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Gaming · head to head

Battle.net vs Ubisoft Connect

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
Ubisoft Connect logo

Ubisoft Connect

Gaming

Ubisoft launcher, rewards programme and the Ubisoft+ subscription

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.; Ubisoft Connect ubisoft revoked access to The Crew after shutting its servers down in 2024, which established that a purchased title with a single player mode can be made unplayable, and no purchase here is insulated from that.
  • They diverge on capability: Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, Ubisoft Connect covers Launcher and patching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Battle.net and Ubisoft Connect actually diverge.

Attributes where Battle.net and Ubisoft Connect differ
AttributeBattle.netUbisoft Connect
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer user per month
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web

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 Ubisoft Connect

  • Launcher and patching
  • Cross platform progression
  • Units rewards
  • Ubisoft+ Premium
  • Ubisoft+ Classics
  • Cloud saves

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

Ubisoft Connect

  • Playing a single big Ubisoft release at launch for one or two months of subscription instead of seventy up frontnot Battle.net
  • Carrying progress between a PC and a console on titles that support cross platform savesnot Battle.net
  • Households already on PlayStation Plus at a tier that bundles Ubisoft+ Classics, where the back catalogue costs nothing extranot Battle.net
  • Running Ubisoft titles bought on Steam, where the launcher is required whether you want it or notnot 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.

Ubisoft Connect

  • Ubisoft revoked access to The Crew after shutting its servers down in 2024, which established that a purchased title with a single player mode can be made unplayable, and no purchase here is insulated from that.
  • The launcher is mandatory even for copies bought on Steam or Epic, so you run two clients, two overlays and two update services for one game.
  • Ubisoft+ leaves nothing behind when you stop paying and there is no credit toward buying a title outright, so a subscription kept across a quiet release year is money with no residue.
  • Ubisoft has operated an inactive account closure policy, which means a library can be put at risk by simply not logging in for a long period.
  • At around eighteen a month the Premium tier costs more than three big releases a year, so it only pays for players who genuinely play a lot of Ubisoft output.

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

Ubisoft Connect

Free
  • Ubisoft ConnectFree
    • Free launcher, account and rewards programme
    • Required to run Ubisoft titles bought anywhere
    • Games bought individually from the store
  • Ubisoft+ Premium$17.99/month
    • New PC releases at launch
    • Back catalogue, expansions and premium editions
    • Cancel any time, access ends immediately
  • Ubisoft+ Classics$7.99/month
    • Console tier covering older titles
    • Included within some PlayStation Plus tiers

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 Ubisoft Connect if

  • You need launcher and patching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web.
  • You also want cross platform progression.
Ubisoft Connect review

Questions people ask

Is Battle.net or Ubisoft Connect better?
Neither clearly leads. Battle.net starts at Free and Ubisoft Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Battle.net or Ubisoft Connect?
Battle.net starts at Free and Ubisoft Connect at Free.
Does Battle.net or Ubisoft Connect run on more platforms?
Battle.net runs on Windows, macOS. Ubisoft Connect runs on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web.
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 Ubisoft Connect is typically brought in for.
What can Battle.net do that Ubisoft Connect cannot?
Battle.net covers Game installation and patching, Account services, Social layer, In game shops. Ubisoft Connect covers Launcher and patching, Cross platform progression, Units rewards, Ubisoft+ Premium.

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.

Ubisoft Connect: Do I need Ubisoft Connect if I buy on Steam?

Yes. Ubisoft PC titles bought on Steam still install and launch the Ubisoft Connect client and require a Ubisoft account.

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.

Ubisoft Connect: Can Ubisoft take away a game I bought?

It has done so. The Crew was delisted and access revoked in 2024 after the servers were shut down. Treat purchases as licences, not property.

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.

Ubisoft Connect: Does Ubisoft+ include Assassin Creed releases at launch?

Premium does on PC. The cheaper Classics tier covers older titles only, so new releases are not included there.

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