Leaderboard Options for Unity Games
RankDrop started as a completely free, open-source leaderboard backend. It has now grown into three clear options so you can pick exactly what you need, from zero cost to zero maintenance.
Quick Decision Guide
| You are... | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You have time and are open to learning if not familiar with backend or DevOps | Open Source RankDrop | Full control, zero cost, you manage everything, but takes some time to setup |
| Indie dev who wants to ship fast | RankDrop Unity Asset (coming soon) | 60-second setup inside Unity Editor and also full control, zero cost and you manage everything |
| Studio or game with traction that hates DevOps | TurnKit Hosted SaaS | Its ready in seconds and has no scaling burden for you, free up to 20 CCU |
Detailed Comparison
| Feature | Open Source RankDrop | RankDrop Unity Asset (soon) | TurnKit Hosted SaaS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Completely free (Apache 2.0) | One-time purchase | Usage-based (free tier available) |
| Setup time | 45-90 minutes (manual) | ~60 seconds | Few seconds |
| Unity Integration | Manual (HTTP client) | One-click from Unity Editor | Simple SDK + drag and drop |
| Deployment | You host (Docker, Koyeb, VPS, etc.) | Asset generates and deploys for you | Fully hosted and managed by us |
| Maintenance & Scaling | You handle everything | Minimal | Automatic (we manage servers, DB, updates) |
| Leaderboard Types | All-time + auto-resetting (daily/weekly/etc.) | Same | Same + more advanced options |
| Features | Caching, atomic writes, moderation, webhooks | Same + polished editor tools | Same + TurnKit multiplayer extras (relay, matchmaking, economy) |
| Control & Data Ownership | 100% yours | High | High (you own your data) |
| Best for | Tinkerers, learning, small experiments | Efficient indies who value speed | Games that grow and need reliability |
Honest Breakdown
Open Source RankDrop
Start here if you enjoy infrastructure or want to keep everything under your control. It is production-ready, with a tiny Docker image, fast startup, a PostgreSQL backend, and zero licensing cost.
Many developers begin with this version, learn the system, and later upgrade when maintenance starts competing with game development time.
RankDrop Unity Asset
This is the middle ground. You get the same RankDrop core with a polished Unity Editor setup flow, so you avoid manual Docker and server config while keeping a high level of control.
It is aimed at indies who want the fastest path from empty project to working leaderboard without committing to a hosted backend from day one.
TurnKit Hosted SaaS
When your game has real players and you no longer want to babysit servers, scaling, backups, or resets, this is the straightforward choice.
It runs on the same RankDrop foundation, so moving up from open source is smooth. You focus on the game while the platform handles operations.
Ready to Begin?
Try it for free right now: Open Source RankDrop on GitHub.
Want the manual path first? Read the Free Unity Leaderboards guide.
Watching for the Asset Store release? Check back on turnkit.dev or join the Discord.
Prefer hosted from day one? Go to Pricing.
Last updated: April 2026