CTFd vs VCMI
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
CTFd
Open-source capture the flag framework for hacking competitions
VS
VCMI
Open-source engine for Heroes of Might and Magic III with multiplayer
| Feature | CTFd | VCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,776 | ★ 5,775 |
| First released | 2017 | 2007 |
| Replaces | HackerRank CTF | Heroes of Might and Magic III original |
Why pick each one
Choose CTFd if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is CTFd or VCMI better?
Neither is universally better. CTFd has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CTFd and VCMI free and open-source?
Yes. CTFd is licensed under Apache-2.0 and VCMI under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CTFd and VCMI with Docker?
CTFd: yes. VCMI: check the project docs for container support.