Softwr

Software · head to head

Steam vs Unreal Engine

S

Steam

Software

The ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unreal Engine logo

Unreal Engine

Software

The world's most open and advanced real-time 3D creation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Unreal Engine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Steam publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue; Unreal Engine 5% royalty triggered on any project exceeding $1 million in gross revenue across all revenue sources

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Steam and Unreal Engine actually diverge.

Attributes where Steam and Unreal Engine differ
AttributeSteamUnreal Engine
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebPC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR
FoundedUnknown1991

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Steam

Nothing recorded that Unreal Engine does not also cover.

Only in Unreal Engine

  • Real-time ray tracing
  • Nanite geometry
  • Lumen global illumination
  • Blueprint visual scripting
  • C++ programming
  • World composition
  • Animation systems
  • Audio engine

What people use each for

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

Steam

No use cases recorded yet. See the Steam review.

Unreal Engine

  • AAA game developmentnot Steam
  • Indie game creationnot Steam
  • Architectural visualizationnot Steam
  • Film and TV productionnot Steam
  • VR/AR experiencesnot Steam

Where each one falls short

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

Steam

  • Publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue
  • Core purchases and library are tied to a single Steam account with no vendor-stated official resale or transfer mechanism for owned games

Unreal Engine

  • 5% royalty triggered on any project exceeding $1 million in gross revenue across all revenue sources
  • Smaller mobile game ecosystem compared to Unity, with fewer optimized mobile libraries and live-ops services

Pricing, plan by plan

Steam

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Steam review.

Unreal Engine

Free
  • Game DevelopmentFree
    • Nanite geometry
    • Lumen global illumination
    • Blueprint visual scripting
  • Non-Game Commercial$1850/year
    • No royalties
    • Enterprise features

Which should you pick?

Choose Steam if

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

Steam review

Choose Unreal Engine if

  • You need real-time ray tracing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR.
  • You also want nanite geometry.
Unreal Engine review

Questions people ask

Is Steam or Unreal Engine better?
Neither clearly leads. Steam starts at On request and Unreal Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Steam or Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Steam and Free for Unreal Engine.
Does Steam or Unreal Engine run on more platforms?
Steam runs on Web. Unreal Engine runs on PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR.
Can I use Unreal Engine for free?
Yes. Unreal Engine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Steam starts at On request.
What can Steam do that Unreal Engine cannot?
Unreal Engine covers Real-time ray tracing, Nanite geometry, Lumen global illumination, Blueprint visual scripting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unreal Engine: What is Unreal Engine's royalty structure?

Unreal Engine is free upfront with a 5% royalty on gross revenue worldwide after a project exceeds $1 million in lifetime gross revenue. This includes in-app purchases, advertising, and direct sales but excludes indirect revenue.

Source
Unreal Engine: What platforms can Unreal Engine target?

Unreal Engine supports PC, VR, AR, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. The royalty fee applies across all platforms.

Source
Unreal Engine: What are Unreal Engine's graphics capabilities?

Unreal Engine 5 features Nanite virtualized geometry and Lumen global illumination, enabling photorealistic AAA workflows. Nanite replaces traditional LOD systems with 128-triangle clusters and software rasterization for superior visual fidelity.

Source
Unreal Engine: Do non-game developers pay royalties?

No. Non-game commercial teams pay $1,850 per seat per year instead of royalties. This covers enterprise use cases outside traditional game development.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Steam

More on Unreal Engine

Keep looking

Other head to heads