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Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs Fanatical

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fanatical logo

Fanatical

Gaming

Authorised key store built around build your own bundles of mostly Steam titles

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Epic Games Store far fewer community features than Steam: no workshop, limited forums and a weaker review system; Fanatical almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Fanatical covers Build your own bundle.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic Games Store and Fanatical actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic Games Store and Fanatical differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreFanatical
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelyOne-time purchase
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWeb

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 Epic Games Store

  • 12% revenue share
  • Unreal Engine royalty waiver
  • Weekly free games
  • Cross-platform services

Only in Fanatical

  • Build your own bundle
  • Star Deals
  • Authorised sourcing
  • Mixed media bundles
  • Steam first catalogue
  • Wishlist alerts

What people use each for

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

Epic Games Store

  • Buying PC games, often at lower prices than competing storesnot Fanatical
  • Claiming the weekly free gamenot Fanatical
  • Developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standardnot Fanatical

Fanatical

  • Filling a Steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundlenot Epic Games Store
  • Buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplacenot Epic Games Store
  • Picking up a headline title on a Star Deal that undercuts the concurrent Steam sale pricenot Epic Games Store
  • Buying several copies of an inexpensive multiplayer game for a group without paying full price eachnot Epic Games Store

Where each one falls short

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

Epic Games Store

  • Far fewer community features than Steam: no workshop, limited forums and a weaker review system
  • A smaller catalogue, and its exclusivity deals have been unpopular with players
  • The client has a longstanding reputation for being slower and less capable than competitors
  • A smaller audience means developers trade reach for the better revenue split

Fanatical

  • Almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.
  • Bundle pools are weighted towards older and low profile titles, and the advertised saving is measured against list prices that the same games rarely sell at any more.
  • There is no refund once a key has been revealed, which is stricter than Steam and leaves no route out of an impulse purchase.
  • Duplicate keys from bundles have no resale route because an activated Steam key cannot be transferred, so overlapping bundle purchases are simply wasted money.
  • Some titles carry regional activation locks, and prices are set per currency rather than tracking exchange rates, so buyers outside the main markets can end up paying more than the local store price.

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

Free
  • Epic Games StoreFree
    • Free account
    • Weekly free games
    • Game purchases billed individually

Fanatical

Free
  • Store accountFree
    • Free account, you pay per title or per bundle
    • Build your own bundles at a fixed price for a chosen number of titles
    • Most keys activate on Steam

Which should you pick?

Choose Epic Games Store if

  • You need 12% revenue share.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want unreal engine royalty waiver.
Epic Games Store review

Choose Fanatical if

  • You need build your own bundle.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want star deals.
Fanatical review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or Fanatical better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and Fanatical at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or Fanatical?
Epic Games Store starts at Free and Fanatical at Free.
Does Epic Games Store or Fanatical run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Fanatical runs on Web.
Can I use Epic Games Store for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Epic Games Store best used for?
Epic Games Store is most often used for buying pc games, often at lower prices than competing stores, claiming the weekly free game, developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standard. Of those, buying pc games, often at lower prices than competing stores and claiming the weekly free game are not what Fanatical is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that Fanatical cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services. Fanatical covers Build your own bundle, Star Deals, Authorised sourcing, Mixed media bundles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Epic Games Store: Is the Epic Games Store free?

Yes, the store and account are free. Games are purchased individually, and one is given away free each week.

Fanatical: Are Fanatical keys official?

Yes. Fanatical sources under publisher and distributor agreements, unlike marketplaces where individual sellers list keys of unknown origin.

Epic Games Store: Why do developers use it?

A 12% revenue share against the 30% platform standard, plus waived Unreal Engine royalties on sales through the store.

Fanatical: Can I return a bundle I do not want?

Not once keys have been revealed. Check the contents against your existing library before buying, because duplicates cannot be resold.

Epic Games Store: How does it compare with Steam?

Steam has a much larger catalogue and far richer community features. Epic competes on price, developer revenue share and free games.

Fanatical: Do the keys work outside the United Kingdom?

Usually yes, but individual titles can be region restricted and the restriction is listed on the product page rather than applied automatically at checkout.

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