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Gaming · head to head

Battle.net vs Heroic Games Launcher

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
Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

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.; Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • They diverge on capability: Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Battle.net and Heroic Games Launcher actually diverge.

Attributes where Battle.net and Heroic Games Launcher differ
AttributeBattle.netHeroic Games Launcher
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOSLinux, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Cross-platform
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Cloud saves
  • Add to Steam

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 Heroic Games Launcher
  • Running a World of Warcraft subscription and paying for it with in game gold through tokens instead of cashnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Keeping Call of Duty installs and updates managed on PC without going through the Xbox appnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Households that need play time and purchase limits applied to a child account by a parentnot Heroic Games Launcher

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot Battle.net
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot Battle.net
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot Battle.net
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot 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.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

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

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

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 Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cross-platform.
Heroic Games Launcher review

Questions people ask

Is Battle.net or Heroic Games Launcher better?
Neither clearly leads. Battle.net starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Battle.net or Heroic Games Launcher?
Battle.net starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free.
Does Battle.net or Heroic Games Launcher run on more platforms?
Battle.net runs on Windows, macOS. Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
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 Heroic Games Launcher is typically brought in for.
What can Battle.net do that Heroic Games Launcher cannot?
Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, Account services, Social layer, In game shops. Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

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