Perforce P4 (Helix Core) vs Unity Version Control
Perforce P4 (Helix Core)
perforce.com
Unity Version Control
unity.comSide by side
| Figure | Perforce P4 (Helix Core) | Unity Version Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $39/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 9 |
| Spec score · Version Control Software | 8.9 (#2) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Spec score · Source Code Management | 8.8 (#4) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Spec score · Repository Management Software | 8.9 (#3) | 8.6 (#7) |
| Spec score · Game Version Control Software | 8.9 (#4) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Spec score · Game Asset Management Software | 8.9 (#5) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Company legal name | Crunchbase identifies the maker as Perforce Software, Inc. | Unity Software Inc. is the registrant name, while Unity Technologies is used as the operating brand. |
| Documentation depth | Documentation includes administrator deployment, end-user quick starts, CLI reference, GUI guides, release notes, APIs and game-engine setup. | The documentation includes installation, concepts, tutorials, on-premise deployment, Gluon, CLI command references, plugins, and release notes. |
| Licence | The Helix Core agreement grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable time-based or perpetual licence and prohibits reverse engineering and source-code discovery. | The Plastic SCM terms grant limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable subscription rights and state that Unity retains all rights not expressly granted, indicating proprietary software. |
| Self-hosting | P4 Server can be installed and operated on an organization's own infrastructure as a proof-of-concept or production deployment. | Unity offers an on-premises server edition for teams needing control over data, security, or compliance. |
| System requirements | P4 Server supports Windows, macOS and Linux; the documentation suggests at least 2.4 GHz with 8 cores or 3.2 GHz with 4 cores and 64 MB RAM per licensed user. | Unity 6 Editor requirements include Windows 10 21H1 or newer, macOS Big Sur 11 or newer, and Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 for Linux, with platform-specific CPU and graphics requirements. |
| What it does | P4 (formerly Helix Core) is a client-server version-control platform for source code, binaries, 3D assets and other digital files. | Unity Version Control is an engine-agnostic source-control system for game studios, built on Plastic SCM and designed for code, large files, and binary assets. |
Plans
Perforce P4 (Helix Core)
- FreeFree
- Cloud$39 a month
- ScalePriced on request
- PlatformPriced on request
- P4 FreeFree
- P4 Cloud$39 a month
- 12-Month SubscriptionPrice not published
- Perpetual UsePrice not published
Unity Version Control
- Free tierFree
- Pay-as-you-goPrice not published
- Pay-as-you-goPriced on request
- Unity PersonalFree
- Unity Version Control hosted cloudFree
- Unity Version Control on-prem seats$38 a month
- Unity Pro$2,310 a year
- Unity EnterprisePriced on request
- Unity IndustryPriced on request
In their own words
Perforce P4 (Helix Core)
Perforce P4 (Helix Core) has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Unity Version Control
Unity Version Control is an engine-agnostic source control tool for game development teams working with large files and binaries. It supports centralized and distributed workflows with branching and merging, as well as file-based workflows for artists. Smart Locks check that a user has the latest version before allowing a file lock, helping reduce merge conflicts. Teams can use Unity-hosted cloud servers or run the server on their own infrastructure. Desktop clients are available for Windows, macOS on Apple Silicon or Intel, and Linux. Named integrations and supported tools include JIRA, Rider, TeamCity, Jenkins, Bamboo, Unreal Engine and Discord. The free tier is free and includes unlimited cloud seats, 25 GB storage per organization per month and 100 GB egress per month; usage beyond included limits is pay-as-you-go. Unity lists on-prem seats at $38 a month. Upload and download communications use SSL, and permissions can be set for repositories, branches and individual items.