Yes | $5.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update