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Gaming · head to head

itch.io vs Roblox

itch.io logo

itch.io

Gaming

Open marketplace for indie games and game assets

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roblox logo

Roblox

Gaming

A user-generated games platform running on Robux, not a single game, with a developer payout system and a marketplace cut

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation; Roblox robux purchases are real money with no default spending cap, and the currency-conversion layer between real money and in-experience purchases makes actual cost easy for a young player to lose track of.
  • They diverge on capability: itch.io covers Open publishing, Roblox covers Roblox Studio.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where itch.io and Roblox differ
Attributeitch.ioRoblox
Pricing modelFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on salesFree to play, Robux currency packs and a subscription
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Xbox

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 itch.io

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

Only in Roblox

  • Roblox Studio
  • Robux
  • Developer Exchange
  • Avatar marketplace
  • Roblox Premium
  • Age-based content settings

What people use each for

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

itch.io

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

Roblox

  • A player wanting access to thousands of free, independently developed games inside one account rather than downloading separate appsnot itch.io
  • A parent needing to configure spending and content controls given real-money purchases have no default capnot itch.io
  • A young developer or small studio wanting a built-in audience and payment system rather than publishing a standalone app on iOS or Androidnot itch.io
  • A brand or IP holder building a licensed branded experience to reach Robloxs young player basenot itch.io

Where each one falls short

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

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

Roblox

  • Robux purchases are real money with no default spending cap, and the currency-conversion layer between real money and in-experience purchases makes actual cost easy for a young player to lose track of.
  • Developers receive only a portion of what players spend after Roblox commission on Developer Exchange conversions, which is a meaningfully worse revenue share than most standalone app store models.
  • Content quality and moderation vary enormously across millions of user-built experiences, and inappropriate content has repeatedly slipped past moderation despite active enforcement efforts.
  • The platform depends on third-party developers for its content supply, so quality, safety and the pace of new experiences are outside Roblox Corporations direct control.
  • Trading and marketplace features have historically attracted scams targeting younger users, particularly around unofficial Robux trading and item trading outside the official system.

Pricing, plan by plan

itch.io

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

Roblox

Free
  • RobloxFree
    • Free download and play, most experiences free to enter
  • Robux packs$0.99/one-time
    • Robux sold in packs from under 1 USD up to roughly 100 USD, individual experience items priced by the developer
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Monthly Robux allowance included, better Robux exchange rate, access to trading

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Roblox if

  • You need roblox studio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Xbox.
  • You also want robux.
Roblox review

Questions people ask

Is itch.io or Roblox better?
Neither clearly leads. itch.io starts at Free and Roblox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, itch.io or Roblox?
itch.io starts at Free and Roblox at Free.
Does itch.io or Roblox run on more platforms?
itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Roblox runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Xbox.
Can I use itch.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is itch.io best used for?
itch.io is most often used for publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval process, running or entering a game jam, buying game assets, tools and charity bundles. Of those, publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval process and running or entering a game jam are not what Roblox is typically brought in for.
What can itch.io do that Roblox cannot?
itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want. Roblox covers Roblox Studio, Robux, Developer Exchange, Avatar marketplace.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

itch.io: Is itch.io free?

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

Roblox: Is Roblox one game?

No, it is a platform hosting millions of separate games, called experiences, built by independent developers.

itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

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

Roblox: How much do developers actually earn from Robux spent in their experience?

After Roblox commission on Developer Exchange conversion, developers receive a minority of the original real-money value a player spent, though exact rates have changed over time and Roblox publishes current terms.

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.

Roblox: Is there a spending limit on Robux purchases?

Not by default. Parents need to actively configure spending controls through account settings if they want to limit purchases.

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