Softwr

Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs GOG Galaxy

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GOG Galaxy logo

GOG Galaxy

Gaming

Free optional client from CD Projekt that aggregates other storefronts and keeps GOG downloads DRM-free

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; GOG Galaxy there is no Linux client, so Steam Deck and Linux desktop users need a third-party launcher to reach a GOG library at all.
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Epic Games Store and GOG Galaxy differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreGOG Galaxy
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelyFree, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWindows, macOS

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 GOG Galaxy

  • DRM-free installs
  • Build rollback
  • Multi-store import
  • Cloud saves
  • Unified achievements and playtime
  • Friends and presence

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

GOG Galaxy

  • A player who wants purchased games to keep working without a storefront running or an account signed innot Epic Games Store
  • Rolling a game back to an earlier build after an update broke it or removed contentnot Epic Games Store
  • Seeing a library spread across several stores and consoles in one listnot Epic Games Store
  • Archiving offline installers so a collection survives a store or account problemnot 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

GOG Galaxy

  • There is no Linux client, so Steam Deck and Linux desktop users need a third-party launcher to reach a GOG library at all.
  • Multi-store integrations are community plugins rather than supported features, and they break when the connected service changes its interface with no commitment to a fix.
  • Version 2.0 has remained in beta for years with infrequent updates, which is a poor signal about how much development the client receives.
  • Imported achievements and playtime from other services are read-only and often incomplete, so the unified profile is an approximation rather than a record.
  • The library is tied to a GOG account, and while the installers you have downloaded remain yours, everything else about the client depends on that account remaining in good standing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

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

GOG Galaxy

Free
  • GOG GalaxyFree
    • Client free to download and use
    • No subscription
    • Games purchased individually

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 GOG Galaxy if

  • You need drm-free installs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want build rollback.
GOG Galaxy review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or GOG Galaxy better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and GOG Galaxy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or GOG Galaxy?
Epic Games Store starts at Free and GOG Galaxy at Free.
Does Epic Games Store or GOG Galaxy run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. GOG Galaxy runs on Windows, macOS.
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 GOG Galaxy is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that GOG Galaxy cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services. GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Build rollback, Multi-store import, Cloud saves.

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.

GOG Galaxy: Do I need Galaxy to play GOG games?

No, and that is the point. Every game has a standalone offline installer and runs with no client present.

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.

GOG Galaxy: Does it work on Linux?

There is no official Linux client. Linux and Steam Deck users generally reach GOG libraries through Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris.

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.

GOG Galaxy: Are the other-store integrations reliable?

They are community plugins. They work well until the connected service changes something, and there is no support commitment behind them.

Share

Related pages

More on Epic Games Store

More on GOG Galaxy

Keep looking

Other head to heads