itch.io vs Steam

Struggling to choose between itch.io and Steam? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

itch.io is a Games solution with tags like indie-games, game-marketplace, open-source-games.

It boasts features such as Game publishing platform for indie developers, Sell games, assets, books, etc. directly to customers, Customizable storefronts for creators, Built-in tools for managing projects, Community features like forums and jams, Open revenue sharing model and pros including Easy publishing for indie creators, Large audience of gamers looking for content, Very customizable storefronts, Good revenue share for developers, Active community of indie developers.

On the other hand, Steam is a Games product tagged with gaming, digital-distribution, game-library, multiplayer, chat, forums, discounts.

Its standout features include Game library & storefront, Social features like chat & forums, Achievements & trading cards, Remote play & streaming, User reviews & curation, Mod distribution, and it shines with pros like Huge game library, Frequent discounts on games, Convenience of digital downloads, Social features allow connecting with friends, Remote play allows gaming away from PC.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

itch.io

itch.io

itch.io is an open marketplace for independent digital creators with a focus on indie games. It allows developers to upload, publish, sell, and distribute their content easily.

Categories:
indie-games game-marketplace open-source-games

Itch.io Features

  1. Game publishing platform for indie developers
  2. Sell games, assets, books, etc. directly to customers
  3. Customizable storefronts for creators
  4. Built-in tools for managing projects
  5. Community features like forums and jams
  6. Open revenue sharing model

Pricing

  • Free
  • Revenue Share

Pros

Easy publishing for indie creators

Large audience of gamers looking for content

Very customizable storefronts

Good revenue share for developers

Active community of indie developers

Cons

Less features than Steam or other full marketplaces

Lower visibility than mainstream platforms

Less quality control than curated stores

Smaller customer base than mainstream stores


Steam

Steam

Steam is a popular digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation in 2003. It allows users to purchase, play and update games online. Steam offers frequent discounts on games and has a large community with discussion forums and in-game chat.

Categories:
gaming digital-distribution game-library multiplayer chat forums discounts

Steam Features

  1. Game library & storefront
  2. Social features like chat & forums
  3. Achievements & trading cards
  4. Remote play & streaming
  5. User reviews & curation
  6. Mod distribution

Pricing

  • Free
  • One-time Purchase
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Huge game library

Frequent discounts on games

Convenience of digital downloads

Social features allow connecting with friends

Remote play allows gaming away from PC

Cons

DRM restrictions on some games

No ability to resell digital games

Requires an internet connection and Steam client

Technical issues or downtime can prevent gaming

Security vulnerabilities exist