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Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs Xbox Game Pass

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xbox Game Pass logo

Xbox Game Pass

Gaming

Play together with friends, new games and classic favorites

From
On request
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; Xbox Game Pass day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic Games Store and Xbox Game Pass actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic Games Store and Xbox Game Pass differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreXbox Game Pass
Starting priceFreeOn request
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 Xbox Game Pass

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 Xbox Game Pass
  • Claiming the weekly free gamenot Xbox Game Pass
  • Developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standardnot Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

  • Access hundreds of games without individual purchasesnot Epic Games Store
  • Play new AAA titles on day one of releasenot Epic Games Store
  • Stream games across multiple devices seamlesslynot Epic Games Store
  • Earn rewards points while gaming and shoppingnot Epic Games Store
  • Experience multiplayer gaming with online friendsnot 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

Xbox Game Pass

  • Day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Cloud gaming quality is explicitly tiered, with the vendor stating Premium gets improved cloud quality and only Ultimate gets premium cloud gaming

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

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

Xbox Game Pass

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Xbox Game Pass review.

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 Xbox Game Pass if

Nothing in the data separates Xbox Game Pass from Epic Games Store on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Xbox Game Pass review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or Xbox Game Pass better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and Xbox Game Pass at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or Xbox Game Pass?
Epic Games Store has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Epic Games Store and On request for Xbox Game Pass.
Does Epic Games Store or Xbox Game Pass run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Xbox Game Pass 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. Xbox Game Pass starts at On request.
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 Xbox Game Pass is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that Xbox Game Pass 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.

Xbox Game Pass: What are the pricing tiers and trial offers?

Essential tier: Get your first month for $1, then regular pricing. Premium tier: Get your first 14 days for $1, then regular pricing. Ultimate plan: regular pricing with no trial discount mentioned.

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.

Xbox Game Pass: How many games are included in each tier?

Library varies: 50+ games (Essential), 200+ (Premium), 500+ (Ultimate), 300+ (PC-only)

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.

Xbox Game Pass: How long can I access games on Game Pass?

Game Pass subscribers enjoy access to games in the library until either the subscription is canceled/expires, or a game leaves the Game Pass library.

Source
Xbox Game Pass: What is the refund policy?

If you cancel your subscription within 30 days after payment, you may qualify for a one-time refund of recurring charges.

Source
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