Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

brainCloud

getbraincloud.com

From $5/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
Visit getbraincloud.com
Spec score 9.4 #2 of 37 in Game Leaderboard Software

What it is

brainCloud is a cloud-based backend-as-a-service platform for games, apps, and other digital services. It provides cloud data, multiplayer, leaderboards, tournaments, push notifications, chat, in-app purchases, inventory management, analytics, and Cloud Code. Client libraries are listed for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web JavaScript, with Unity and Unreal support. Named multiplayer technologies include AWS GameLift, Unity Netcode, and Unreal Engine Networking; developers can also use Edgegap game-server orchestration from the developer portal. The free Development plan costs nothing and is limited to 100 daily active users and 1,000 accounts; it includes one million free API calls, 100 MB of storage, and 1 GB of transfers, but no live in-app purchases. Lite costs $15 a month and Standard costs $30 a month. Paid subscriptions include a base API-call allotment, with additional use charged by consumption. Private licenses provide managed instances in a customer's cloud environment.

Spec sheet

What it does
brainCloud is a hosted backend service for games, applications and other connected products, combining APIs, SDKs and a browser design and debugging portal.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.braincloudservers.com
Product
brainCloud is a cloud-based backend-as-a-service platform for games, apps, and other digital services.Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Integrations
Documented integrations include Amazon GameLift, Kafka, SAML, Segment, SendGrid, Slack and WebPurify.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Security
The security overview describes a shared responsibility model in which brainCloud covers public platform infrastructure, availability, and platform security controls while customers secure their applications and integrations.Read 28 Sep 2026 · staging.getbraincloud.com
Support
The maker lists free best-effort developer support through chat and forums, with paid support options that add response commitments and guidance.Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Headquarters
Ottawa, CanadaRead 23 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Company
LinkedIn describes brainCloud as a privately held software-development company founded in 2011, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, with 51–200 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Analytics
Analytics includes a DAU dashboard, sales-at-a-glance views and event data streaming.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
API counting
Cloud Code calls count as one API count plus discounted internal calls, while notifications, email, web services and other integrations add counts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
API reference
The public API reference is organized into wrapper, client, Cloud Code and server-to-server APIs with language tabs for C#, C++, Objective-C, Java, JavaScript and Cloud Code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.braincloudservers.com
Authentication
Authentication options include anonymous, email, universal, Facebook, Google, PlayStation, Steam and Switch identities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Backend services
The platform provides cloud data, multiplayer, leaderboards, tournaments, push notifications, chat, in-app purchases, inventory management, analytics, and Cloud Code.Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Cloud Code
Developers can run JavaScript cloud scripts, scheduled jobs, batch scripts and web hooks on brainCloud servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Cloud data
Data services include global, user, group and advanced custom entities, with custom indexes and sharded scaling for custom entities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Data limits
MongoDB imposes a 16 MB maximum entity size, while documentation recommends keeping entities below 1 MB and global entities below about 1,000.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Development access
The Development plan is free and is limited to 100 daily active users, 1,000 accounts, and no live in-app purchases.Read 28 Sep 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Documentation and training
The documentation site includes feature guides, how-to articles, API references, Cloud Code examples, portal and SDK tutorials, FAQs, release history and free BootCamp courses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.braincloudservers.com
Edgegap integration
The maker says developers can use Edgegap game-server orchestration directly from the brainCloud developer portal.Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Elastic billing
Paid plans include an API allowance and charge additional usage rather than hard-stopping an app at the allowance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Elastic pricing
Paid subscriptions include a base allotment of API calls and additional usage is charged according to consumption.Read 28 Sep 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Hosting providers
The security overview lists AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure as supported deployment providers for public BaaS services.Read 28 Sep 2026 · staging.getbraincloud.com
Hosting regions
The public service runs on AWS us-east-1, while regional room and relay servers are offered in nine regions; private licenses can run on major cloud providers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Leaderboards and tournaments
The platform provides leaderboards and tournaments with divisions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Legal maker
The terms identify bitHeads Inc. as the legal company operating brainCloud.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Licence
The hosted brainCloud service is proprietary, while official client repositories such as the Unreal plugin and C# library use Apache-2.0 licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Limit: Capterra review
The Capterra reviewer says non-game customization can require tedious scripting compared with Firebase security rules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: customization and scale
G2 reviewers cite limited customization, concerns about very large-game scaling and dependence on vendor servers for availability.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: documentation and support
Some G2 reviewers report missing basic features, insufficient documentation and difficulty getting support when stuck.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: pricing
G2 reviewers describe pricing as confusing or expensive for beginners and larger projects, and one reviewer calls the free trial short.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
LiveOps
LiveOps tools cover player support, automated promotions, scheduled sales, segment sales and redemption codes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Maker company
The company website identifies bitHeads, Inc. as founded in 1995 and gives its address as Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Read 28 Sep 2026 · bitheads.com
Messaging and chat
Messaging supports chat, presence, user-to-user events, real-time chat, profanity filtering and rolling history.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Multiplayer
Multiplayer capabilities cover real-time shooters and MMOs, card battlers, base builders and asynchronous send-a-turn games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Praise: Capterra review
The Capterra reviewer praises the many prebuilt game features, detailed API documentation and efficient integrated chat support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Praise: ease of use
G2 reviewers repeatedly describe the interface as easy or intuitive and say it speeds game and application development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: libraries and APIs
G2 reviewers praise the breadth of libraries, APIs and ready-made backend functions for games and apps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: support and scalability
G2 reviewers mention responsive support, a substantial knowledge base and the ability to scale services as usage changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Private deployment
Private licenses are available as fully managed brainCloud instances hosted in the customer's own cloud environment.Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Rating on Capterra
4.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.3 out of 5 from 11 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Script and file limits
Cloud Code has a default 90-second execution maximum and files default to 50 MB, with file size increases available on request.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
SDK coverage
Client libraries are provided for C++, Dart, Godot GDScript, Java, JavaScript, Objective-C, Swift, Unity C# and Unreal C++/Blueprint, among others.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.braincloudservers.com
SDK platforms
The help center lists client libraries for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web JavaScript, with support for Unity and Unreal platforms.Read 28 Sep 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Security controls
Client calls use authenticated connections, TLS encryption, app-secret check codes, packet IDs against replay and access-control lists for user-owned data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Security news
The current security overview is effective June 22, 2026 and documents the product’s security, privacy, reliability and operational-transparency framework.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Security program
The security overview describes least privilege, defense in depth, secure development, vulnerability management, logging, continuity, backup, supplier security, privacy and incident-response controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Supported clients
Official client libraries target Android, Apple platforms, Linux, macOS, Windows and JavaScript web clients, with Unity and Unreal support extending their platform reach.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Target customers
The maker describes brainCloud as serving game developers, studios, publishers, and enterprise customers across mobile, console, PC, web, and cross-platform applications.Read 28 Sep 2026 · staging.getbraincloud.com

