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Gaming · head to head

Humble Bundle vs itch.io

Humble Bundle logo

Humble Bundle

Gaming

Pay what you want game, book and software bundles with a bounded charity split

From
$11.99/month
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

  • Only itch.io has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Humble Bundle almost every bundle now delivers Steam keys, so buyers who specifically want DRM-free copies get far fewer of them than the site supplied in its first decade.; itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation
  • They diverge on capability: Humble Bundle covers Tiered bundles, itch.io covers Open publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Humble Bundle and itch.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Humble Bundle and itch.io differ
AttributeHumble Bundleitch.io
Starting price$11.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPay what you want per bundle, or a monthly subscriptionFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on sales
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

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 Humble Bundle

  • Tiered bundles
  • Charity allocation
  • Humble Choice
  • Store discounts
  • Book and software bundles
  • Gift links

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.

Humble Bundle

  • Building a large PC backlog cheaply, especially for a Steam Deck or a low-spec laptopnot itch.io
  • Buying game development asset packs, engines plugins and ebooks at a fraction of list pricenot itch.io
  • Charitable giving that is tied to something the buyer wanted anywaynot itch.io
  • Publishers clearing back catalogue and generating wishlist traffic for a sequelnot itch.io

itch.io

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

Where each one falls short

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

Humble Bundle

  • Almost every bundle now delivers Steam keys, so buyers who specifically want DRM-free copies get far fewer of them than the site supplied in its first decade.
  • The charity slider is bounded, so you cannot direct the whole payment to the cause; a fixed portion always reaches the publishers and Humble no matter where you drag it.
  • Bundle composition is dominated by back catalogue and publisher overstock, so a buyer who wants recent releases will pay full price elsewhere most months.
  • Humble Choice games must be claimed while the subscription is active; forget a month without pausing and that set is gone, which turns a subscription into a monthly chore.
  • Ownership sits with Ziff Davis through IGN Entertainment, and the Humble Games publishing arm was gutted in 2024, so the pipeline of titles the company controls directly is much thinner than it was.

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

Humble Bundle

$11.99/month
  • Bundles$undefined/one-time
    • Pay what you want above a stated minimum
    • Higher tiers unlock additional titles
    • Split between charity, publishers and Humble adjustable within bounds
  • Humble Choice$11.99/month
    • A set of games each month, typically around eight
    • Titles claimed during an active month are kept permanently
    • Months can be paused rather than skipped

itch.io

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Humble Bundle if

  • You need tiered bundles.
  • You also want charity allocation.
Humble Bundle 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 Humble Bundle or itch.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Humble Bundle starts at $11.99/month and itch.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Humble Bundle or itch.io?
itch.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $11.99/month for Humble Bundle and Free for itch.io.
Does Humble Bundle or itch.io run on more platforms?
Humble Bundle runs on Web. itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use itch.io for free?
Yes. itch.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Humble Bundle starts at $11.99/month.
What is Humble Bundle best used for?
Humble Bundle is most often used for building a large pc backlog cheaply, especially for a steam deck or a low-spec laptop, buying game development asset packs, engines plugins and ebooks at a fraction of list price, charitable giving that is tied to something the buyer wanted anyway, publishers clearing back catalogue and generating wishlist traffic for a sequel. Of those, building a large pc backlog cheaply, especially for a steam deck or a low-spec laptop and buying game development asset packs, engines plugins and ebooks at a fraction of list price are not what itch.io is typically brought in for.
What can Humble Bundle do that itch.io cannot?
Humble Bundle covers Tiered bundles, Charity allocation, Humble Choice, Store discounts. itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Humble Bundle: Do I own the games permanently?

Yes for bundle purchases and for Humble Choice titles you claim while subscribed. What you own is a key redeemed on Steam or another store, so the games live under that account, not under Humble.

itch.io: Is itch.io free?

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

Humble Bundle: Can I still give one hundred percent to charity?

No. Since 2019 the slider has bounds, and a portion of every payment goes to the publishers and to Humble regardless of how you set it.

itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

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

Humble Bundle: Are the keys region locked?

Some are. Publishers set region restrictions per bundle and Humble states them on the page. Keys are non-refundable once revealed, so check before you reveal.

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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