Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Perforce P4
Centralised version control (formerly Helix Core) built for large binary assets and game studios.
Unity Version Control
Unity's version control system, formerly Plastic SCM, built for game teams with large binary files.
The short answer
Both are built for game teams with large binary assets and both support file locking. Perforce P4 suits bigger studios and enterprises that need huge repos, Streams branching and fine-grained access control. Unity Version Control, formerly Plastic SCM, suits small and mid-size studios that want quicker setup and separate workflows for programmers and artists. The biggest difference is scale and setup effort versus ease of getting started.
Perforce P4 or Unity Version Control: our take
Perforce P4, long known as Helix Core, is a centralised system with a central server, fast syncs, exclusive file locking and Streams for structured branching. It has native integrations with Unreal Engine, Unity and Visual Studio, and is used well beyond games, in media and semiconductor work. Unity Version Control, which Unity bought as Plastic SCM, can run centralised or distributed. Programmers get full branching and merging, while artists get a simpler file-based interface in the same repository. It also handles large files and supports locking, and despite the name it works with other engines too.
Pricing starts free on both, but the free tiers differ. P4 is free for up to 5 users; beyond that, the cloud plan starts at $39 per user/month billed monthly, and the Scale plan is a custom quote billed annually. Unity Version Control's free tier covers 3 seats with a small storage allowance, then charges per seat and for storage: on-prem seats are $38 per seat, and the cloud plan includes 25 GB a month before charging $0.10/GB up to 100 GB. Both can be hosted by the vendor or run on your own servers.
The trade-offs are mostly about scale and risk. P4 is proven on very large repositories and gives strict access control, but it means running a server or paying for P4 Cloud, and its workflow feels unfamiliar to developers used to Git. Unity Version Control is quicker for a small team to set up and friendlier for artists, but per-seat and storage charges grow with the team, its user base outside games is smaller, and its roadmap depends on Unity's wider business.
A large or growing studio on Unreal, or any team with very big repos and strict permissions, will usually be better served by Perforce P4. A small or mid-size studio that wants artist-friendly version control running quickly, especially one already working in Unity, has good reason to start with Unity Version Control.
Which should you pick?
Choose Perforce P4 if…
- Game and media studios versioning large binary assets with locking and fine-grained access control
- Handles very large repos and binary files well
- Exclusive file locking prevents asset overwrites
Choose Unity Version Control if…
- Small and mid-size game studios that want artist-friendly version control for big assets
- Free tier with three seats to start
- Separate workflows for programmers and artists in one repo
About each app
What is 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.
What is Unity Version Control?
Unity Version Control is the system Unity bought as Plastic SCM and now sells as part of Unity's DevOps tools. It is aimed at game studios: programmers get full branching and merging in a centralised or distributed setup, while artists get a simpler file-based workflow and interface in the same repository. It is built to stay responsive with big files and large repos, supports file locking to avoid conflicting edits on assets, and can run on Unity's cloud or on your own servers. Despite the name, it works with other engines too. Pricing starts with a free tier of three seats and a small storage allowance, then charges per seat and for extra storage monthly. Compared with Perforce P4 it is quicker to set up for small teams, but it has a smaller user base outside games and its future roadmap is tied to Unity as a company.
Side by side
| Attribute | Perforce P4 | Unity Version Control |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted | Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Best for | Game and media studios versioning large binary assets with locking and fine-grained access control | Small and mid-size game studios that want artist-friendly version control for big assets |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Perforce P4 | Unity Version Control |
|---|---|---|
| File locking | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 5 users | 3 seats and 5 GB-hour storage |
Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control pricing
Perforce P4: free plan + paid
- Starting price: $39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly) source
- Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users source
- Scale plan: Custom quote, billed annually source
Unity Version Control: free plan + paid
Unity Version Control pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Perforce P4 | Unity Version Control |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Self-hosted |
Perforce P4 facts
6 of 6 verified- File locking
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prevent merge conflicts with Exclusive File Locking.”
- Unreal Engine integration
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “native integration with Unreal Engine (Epic Games itself depends on P4 for UE development).”
- Deployment
- On-premises or cloud
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “On-premises deployments provide total control over your data.”
- Starting price
- $39 per user/month (Cloud, billed monthly)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Try P4 Free We Manage & Host Cloud Billed monthly $39 Per user/per month The fastest way to scale version control for teams up to 100.”
- Free plan
- Yes, up to 5 users
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Free for up to 5 users $0 _ Our powerful version control foundation–no strings attached.”
- Scale plan
- Custom quote, billed annually
- Checked Nov 8, 2026perforce.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Scale Billed annually Let's Talk _ Our scalable and flexible plan, for teams ready for business.”
Unity Version Control facts
6 of 6 verified- Free plan
- 3 seats and 5 GB-hour storage
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Unity Version Control includes a free tier with three free seats and 5 GB-hour of storage.”
- File locking
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Work without worry Code safely with branching and merging, and make changes confidently with locking.”
- Large files
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “superior speed working with large files and binaries.”
- Formerly
- Plastic SCM
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Unity Version Control (Previously Plastic SCM)”
- On-prem seats
- $38 per seat
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Unity Version Control on-prem seats $38/seat”
- Included storage
- 25 GB a month, then $0.10/GB up to 100 GB
- Checked Nov 8, 2026unity.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Included Standard Storage per month 25 GB 25 GB 25 GB 25 GB Standard Storage from 25-100 GB $0.10/GB”
Pros and cons of Perforce P4
- Handles very large repos and binary files well
- Exclusive file locking prevents asset overwrites
- Native integrations with Unreal Engine, Unity and Visual Studio
- 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
Pros and cons of Unity Version Control
- Free tier with three seats to start
- Separate workflows for programmers and artists in one repo
- Cloud-hosted or on-premises deployment
- Per-seat and storage charges grow as the team grows
- Smaller ecosystem and user base than Git outside games
- Product direction depends on Unity's wider business
Other apps to consider
AnchorpointInstead of Perforce P4
Git client for game studios that handles large binaries with Git LFS and file locking, a common route off Perforce.
DiversionInstead of Perforce P4
Hosted alternative built for big game repos, with migration from Perforce depots and no servers to run.
Azure DevOpsInstead of Unity Version Control
Offers both Git repos and centralised TFVC with locking, a familiar fit for Windows game studios leaving Plastic.
GitHubInstead of Unity Version Control
Git hosting with LFS storage and the widest tool support, the default home for teams moving off a proprietary VCS.
Perforce P4 vs Unity Version Control: common questions
Is Perforce P4 better than Unity Version Control?
Both are built for game teams with large binary assets and both support file locking. Perforce P4 suits bigger studios and enterprises that need huge repos, Streams branching and fine-grained access control. Unity Version Control, formerly Plastic SCM, suits small and mid-size studios that want quicker setup and separate workflows for programmers and artists. The biggest difference is scale and setup effort versus ease of getting started.
Is Perforce P4 free?
Perforce P4 has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Unity Version Control free?
Unity Version Control has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Perforce P4 or Unity Version Control open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Perforce P4 and Unity Version Control support?
Perforce P4: Windows, macOS, Linux and Self-hosted. Unity Version Control: Windows, macOS, Linux and Self-hosted.