FishNet vs Photon Quantum

FishNet is a networking solution for Unity games using a client-server model and a server-authoritative design. It supports dedicated servers, while developers can also run a server and client together for development and testing. Users may choose a host, including self-hosting or player-hosted servers, and the free plan has no CCU caps or paywalls. Its high-level API synchronizes state, logic, and objects; events and inheritance provide lower-level functionality. Built-in client-side prediction includes desynchronization smoothing and Rigidbody prediction, and Addressables support covers network scenes and prefabs. Other listed tools include buffered remote calls, area-of-interest controls, configurable SyncTypes, tick-based timing, and broadcasts. Customizable authenticators can require client authentication before server communication. Communication is unencrypted by default; FishyUnityTransport can enable DTLS for UDP or TLS for WebSocket. FishNet costs nothing. FishNet Pro costs $50, paid once and adds lag compensation and automatic removal of sensitive server logic from client builds. The documentation says prediction collider components currently support primitive shapes such as boxes, spheres, and circles.

Photon Quantum is a deterministic ECS framework for Unity online multiplayer games, with sessions listed for up to 128 players. Clients exchange player input, predict other players’ inputs locally, then restore and resimulate game state when a prediction is wrong. Quantum separates simulation from presentation: Unity supplies editor tools and the view layer, while deterministic libraries cover math, 2D and 3D physics, navigation, animation, and bots. Photon Realtime transport and Photon server infrastructure synchronize clocks and manage input latency. Developers can extend the server component to connect customer-hosted services such as matchmaking, player services, and referee simulations. Quantum 3 webhooks support room control, configuration and player-data validation, and sending match replays to a configured endpoint. Free access includes development-only service for 20 connected users or a games-only option for 100. The 100 CCU plan costs 95.00 USD once for 12 months; the 500 CCU plan is $125 a month. The Quantum Plugin SDK requires Gaming Circle or Industries Circle membership. Photon Engine states it is ISO 27001:2022 certified.