Plans and prices

Developer support Free Best effort · Mon-Fri 9x5 · Chat and forums Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Development Free 100 max daily active users · 1,000 max accounts · 1 million free API calls · 100 MB free file storage · 1 GB free file transfers Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Development Free All features except custom entities and hosting · 100 DAU · 1,000 accounts · 10 CCx Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Development Plus $5 a month monthly All features including custom entities and hosting · development only · 200 DAU · 2,000 accounts · 20 CCx Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Lite $15 a month per month Unlimited daily active users · Unlimited accounts · 1 million free API calls · 200 MB free file storage · 2 GB free file transfers Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Lite $15 a month monthly Core features · 1M API calls Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Lite Plus $25 a month monthly Core features, RTT, custom entities and hosting · 1M API calls · 50 CCx Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Standard $30 a month per month Unlimited daily active users · Unlimited accounts · 6 million free API calls · 1 GB free file storage · 10 GB free file transfers Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com
Standard $30 a month monthly Core features · 6M API calls Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Standard Plus $50 a month monthly Core features, RTT, custom entities and hosting · 6M API calls · 100 CCx Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Business $99 a month monthly Core and enterprise features · 10M API calls Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.getbraincloud.com
Basic support $150 a month per month (or 5% of monthly brainCloud charges, whichever is higher) 8 hour emergency 24x7 · 2 day general Mon-Fri 9x5 · Chat and forums · Architectural guidance Read 28 Sep 2026 · getbraincloud.com

Every brainCloud plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Includes multiplayer, leaderboards, and tournaments
  • Supports Unity and Unreal
  • Private licenses can run in a customer's cloud
  • Free Development plan includes one million API calls

Limits

  • Development is limited to 100 daily active users
  • Development does not include live in-app purchases
  • Additional API usage is charged by consumption

Who it suits

It suits game developers, studios, publishers, and enterprise teams building mobile, console, PC, web, or cross-platform services. Private licenses may suit teams that want a managed instance in their own cloud environment.

brainCloud in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

brainCloud is a backend platform for games and digital products, combining player services with application logic and live operations. It suits teams that want multiplayer, accounts and game operations under one backend, especially when a private deployment matters. Its breadth is compelling, but usage-based API charges and the Development plan’s caps make forecasting costs important.

Its hybrid model spans public BaaS and fully managed private instances in a customer’s own cloud environment. The company behind it, bitHeads, is based in Ottawa and was founded in 1995.

Key features

Game services: Player accounts, cloud data, inventory, in-app purchases, chat, push notifications and analytics cover much of the infrastructure around a live game. Multiplayer, matchmaking, leaderboards and tournaments add competitive and social systems without limiting the platform to basic account storage.

Cloud Code and integrations: Cloud Code supports application logic, while named multiplayer technologies include AWS GameLift, Unity Netcode and Unreal Engine Networking. Developers can also use Edgegap game-server orchestration from the brainCloud developer portal.

