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Perforce P4

Centralised version control (formerly Helix Core) built for large binary assets and game studios.

Free plan + paidVersion control systems

Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

Visit Perforce P4See 3 alternatives

Is Perforce P4 free?

Free plan, plus paid plans

Starting price:
$39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly)
Free plan:
Yes, up to 5 users

Checked on Perforce P4's site Nov 8, 2026

Full Perforce P4 pricing and plans

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About Perforce P4

Perforce P4, long known as Helix Core, is a centralised version control system used heavily in game development, media and semiconductor work, where repositories hold huge binary files that Git handles poorly. Users work from a central server with fast syncs, exclusive file locking so two artists don't overwrite the same asset, and Streams for structured branching. The P4 command-line client, the P4V visual client and plugins for Unreal Engine, Unity and Visual Studio all talk to the same server, and Perforce also sells code review, asset management and a hosted P4 Cloud. It is aimed at studios and enterprises with big repos and strict access control. Small teams of up to five users can use it free; larger teams buy licences through sales, either self-hosted or in the cloud. The trade-offs are cost at scale, a server to run, and a workflow that feels unfamiliar to developers used to Git.

Best for: Game and media studios versioning large binary assets with locking and fine-grained access control.

Perforce P4 pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)

Each line is quoted from Perforce P4's own site, with the page it came from.

Plan or termWhat it saysCheckedSource
Free planYes, up to 5 usersNov 8, 2026perforce.com
Starting price$39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly)Nov 8, 2026perforce.com
Scale planCustom quote, billed annuallyNov 8, 2026perforce.com
Full Perforce P4 pricing and cheaper alternatives

Pros and cons

What works

  • Handles very large repos and binary files well
  • Exclusive file locking prevents asset overwrites
  • Native integrations with Unreal Engine, Unity and Visual Studio

Why people leave

  • Paid licences beyond five users, priced through sales
  • Needs a central server to run or a paid hosted plan
  • Workflow and tooling differ from the Git ecosystem most developers know

Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control, Anchorpoint and Diversion

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

AttributePerforce P4Unity Version ControlAnchorpointDiversion
PricingFree plan + paidFree plan + paidFree plan + paidFree plan + paid
Verified price$39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly)—€20 per user/month (billed annually)$25 per user/month (Pro)
Free planYes, up to 5 users3 seats and 5 GB-hour storagePersonal, non-commercial, single userIndie: free for first 5 users (eligibility required)
Open sourceNoNoNoNo
Self-hostableNoNoNoNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hostedWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hostedWindows, macOSWeb, Windows, macOS

Full Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control comparison

Top Perforce P4 alternatives

See all 3
  1. 1Unity Version Control logo
    Unity Version Control

    Also built for game teams with big binaries and locking, with a free tier and simpler cloud setup.

    68.8
  2. 2Anchorpoint logo
    Anchorpoint

    Git client for game studios that handles large binaries with Git LFS and file locking, a common route off Perforce.

    54.4
  3. 3Diversion logo
    Diversion

    Hosted alternative built for big game repos, with migration from Perforce depots and no servers to run.

    42.3

Why people left Perforce P4

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Perforce P4: common questions

What is Perforce P4?

Perforce P4: Centralised version control (formerly Helix Core) built for large binary assets and game studios. Best for game and media studios versioning large binary assets with locking and fine-grained access control. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and you can host it yourself.

Is Perforce P4 free?

Perforce P4 has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users (checked on Perforce P4's own site).

How much does Perforce P4 cost?

Perforce P4 is free with paid plans. Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users; Starting price: $39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly); Scale plan: Custom quote, billed annually. Checked on Perforce P4's own site, November 2026.

Is Perforce P4 open source?

No, Perforce P4 is not open source.

What platforms does Perforce P4 run on?

Perforce P4 is available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to Perforce P4?

The highest-ranked Perforce P4 alternatives right now are Unity Version Control, Anchorpoint and Diversion. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control: what's the difference?

Both Perforce P4 and Unity Version Control are free with paid plans. Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux.

See all 3 Perforce P4 alternatives