Softwr

Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs Humble Bundle

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Humble Bundle logo

Humble Bundle

Gaming

Pay what you want game, book and software bundles with a bounded charity split

From
$11.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Epic Games Store has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Epic Games Store far fewer community features than Steam: no workshop, limited forums and a weaker review system; Humble Bundle almost every bundle now delivers Steam keys, so buyers who specifically want DRM-free copies get far fewer of them than the site supplied in its first decade.
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Humble Bundle covers Tiered bundles.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Epic Games Store and Humble Bundle differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreHumble Bundle
Starting priceFree$11.99/month
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelyPay what you want per bundle, or a monthly subscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWeb

Identical on both: 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 Humble Bundle

  • Tiered bundles
  • Charity allocation
  • Humble Choice
  • Store discounts
  • Book and software bundles
  • Gift links

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 Humble Bundle
  • Claiming the weekly free gamenot Humble Bundle
  • Developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standardnot Humble Bundle

Humble Bundle

  • Building a large PC backlog cheaply, especially for a Steam Deck or a low-spec laptopnot Epic Games Store
  • Buying game development asset packs, engines plugins and ebooks at a fraction of list pricenot Epic Games Store
  • Charitable giving that is tied to something the buyer wanted anywaynot Epic Games Store
  • Publishers clearing back catalogue and generating wishlist traffic for a sequelnot 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

Humble Bundle

  • Almost every bundle now delivers Steam keys, so buyers who specifically want DRM-free copies get far fewer of them than the site supplied in its first decade.
  • The charity slider is bounded, so you cannot direct the whole payment to the cause; a fixed portion always reaches the publishers and Humble no matter where you drag it.
  • Bundle composition is dominated by back catalogue and publisher overstock, so a buyer who wants recent releases will pay full price elsewhere most months.
  • Humble Choice games must be claimed while the subscription is active; forget a month without pausing and that set is gone, which turns a subscription into a monthly chore.
  • Ownership sits with Ziff Davis through IGN Entertainment, and the Humble Games publishing arm was gutted in 2024, so the pipeline of titles the company controls directly is much thinner than it was.

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

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

Humble Bundle

$11.99/month
  • Bundles$undefined/one-time
    • Pay what you want above a stated minimum
    • Higher tiers unlock additional titles
    • Split between charity, publishers and Humble adjustable within bounds
  • Humble Choice$11.99/month
    • A set of games each month, typically around eight
    • Titles claimed during an active month are kept permanently
    • Months can be paused rather than skipped

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 Humble Bundle if

  • You need tiered bundles.
  • You also want charity allocation.
Humble Bundle review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or Humble Bundle better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and Humble Bundle at $11.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or Humble Bundle?
Epic Games Store has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Epic Games Store and $11.99/month for Humble Bundle.
Does Epic Games Store or Humble Bundle run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Humble Bundle runs on Web.
Can I use Epic Games Store for free?
Yes. Epic Games Store has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Humble Bundle starts at $11.99/month.
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 Humble Bundle is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that Humble Bundle cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services. Humble Bundle covers Tiered bundles, Charity allocation, Humble Choice, Store discounts.

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.

Humble Bundle: Do I own the games permanently?

Yes for bundle purchases and for Humble Choice titles you claim while subscribed. What you own is a key redeemed on Steam or another store, so the games live under that account, not under Humble.

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.

Humble Bundle: Can I still give one hundred percent to charity?

No. Since 2019 the slider has bounds, and a portion of every payment goes to the publishers and to Humble regardless of how you set it.

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.

Humble Bundle: Are the keys region locked?

Some are. Publishers set region restrictions per bundle and Humble states them on the page. Keys are non-refundable once revealed, so check before you reveal.

Share

Related pages

More on Epic Games Store

More on Humble Bundle

Keep looking

Other head to heads