Comparison
Branchive as a Unity Version Control alternative
Unity Version Control (formerly Plastic SCM) is a strong, mature product — enforced Smart Locks, enforced Code Reviews, and desktop clients on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you're an Unreal Engine team looking for that same collaboration model built specifically around Epic's Lore VCS, Branchive is a Unity Version Control alternative worth comparing.
Windows only today — macOS and Linux are in development.
Back to BranchiveReviewed PRs, Unreal-first
Built around Epic's Lore, not renamed from another engine's tool.
Unity Version Control works with any project files, but it's built and named by Unity Technologies. Branchive Cloud's pull-request review is built specifically around Epic's Lore VCS, enforced server-side before a merge lands.
Enforced permissions vs. an honor system
Protected branches, enforced by Branchive Cloud.
Core Lore already blocks a direct push to a protected branch, even the owner's. Branchive Cloud forks the server to enforce role by level and gate unprotect to admins only, so protection actually holds.
Transparent, free right now
Pricing you can actually see.
Branchive's pricing is public and simple: free during early access. We won't quote Unity Version Control's pricing here — check Unity's site directly.
Native big binaries, still
QUIC-native transport, measured, not promised.
The lore:// protocol runs over
QUIC and is built for large files — a real 6.05 GiB Unreal
project, 3,637 files, fully cloned in 78 seconds from Branchive Cloud
(measured, one command, not a benchmark rig).
Honesty
When Unity Version Control is still the better choice.
You need locks that go read-only on your local disk
Unity Version Control's Smart Locks are exclusive and enforced — the server blocks a competing write, and the file also goes read-only on your local disk. Branchive Cloud's locking now stops both a second lock and a competing write server-side (the server rejects a direct commit, push, force-push, or rename over the locked file), but it doesn't go read-only on your local disk the way Smart Locks do.
You need native macOS and Linux desktop clients
Unity Version Control ships desktop clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Branchive Desktop is Windows-only today.
You want built-in CI through Unity DevOps
Unity Version Control pairs with Unity DevOps for CI and automation. Branchive doesn't offer CI/automation today.
Full feature comparison
Full feature comparison.
Competitor wins are shown honestly — green leads the row, red loses it, gold marks a caveat in between. Where we couldn't verify a competitor's number, like Unity Version Control's pricing, we say so instead of guessing.
| Feature | Branchive | loregui | GitHub | Perforce Helix Core | Diversion | Unity Version Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native large-binary handling | Yes — native QUIC lore:// | Yes — binds Lore's native API in-process | No — bolt-on Git LFS | Yes — native | Yes — native | Yes — native |
| File locking | Yes — enforced on Branchive Cloud; self-hosted Lore doesn't block the write | Exclusive claim only — no server, so it can't block the write | Git LFS locking — best-effort, not hard-enforced | Exclusive, write-blocking | Exclusive — "Hard Locks" | Exclusive — "Smart Locks" |
| Code review / merge-request workflow | Yes — native pull requests | No — local GUI, no server | Yes — native pull requests | Yes — needs the Helix Swarm add-on | Yes — Reviews | Yes — Code Reviews |
| Required review enforced before merge | Yes | No — nothing to enforce it | Yes | Yes — Swarm enforce | ⚠️ Not enforced — on Diversion's roadmap, per their docs | Yes |
| Protected branches (server-enforced) | Yes — core Lore blocks natively; our fork adds level-enforcement and admin-gated unprotect | No — no hosted server | Yes | Yes — protections table | Yes | Yes |
| Permission levels (read/write/admin) enforced | Yes | No — no access-control layer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web UI (browse / diff / review) | Yes | No web UI — full native desktop GUI instead | Yes | Needs the Helix Swarm add-on | Yes | Yes |
| Self-host option | Core is self-hostable; the enforcement layer is Branchive Cloud-only | Yes — 100% local, any backend (local/S3/MinIO/Garage) | Yes — Enterprise Server | Yes | Enterprise tier only | Yes |
| Desktop platforms | Windows only today — macOS/Linux in development | Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), Linux | Windows, macOS (GitHub Desktop) | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS (Linux via CLI) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| CI / automation | Via webhooks → your CI | No — local GUI only | Yes — Actions | Yes — via Jenkins | Yes — CI integrations | Unity DevOps |
| Pricing / free tier | Free during early access | Free — open source (MIT) | Free tier + paid; Git LFS metered ~$0.07/GB storage + ~$0.0875/GB egress | Free ≤5 users; Cloud $39/user/mo | Free ≤5 users (Indie); Pro $25/user/mo, Studio $35/user/mo | — see Unity's site |
| Target audience | Unreal Engine / game teams, Windows-first | Lore users who want a free local GUI, any platform | General development | AAA game / VFX, enterprise | Unreal Engine / game teams, cloud-native | Game development, real-time 3D |
The GitHub column reflects Git + Git LFS — the same metered-storage and best-effort-locking model applies to self-hosted Git + LFS on GitLab, Gitea, or Bitbucket. The loregui column is Biloxi Studios' free, open-source local GUI for Lore — genuinely free and cross-platform today, with no hosted server, review pipeline, or access-control layer. Unity Version Control's pricing isn't published anywhere we could verify, so we don't quote a number here — check Unity's site directly.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Is Unity Version Control the same as Plastic SCM?
Yes. Unity Version Control is Unity Technologies' current name for what was previously Plastic SCM.
Does Branchive enforce file locks the way Unity Version Control's Smart Locks do?
Mostly. Unity Version Control's Smart Locks are exclusive and enforced — the server blocks a competing write, and the file also goes read-only on your local disk. Branchive Cloud's locking now stops the same competing-write case server-side (it rejects a direct commit, push, force-push, or rename over a locked file), but it doesn't make the file read-only on your local disk the way Smart Locks do. Approved PR merges aren't lock-gated, and repo owners/admins can force-release a lock.
What does Unity Version Control cost?
We don't publish or guess Unity Version Control's pricing here — check Unity's site directly for current plans. Branchive Desktop is free, and Branchive Cloud collaboration features are free during early access.
Does Branchive enforce protected branches and roles, or is that just a UI setting?
Core Lore already blocks a direct push to a protected branch, even the owner's — that's native. What stock Lore lacks: protection isn't gated (anyone holding a grant can unprotect, push, and reprotect) and roles are checked by presence, not level, so a read-only grant can still push to an unprotected branch. Branchive Cloud forks the server to close both gaps — role enforced by level, and unprotect admin-gated — so protection actually holds, on the lore CLI and Branchive Desktop too, not just the web UI. A self-hosted, stock loreserver gives you the Lore core, not this enforcement layer.
Try it
See if Branchive fits your team's workflow.
Windows only today — macOS and Linux are in development.
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