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Gaming · head to head

Battle.net vs GOG Galaxy

Battle.net logo

Battle.net

Gaming

Blizzard game launcher and store, now owned by Microsoft, for a small first party catalogue

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GOG Galaxy logo

GOG Galaxy

Gaming

Free optional client from CD Projekt that aggregates other storefronts and keeps GOG downloads DRM-free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Battle.net purchases are licences tied to one account in one region, so there is no resale, no transfer and no offline installer if the service or the account goes away.; GOG Galaxy there is no Linux client, so Steam Deck and Linux desktop users need a third-party launcher to reach a GOG library at all.
  • They diverge on capability: Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Battle.net and GOG Galaxy actually diverge.

Attributes where Battle.net and GOG Galaxy differ
AttributeBattle.netGOG Galaxy
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFree, no licence fee

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, macOS), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Gaming).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Battle.net

  • Game installation and patching
  • Account services
  • Social layer
  • In game shops
  • Subscription management
  • Parental controls

Only in GOG Galaxy

  • DRM-free installs
  • Build rollback
  • Multi-store import
  • Cloud saves
  • Unified achievements and playtime
  • Friends and presence

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Battle.net

  • Playing any current Blizzard title, since the launcher is mandatory whether or not you bought through Steamnot GOG Galaxy
  • Running a World of Warcraft subscription and paying for it with in game gold through tokens instead of cashnot GOG Galaxy
  • Keeping Call of Duty installs and updates managed on PC without going through the Xbox appnot GOG Galaxy
  • Households that need play time and purchase limits applied to a child account by a parentnot GOG Galaxy

GOG Galaxy

  • A player who wants purchased games to keep working without a storefront running or an account signed innot Battle.net
  • Rolling a game back to an earlier build after an update broke it or removed contentnot Battle.net
  • Seeing a library spread across several stores and consoles in one listnot Battle.net
  • Archiving offline installers so a collection survives a store or account problemnot Battle.net

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Battle.net

  • Purchases are licences tied to one account in one region, so there is no resale, no transfer and no offline installer if the service or the account goes away.
  • Battle.net Balance and account region are locked, which blocks the common tactic of buying in a cheaper territory and removes any pricing flexibility for players who move country.
  • The store carries only Microsoft owned publishers, so it is an additional launcher and background updater running for a handful of games.
  • There is no family or library sharing comparable to Steam Families, so a household with two players buys two copies of every title.
  • A ban or a lost authenticator removes access to everything on the account at once, and Blizzard support decisions on account actions are slow and rarely reversed.

GOG Galaxy

  • There is no Linux client, so Steam Deck and Linux desktop users need a third-party launcher to reach a GOG library at all.
  • Multi-store integrations are community plugins rather than supported features, and they break when the connected service changes its interface with no commitment to a fix.
  • Version 2.0 has remained in beta for years with infrequent updates, which is a poor signal about how much development the client receives.
  • Imported achievements and playtime from other services are read-only and often incomplete, so the unified profile is an approximation rather than a record.
  • The library is tied to a GOG account, and while the installers you have downloaded remain yours, everything else about the client depends on that account remaining in good standing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Battle.net

Free
  • Battle.net clientFree
    • Free client and account
    • Free to play titles including Hearthstone and Overwatch 2
    • Games and expansions bought individually
  • World of Warcraft subscription$14.99/month
    • Monthly recurring subscription with cheaper three and six month terms
    • Includes access to the current retail and classic realms
    • Can be paid with in game tokens bought from other players

GOG Galaxy

Free
  • GOG GalaxyFree
    • Client free to download and use
    • No subscription
    • Games purchased individually

Which should you pick?

Choose Battle.net if

  • You need game installation and patching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want account services.
Battle.net review

Choose GOG Galaxy if

  • You need drm-free installs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want build rollback.
GOG Galaxy review

Questions people ask

Is Battle.net or GOG Galaxy better?
Neither clearly leads. Battle.net starts at Free and GOG Galaxy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Battle.net or GOG Galaxy?
Battle.net starts at Free and GOG Galaxy at Free.
Does Battle.net or GOG Galaxy run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Battle.net for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Battle.net best used for?
Battle.net is most often used for playing any current blizzard title, since the launcher is mandatory whether or not you bought through steam, running a world of warcraft subscription and paying for it with in game gold through tokens instead of cash, keeping call of duty installs and updates managed on pc without going through the xbox app, households that need play time and purchase limits applied to a child account by a parent. Of those, playing any current blizzard title, since the launcher is mandatory whether or not you bought through steam and running a world of warcraft subscription and paying for it with in game gold through tokens instead of cash are not what GOG Galaxy is typically brought in for.
What can Battle.net do that GOG Galaxy cannot?
Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, Account services, Social layer, In game shops. GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Build rollback, Multi-store import, Cloud saves.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Battle.net: Do I still need Battle.net if I buy a Blizzard game on Steam?

Yes. Steam versions launch through Battle.net and require a linked Blizzard account, so you run both clients.

GOG Galaxy: Do I need Galaxy to play GOG games?

No, and that is the point. Every game has a standalone offline installer and runs with no client present.

Battle.net: Can I get a refund?

Blizzard offers refunds within a narrow window and playtime limit, decided case by case. It is significantly less generous than the Steam two hour policy.

GOG Galaxy: Does it work on Linux?

There is no official Linux client. Linux and Steam Deck users generally reach GOG libraries through Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris.

Battle.net: What happened to Battle.net after Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard?

It continues to operate as the launcher for Blizzard titles, but Microsoft has also returned those games to Steam, so it is no longer the only purchase route.

GOG Galaxy: Are the other-store integrations reliable?

They are community plugins. They work well until the connected service changes something, and there is no support commitment behind them.

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