subforge vs VisualSVN Server

VisualSVN is free.
Until it isn't.

VisualSVN Server costs nothing to license. But it runs on a Windows box you have to provision, maintain, back up, and fix when it breaks at the worst possible time. subforge is hosted, run for you, and built for game teams.

Try subforge free See pricing
~£100
Typical monthly cost to run VisualSVN Server in the cloud (5 users)
Free
subforge while in beta — unlimited repos, backups included
0
Servers to provision, patch, or worry about on subforge

The hidden cost of "free"

VisualSVN Server is free to download, but it requires a Windows machine to run on. A minimal cloud VM (Windows Server licence included) starts at around £60–80/month. Add the time to set it up, configure Apache or IIS, manage SSL certificates, write backup scripts, and keep the OS patched — and the real cost of self-hosting adds up fast.

For a game studio, that time is better spent making games. subforge handles the infrastructure so you don't have to.

Feature comparison

VisualSVN Server subforge
SVN hosting
Web UI for browsing repos Basic Modern, full-featured
Private repositories
Asset previews
Path-based permissions Via authz files Per-path via CODEOWNERS
Groups & team access
Managed SSL / HTTPS You manage it✓ Included
OS & server maintenance You own it✓ Managed
Works on Mac & Linux Windows only✓ Any browser / SVN client
Email support
Migration assistance

Migrating from VisualSVN is straightforward

subforge can import an existing SVN repository directly from a URL, preserving the full commit history, authors, dates, and revision numbers. If you enable UUID preservation during import, your team's existing working copies can be repointed at subforge with a single svn relocate command — no fresh checkout required.

Prefer a hand with it? Migration help is included.

Independent, and built to stay

subforge is run by an independent maker — no investors, no acquisition, no surprise price hikes. Fair pricing, proper support, and your repos stay plain SVN, so you're never locked in.

Try subforge free — no card required

Start on the Free plan, import a repo, and see how it feels. Upgrade when you're ready.

Not convinced yet? Follow along — we'll send occasional updates as subforge develops.