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Gaming · head to head

Fanatical vs itch.io

Fanatical logo

Fanatical

Gaming

Authorised key store built around build your own bundles of mostly Steam titles

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: Fanatical almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.; itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation
  • They diverge on capability: Fanatical covers Build your own bundle, itch.io covers Open publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fanatical and itch.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Fanatical and itch.io differ
AttributeFanaticalitch.io
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on sales
PlatformsWebWeb, 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 Fanatical

  • Build your own bundle
  • Star Deals
  • Authorised sourcing
  • Mixed media bundles
  • Steam first catalogue
  • Wishlist alerts

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.

Fanatical

  • Filling a Steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundlenot itch.io
  • Buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplacenot itch.io
  • Picking up a headline title on a Star Deal that undercuts the concurrent Steam sale pricenot itch.io
  • Buying several copies of an inexpensive multiplayer game for a group without paying full price eachnot itch.io

itch.io

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

Where each one falls short

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

Fanatical

  • Almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.
  • Bundle pools are weighted towards older and low profile titles, and the advertised saving is measured against list prices that the same games rarely sell at any more.
  • There is no refund once a key has been revealed, which is stricter than Steam and leaves no route out of an impulse purchase.
  • Duplicate keys from bundles have no resale route because an activated Steam key cannot be transferred, so overlapping bundle purchases are simply wasted money.
  • Some titles carry regional activation locks, and prices are set per currency rather than tracking exchange rates, so buyers outside the main markets can end up paying more than the local store price.

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

Fanatical

Free
  • Store accountFree
    • Free account, you pay per title or per bundle
    • Build your own bundles at a fixed price for a chosen number of titles
    • Most keys activate on Steam

itch.io

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Fanatical if

  • You need build your own bundle.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want star deals.
Fanatical 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 Fanatical or itch.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Fanatical 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, Fanatical or itch.io?
Fanatical starts at Free and itch.io at Free.
Does Fanatical or itch.io run on more platforms?
Fanatical runs on Web. itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Fanatical for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Fanatical best used for?
Fanatical is most often used for filling a steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundle, buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplace, picking up a headline title on a star deal that undercuts the concurrent steam sale price, buying several copies of an inexpensive multiplayer game for a group without paying full price each. Of those, filling a steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundle and buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplace are not what itch.io is typically brought in for.
What can Fanatical do that itch.io cannot?
Fanatical covers Build your own bundle, Star Deals, Authorised sourcing, Mixed media bundles. itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fanatical: Are Fanatical keys official?

Yes. Fanatical sources under publisher and distributor agreements, unlike marketplaces where individual sellers list keys of unknown origin.

itch.io: Is itch.io free?

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

Fanatical: Can I return a bundle I do not want?

Not once keys have been revealed. Check the contents against your existing library before buying, because duplicates cannot be resold.

itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

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

Fanatical: Do the keys work outside the United Kingdom?

Usually yes, but individual titles can be region restricted and the restriction is listed on the product page rather than applied automatically at checkout.

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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