Softwr

Gaming · head to head

Heroic Games Launcher vs Xbox Game Pass

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
Xbox Game Pass logo

Xbox Game Pass

Gaming

Play together with friends, new games and classic favorites

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Xbox Game Pass day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroic Games Launcher and Xbox Game Pass actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroic Games Launcher and Xbox Game Pass differ
AttributeHeroic Games LauncherXbox Game Pass
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSWeb

Identical on both: 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 Heroic Games Launcher

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

Only in Xbox Game Pass

Nothing recorded that Heroic Games Launcher does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Heroic Games Launcher

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

Xbox Game Pass

  • Access hundreds of games without individual purchasesnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Play new AAA titles on day one of releasenot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Stream games across multiple devices seamlesslynot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Earn rewards points while gaming and shoppingnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Experience multiplayer gaming with online friendsnot Heroic Games Launcher

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Xbox Game Pass

  • Day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Cloud gaming quality is explicitly tiered, with the vendor stating Premium gets improved cloud quality and only Ultimate gets premium cloud gaming

Pricing, plan by plan

Heroic Games Launcher

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

Xbox Game Pass

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Xbox Game Pass review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Xbox Game Pass if

Nothing in the data separates Xbox Game Pass from Heroic Games Launcher on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Xbox Game Pass review

Questions people ask

Is Heroic Games Launcher or Xbox Game Pass better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroic Games Launcher starts at Free and Xbox Game Pass at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroic Games Launcher or Xbox Game Pass?
Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Heroic Games Launcher and On request for Xbox Game Pass.
Does Heroic Games Launcher or Xbox Game Pass run on more platforms?
Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. Xbox Game Pass runs on Web.
Can I use Heroic Games Launcher for free?
Yes. Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xbox Game Pass starts at On request.
What is Heroic Games Launcher best used for?
Heroic Games Launcher is most often used for a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own, a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand, a macos user wanting access to a gog library without a windows machine, someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on windows. Of those, a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own and a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand are not what Xbox Game Pass is typically brought in for.
What can Heroic Games Launcher do that Xbox Game Pass cannot?
Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Xbox Game Pass: What are the pricing tiers and trial offers?

Essential tier: Get your first month for $1, then regular pricing. Premium tier: Get your first 14 days for $1, then regular pricing. Ultimate plan: regular pricing with no trial discount mentioned.

Source
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.

Xbox Game Pass: How many games are included in each tier?

Library varies: 50+ games (Essential), 200+ (Premium), 500+ (Ultimate), 300+ (PC-only)

Source
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.

Xbox Game Pass: How long can I access games on Game Pass?

Game Pass subscribers enjoy access to games in the library until either the subscription is canceled/expires, or a game leaves the Game Pass library.

Source
Xbox Game Pass: What is the refund policy?

If you cancel your subscription within 30 days after payment, you may qualify for a one-time refund of recurring charges.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Heroic Games Launcher

More on Xbox Game Pass

Keep looking

Other head to heads