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Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs Nintendo Switch Online

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nintendo Switch Online logo

Nintendo Switch Online

Gaming

Online play, classic games and more

From
$19.99/year
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; Nintendo Switch Online free trial requires credit card or PayPal, automatically converts to paid after 7 days
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch Online actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch Online differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreNintendo Switch Online
Starting priceFree$19.99/year
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelysubscription
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 Nintendo Switch Online

Nothing recorded that Epic Games Store does not also cover.

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 Nintendo Switch Online
  • Claiming the weekly free gamenot Nintendo Switch Online
  • Developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standardnot Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online

  • Online multiplayer gaming for Nintendo Switch ownersnot Epic Games Store
  • Access to classic NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, and GameCube titlesnot Epic Games Store
  • Family gaming with multi-account supportnot 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

Nintendo Switch Online

  • Free trial requires credit card or PayPal, automatically converts to paid after 7 days
  • Premium plan at $49.99/year is 2.5x the cost of Standard but limited to specific retro titles
  • No included modern games; mostly focuses on classic Nintendo titles

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

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

Nintendo Switch Online

$19.99/year
  • Standard - Individual$19.99/year
    • Play compatible games online with friends and family
    • GameChat functionality
    • Access to classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy titles
  • Standard - Family$34.99/year
    • All Standard benefits
    • Up to 8 Nintendo accounts
    • Each person saves approximately $4.37/year
  • Premium - Individual$49.99/year
    • All Standard membership benefits
    • Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and SEGA Genesis games
    • Virtual Boy titles
  • Premium - Family$79.99/year
    • All Premium benefits
    • Up to 8 Nintendo accounts
    • Each person saves approximately $10/year

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 Nintendo Switch Online if

Nothing in the data separates Nintendo Switch Online from Epic Games Store on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Nintendo Switch Online review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or Nintendo Switch Online better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and Nintendo Switch Online at $19.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or Nintendo Switch Online?
Epic Games Store has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Epic Games Store and $19.99/year for Nintendo Switch Online.
Does Epic Games Store or Nintendo Switch Online run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Nintendo Switch Online 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. Nintendo Switch Online starts at $19.99/year.
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 Nintendo Switch Online is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that Nintendo Switch Online cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services.

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.

Nintendo Switch Online: How much does Nintendo Switch Online cost?

Nintendo Switch Online Standard costs $19.99 per year for one account or $34.99 per year for up to 8 family accounts. Premium membership with additional retro games costs $49.99 per year for one account or $79.99 per year for up to 8 accounts.

Source
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.

Nintendo Switch Online: Is there a free trial for Nintendo Switch Online?

Yes, Nintendo Switch Online offers a free 7-day trial. A credit card or PayPal account is required to start the trial, and you will be automatically charged unless you cancel before the trial ends.

Source
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.

Nintendo Switch Online: What is the difference between Nintendo Switch Online Standard and Premium?

Standard ($19.99/year individual or $34.99/year family) includes online play, cloud backup, and classic NES/SNES titles. Premium ($49.99/year individual or $79.99/year family) adds Nintendo GameCube, N64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, and Virtual Boy games.

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