Endless Sky vs Naev
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?
Endless Sky
Free space exploration and trading game
VS
Naev
Open-source 2D space trading and combat game
| Feature | Endless Sky | Naev |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,490 | ★ 941 |
| First released | 2015 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Escape Velocity | Escape Velocity |
Why pick each one
Choose Naev if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Endless Sky or Naev better?
Neither is universally better. Endless Sky has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Endless Sky and Naev free and open-source?
Yes. Endless Sky is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Naev under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Endless Sky and Naev with Docker?
Endless Sky: check the project docs for container support. Naev: check the project docs for container support.