Steam vs Desura

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs. Compare features, pricing, pros & cons, and make an informed decision.

Steam icon
Steam
Desura icon
Desura

Expert Analysis & Comparison

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

Steam is a Games solution with tags like gaming, digital-distribution, game-library, multiplayer, chat, forums, discounts.

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

On the other hand, Desura is a Games product tagged with digital-distribution, indie-games, community, recommendations, mods, achievements.

Its standout features include Digital distribution platform for games, Specializes in indie games, Community features for developers and gamers, Recommendation algorithms, Mod support, Achievement tracking, and it shines with pros like Good platform for discovering indie games, Active community engagement, Support for mods extends gameplay, Achievement tracking provides motivation.

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.

Why Compare Steam and Desura?

When evaluating Steam versus Desura, both solutions serve different needs within the games ecosystem. This comparison helps determine which solution aligns with your specific requirements and technical approach.

Market Position & Industry Recognition

Steam and Desura have established themselves in the games market. Key areas include gaming, digital-distribution, game-library.

Technical Architecture & Implementation

The architectural differences between Steam and Desura significantly impact implementation and maintenance approaches. Related technologies include gaming, digital-distribution, game-library, multiplayer.

Integration & Ecosystem

Both solutions integrate with various tools and platforms. Common integration points include gaming, digital-distribution and digital-distribution, indie-games.

Decision Framework

Consider your technical requirements, team expertise, and integration needs when choosing between Steam and Desura. You might also explore gaming, digital-distribution, game-library for alternative approaches.

Feature Steam Desura
Overall Score N/A N/A
Primary Category Games Games
Target Users Developers, QA Engineers QA Teams, Non-technical Users
Deployment Self-hosted, Cloud Cloud-based, SaaS
Learning Curve Moderate to Steep Easy to Moderate

Product Overview

Steam
Steam

Description: 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.

Type: Open Source Test Automation Framework

Founded: 2011

Primary Use: Mobile app testing automation

Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows

Desura
Desura

Description: Desura is a digital distribution platform for gamers, specializing in indie games. It aims to provide a community for indie developers and gamers, and helps match games with the right audience through recommendation algorithms. It has features like mod support and achievement tracking.

Type: Cloud-based Test Automation Platform

Founded: 2015

Primary Use: Web, mobile, and API testing

Supported Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, API

Key Features Comparison

Steam
Steam Features
  • Game library & storefront
  • Social features like chat & forums
  • Achievements & trading cards
  • Remote play & streaming
  • User reviews & curation
  • Mod distribution
Desura
Desura Features
  • Digital distribution platform for games
  • Specializes in indie games
  • Community features for developers and gamers
  • Recommendation algorithms
  • Mod support
  • Achievement tracking

Pros & Cons Analysis

Steam
Steam
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
Desura
Desura
Pros
  • Good platform for discovering indie games
  • Active community engagement
  • Support for mods extends gameplay
  • Achievement tracking provides motivation
Cons
  • Smaller library compared to major platforms
  • Less features than Steam
  • User interface not as polished
  • Limited quality control on games

Pricing Comparison

Steam
Steam
  • Free
  • One-time Purchase
  • Subscription-Based
Desura
Desura
  • Free
  • Freemium

Get More Information

Ready to Make Your Decision?

Explore more software comparisons and find the perfect solution for your needs