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Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs YouTube

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

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; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, YouTube covers Video hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Epic Games Store and YouTube differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreYouTube
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelyfreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryGamingEntertainment
FoundedUnknown2005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

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

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot Epic Games Store
  • Content marketingnot Epic Games Store
  • Educationnot Epic Games Store
  • Entertainmentnot Epic Games Store
  • Live streamingnot 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

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

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

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

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 YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or YouTube?
Epic Games Store starts at Free and YouTube at Free.
Does Epic Games Store or YouTube run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
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 YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that YouTube cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools.

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.

YouTube: Does YouTube offer a Premium subscription?

Yes. YouTube offers a Premium subscription tier, but specific pricing details are not available in the main website footer and require visiting YouTube's dedicated Premium page.

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.

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.

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Related pages

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More on YouTube

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