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Gaming · head to head

GOG Galaxy vs itch.io

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
itch.io logo

itch.io

Gaming

Open marketplace for indie games and game assets

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.; itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation
  • They diverge on capability: GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, itch.io covers Open publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GOG Galaxy and itch.io actually diverge.

Attributes where GOG Galaxy and itch.io differ
AttributeGOG Galaxyitch.io
Pricing modelFree, no licence feeFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on sales
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

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
  • Cloud saves
  • Unified achievements and playtime
  • Friends and presence

Only in itch.io

  • Open publishing
  • Creator-set revenue share
  • Game jams
  • Pay what you want

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 itch.io
  • Rolling a game back to an earlier build after an update broke it or removed contentnot itch.io
  • Seeing a library spread across several stores and consoles in one listnot itch.io
  • Archiving offline installers so a collection survives a store or account problemnot itch.io

itch.io

  • Publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval processnot GOG Galaxy
  • Running or entering a game jamnot GOG Galaxy
  • Buying game assets, tools and charity bundlesnot 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.

itch.io

  • Open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation
  • Discovery is difficult: without curation, a new release can go entirely unseen
  • Consumer audience is far smaller than the mainstream storefronts
  • Client and library features are minimal compared with Steam or GOG

Pricing, plan by plan

GOG Galaxy

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

itch.io

Free
  • itch.ioFree
    • Free publishing
    • Creator-set revenue share
    • Game jam hosting

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 itch.io if

  • You need open publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want creator-set revenue share.
itch.io review

Questions people ask

Is GOG Galaxy or itch.io better?
Neither clearly leads. GOG Galaxy starts at Free and itch.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GOG Galaxy or itch.io?
GOG Galaxy starts at Free and itch.io at Free.
Does GOG Galaxy or itch.io run on more platforms?
GOG Galaxy runs on Windows, macOS. itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 itch.io is typically brought in for.
What can GOG Galaxy do that itch.io cannot?
GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Build rollback, Multi-store import, Cloud saves. itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want.

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.

itch.io: Is itch.io free?

Yes to publish, and creators set their own revenue share on sales — including zero.

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.

itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

Independent and experimental developers, students, and most major game jams including Ludum Dare submissions.

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.

itch.io: Why is discovery hard there?

Because publishing is open and uncurated. That is what makes it accessible to any creator, and it means new releases can go unseen.

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