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Gaming · head to head

itch.io vs Steam

itch.io logo

itch.io

Gaming

Open marketplace for indie games and game assets

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Steam logo

Steam

Gaming

The ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games

From
On request
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: itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation; Steam not a subscription-based platform; operates as a digital game store with per-title pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where itch.io and Steam differ
Attributeitch.ioSteam
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on salessubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxWeb

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 itch.io

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

Only in Steam

Nothing recorded that itch.io does not also cover.

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 Steam
  • Running or entering a game jamnot Steam
  • Buying game assets, tools and charity bundlesnot Steam

Steam

  • PC game distribution and purchasenot itch.io
  • Digital game library managementnot itch.io
  • Multiplayer gaming platformnot 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

Steam

  • Not a subscription-based platform; operates as a digital game store with per-title pricing
  • No service tiers or platform access fees; users access the platform free

Pricing, plan by plan

itch.io

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

Steam

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Steam review.

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 Steam if

Nothing in the data separates Steam from itch.io on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Steam review

Questions people ask

Is itch.io or Steam better?
Neither clearly leads. itch.io starts at Free and Steam at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, itch.io or Steam?
itch.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for itch.io and On request for Steam.
Does itch.io or Steam run on more platforms?
itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Steam runs on Web.
Can I use itch.io for free?
Yes. itch.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Steam starts at On request.
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 Steam is typically brought in for.
What can itch.io do that Steam cannot?
itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want.

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.

Steam: Is there a cost to create a Steam account and download games?

No, creating a Steam account and accessing the platform is completely free. Individual games are sold at varying prices, and many titles are free-to-play. There is no platform subscription or membership fee required to use Steam.

Source
itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

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

Steam: Are free-to-play games truly available on Steam at no cost?

Yes, Steam hosts numerous free-to-play titles including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. Players can download and play these games without any payment, though in-game cosmetics and passes may be available for purchase.

Source
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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