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GOG Galaxy vs Heroic Games Launcher

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
Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • They diverge on capability: GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GOG Galaxy and Heroic Games Launcher actually diverge.

Attributes where GOG Galaxy and Heroic Games Launcher differ
AttributeGOG GalaxyHeroic Games Launcher
Pricing modelFree, no licence feeOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOSLinux, Windows, 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 GOG Galaxy

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

Only in Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Cross-platform
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Add to Steam

Both cover

  • Cloud saves

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GOG Galaxy

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

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot GOG Galaxy
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot GOG Galaxy
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot GOG Galaxy
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot GOG Galaxy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

Pricing, plan by plan

GOG Galaxy

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

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cross-platform.
Heroic Games Launcher review

Questions people ask

Is GOG Galaxy or Heroic Games Launcher better?
Neither clearly leads. GOG Galaxy starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GOG Galaxy or Heroic Games Launcher?
GOG Galaxy starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free.
Does GOG Galaxy or Heroic Games Launcher run on more platforms?
GOG Galaxy runs on Windows, macOS. Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use GOG Galaxy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GOG Galaxy best used for?
GOG Galaxy is most often used for a player who wants purchased games to keep working without a storefront running or an account signed in, rolling a game back to an earlier build after an update broke it or removed content, seeing a library spread across several stores and consoles in one list, archiving offline installers so a collection survives a store or account problem. Of those, a player who wants purchased games to keep working without a storefront running or an account signed in and rolling a game back to an earlier build after an update broke it or removed content are not what Heroic Games Launcher is typically brought in for.
What can GOG Galaxy do that Heroic Games Launcher cannot?
GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Build rollback, Multi-store import, Unified achievements and playtime. Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging. Both handle Cloud saves.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

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