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Gaming · head to head

GOG Galaxy vs Ubisoft Connect

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
Ubisoft Connect logo

Ubisoft Connect

Gaming

Ubisoft launcher, rewards programme and the Ubisoft+ subscription

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.; Ubisoft Connect ubisoft revoked access to The Crew after shutting its servers down in 2024, which established that a purchased title with a single player mode can be made unplayable, and no purchase here is insulated from that.
  • They diverge on capability: GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Ubisoft Connect covers Launcher and patching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GOG Galaxy and Ubisoft Connect actually diverge.

Attributes where GOG Galaxy and Ubisoft Connect differ
AttributeGOG GalaxyUbisoft Connect
Pricing modelFree, no licence feePer user per month
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web

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 Ubisoft Connect

  • Launcher and patching
  • Cross platform progression
  • Units rewards
  • Ubisoft+ Premium
  • Ubisoft+ Classics

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

Ubisoft Connect

  • Playing a single big Ubisoft release at launch for one or two months of subscription instead of seventy up frontnot GOG Galaxy
  • Carrying progress between a PC and a console on titles that support cross platform savesnot GOG Galaxy
  • Households already on PlayStation Plus at a tier that bundles Ubisoft+ Classics, where the back catalogue costs nothing extranot GOG Galaxy
  • Running Ubisoft titles bought on Steam, where the launcher is required whether you want it or notnot 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.

Ubisoft Connect

  • Ubisoft revoked access to The Crew after shutting its servers down in 2024, which established that a purchased title with a single player mode can be made unplayable, and no purchase here is insulated from that.
  • The launcher is mandatory even for copies bought on Steam or Epic, so you run two clients, two overlays and two update services for one game.
  • Ubisoft+ leaves nothing behind when you stop paying and there is no credit toward buying a title outright, so a subscription kept across a quiet release year is money with no residue.
  • Ubisoft has operated an inactive account closure policy, which means a library can be put at risk by simply not logging in for a long period.
  • At around eighteen a month the Premium tier costs more than three big releases a year, so it only pays for players who genuinely play a lot of Ubisoft output.

Pricing, plan by plan

GOG Galaxy

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

Ubisoft Connect

Free
  • Ubisoft ConnectFree
    • Free launcher, account and rewards programme
    • Required to run Ubisoft titles bought anywhere
    • Games bought individually from the store
  • Ubisoft+ Premium$17.99/month
    • New PC releases at launch
    • Back catalogue, expansions and premium editions
    • Cancel any time, access ends immediately
  • Ubisoft+ Classics$7.99/month
    • Console tier covering older titles
    • Included within some PlayStation Plus tiers

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 Ubisoft Connect if

  • You need launcher and patching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web.
  • You also want cross platform progression.
Ubisoft Connect review

Questions people ask

Is GOG Galaxy or Ubisoft Connect better?
Neither clearly leads. GOG Galaxy starts at Free and Ubisoft Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GOG Galaxy or Ubisoft Connect?
GOG Galaxy starts at Free and Ubisoft Connect at Free.
Does GOG Galaxy or Ubisoft Connect run on more platforms?
GOG Galaxy runs on Windows, macOS. Ubisoft Connect runs on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Web.
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 Ubisoft Connect is typically brought in for.
What can GOG Galaxy do that Ubisoft Connect cannot?
GOG Galaxy covers DRM-free installs, Build rollback, Multi-store import, Unified achievements and playtime. Ubisoft Connect covers Launcher and patching, Cross platform progression, Units rewards, Ubisoft+ Premium. 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.

Ubisoft Connect: Do I need Ubisoft Connect if I buy on Steam?

Yes. Ubisoft PC titles bought on Steam still install and launch the Ubisoft Connect client and require a Ubisoft account.

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.

Ubisoft Connect: Can Ubisoft take away a game I bought?

It has done so. The Crew was delisted and access revoked in 2024 after the servers were shut down. Treat purchases as licences, not property.

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.

Ubisoft Connect: Does Ubisoft+ include Assassin Creed releases at launch?

Premium does on PC. The cheaper Classics tier covers older titles only, so new releases are not included there.

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