Private deployment: A fully managed private instance in the customer’s cloud environment gives organizations an alternative to public BaaS. That flexibility is relevant to teams with deployment requirements, but it does not remove the customer’s responsibility for securing its applications and integrations.

Security responsibilities: brainCloud covers public-platform infrastructure, availability and platform security controls; customers secure their own applications and integrations. Public BaaS deployment providers include AWS, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure.

Support: Free developer support is best-effort through chat and forums. Paid tiers add response commitments and architectural guidance, with higher tiers adding channels and account-level services.

Pricing

The freemium structure gives teams a way to develop before paying, but the free Development plan is not a production substitute for a growing game: it caps daily active users at 100 and accounts at 1,000, and does not allow live in-app purchases. It includes 1 million API calls, 100 MB of file storage and 1 GB of file transfers.

Paid subscriptions include a base API-call allotment; additional use is charged by consumption. The listed starting price is $5/mo, but the named plans below show specific prices and allowances:

Lite — $15 a month: Unlimited daily active users and accounts, 1 million free API calls, 200 MB storage and 2 GB transfers. It removes the free plan’s user and account caps, but modest storage and transfer allowances may constrain content-heavy projects.

Standard — $30 a month: Unlimited daily active users and accounts, 6 million free API calls, 1 GB storage and 10 GB transfers. It is the more substantial included allowance for a team expecting higher traffic, though API use beyond the allotment can add charges.

Support is priced separately. Developer support is free and best-effort on weekdays, 9x5, through chat and forums. Basic support is $150 a month or 5% of monthly brainCloud charges, whichever is higher; it promises an eight-hour emergency response around the clock, a two-day general response on weekdays, chat and forums, and architectural guidance. Production support is $500 a month or 10% of monthly charges, whichever is higher, with a two-hour emergency response, one-day general response on weekdays, Slack and an account representative. Priority support is $1,000 a month or 15% of monthly charges, whichever is higher; it adds a one-hour emergency response, four-hour general response on weekdays, hotline, roadmap previews and feature-request priority. The paid support commitments matter most to teams that cannot rely on best-effort help.

A free trial is offered. For teams needing a deployment or commercial arrangement beyond these subscriptions, private licenses are available with custom pricing.

Platforms

brainCloud spans Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and web, alongside API and self-hosted deployment options. Client libraries are listed for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and web JavaScript, with Unity and Unreal support. That breadth suits cross-platform game teams, though the client-library list and the broader platform list are not identical.

Who it's for

Game developers, studios and publishers can use brainCloud to bring accounts, multiplayer, competition features and live operations into one backend. Enterprise customers may value the private-instance option. It is less suited to a small project that needs predictable all-in pricing beyond included API use, or to a team unwilling to manage security for its application and integrations.

Pros and cons

Pro: The service combines player accounts, cloud data, multiplayer, matchmaking, tournaments and live-ops services, reducing the need to assemble those backend functions separately.

Pro: Public and fully managed private deployment options give teams a choice of operating model, including a private instance in their own cloud.

Pro: Free development access and paid plans with unlimited accounts and daily active users provide a path beyond the free plan’s user caps.

Con: Development is capped at 100 daily active users and 1,000 accounts, and excludes live in-app purchases, so a live commercial launch may require an upgrade.

Con: API consumption beyond each paid plan’s base allotment adds charges, making total cost dependent on usage.

Con: Free support is best-effort, while response commitments and architectural guidance require paid support tiers that start at $150 a month or a percentage of monthly charges, whichever is higher.

Alternatives

BACKND is worth considering when its free plan’s 50 CCU, 1 GB monthly traffic and core chat features fit better than brainCloud’s development caps and broader backend scope. Choose Metaplay when local development is the priority: its free plan includes the full SDK and local server with no hard limits on local development.

GameAnalytics is a better fit for teams focused on analytics, with its free offer covering dashboards, events, funnels, cohorts, retention and real-time reporting without MAU limits. Crux may suit a project whose development needs fit its free plan’s 10,000 MAU per month, 2M API calls and three active servers.

Ondara Game Services is another freemium game-services option. PlayFab is worth comparing for teams whose needs fit its free-to-start terms, including Development Mode titles and per-title lifetime player limits. Unity Version Control is a version-control product rather than a direct backend substitute. Tenjin is a fit for teams focused on attribution and conversion pricing, with 2,000 free conversions per month and a stated per-conversion charge beyond that.

For category comparisons, see Game Backend Services, Game LiveOps Software, Game Matchmaking Software and Game Leaderboard Software.

Verdict

brainCloud is a strong choice for game teams that want a broad backend spanning player systems, multiplayer and live operations, with public and private deployment paths. Its free Development plan is useful for early work, but user caps and the absence of live in-app purchases limit its reach; API overages and paid support can raise costs. Choose it when backend breadth and deployment flexibility outweigh the need for a simple, fixed bill.

Verdict

brainCloud brings backend services for games and digital products into one platform, with public and private deployment options. The free Development plan has explicit user and account limits, and paid API use can add consumption charges.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to brainCloudAll alternatives →