What is playit.gg and what does it do?

Updated

playit.gg is a global proxy service that makes a game server running on your own computer reachable from the internet, without port forwarding. You install and run a small agent on the machine hosting the server; your players connect through playit's network instead of directly to your home IP. It is aimed at people who want friends to join a self-hosted server but don't want to touch router settings or expose their home address. A free tier is available, and Premium is listed at $3/month.

How it works

The setup model is asymmetric: only the host runs the agent. Players just connect to the address playit gives you — they don't install anything.

  1. Download and run the agent on the computer hosting your game server (Windows, Linux, macOS, or Docker).
  2. Follow the setup wizard, which the site describes as guiding you through configuration in a few clicks.
  3. Share the connection address with your players so they can join.

Because traffic routes through playit's proxy rather than your router, your home IP stays hidden and no inbound ports need to be opened.

What it supports

playit.gg lists built-in support for a set of popular multiplayer games, plus generic TCP/UDP tunneling for anything else.

Category Examples from the site
Minecraft Minecraft Java, Minecraft Bedrock, MC: Simple Voice Chat
Survival/crafting Palworld, Terraria, Factorio, Valheim, 7 Days, Vintage Story, Necesse, Starbound
Other multiplayer Garry's Mod, Left 4 Dead 2, Killing Floor, Project Zomboid, SCP: Secret Laboratory, Beam.MP, Veloren, Unturned
Protocols TCP, UDP, TCP+UDP, SSH, HTTPs

One detail worth noting: UDP requires Playit Premium. If your game or voice mod depends on UDP, the free tier won't cover it.

Why people choose it over port forwarding

  • No router changes. You don't open ports or reconfigure your firewall for inbound traffic.
  • No home IP exposure. Players see the playit address, not your network.
  • Low-latency routing. The site reports 19 datacenters across North America, Europe, Asia & Oceania, and South America, so players connect through a nearby node.
  • Cross-platform. The agent runs on all major desktop platforms and Docker.

Is it right for you?

playit.gg fits if you:

  • Host the server on your own machine and want friends to join remotely.
  • Can't or don't want to port forward (carrier-grade NAT, restrictive router, shared network).
  • Play a supported game, or can use custom TCP/UDP for something else.

It may not fit if you need UDP on the free tier, or if you'd rather run a fully dedicated/cloud-hosted server rather than proxy your home machine.

To get started, create a free account, download the agent for your platform, and run the wizard. If you need UDP or want the Premium features, check the pricing page for current details.