Steam vs. Itch.io vs. GOG vs. Humble vs. Epic Games

The gaming industry has flourished steadily over the past decade. And you can now download games online through online gaming platforms like Steam, Epic Games, GOG, Humble, and Itch.io.

But what really sets them apart? Which is the best? Here are some of the main points that make them different:

<>Ease of Use

GOG is the easiest to use among the online gaming platforms mentioned above. Like the Epic Games Store, it has an easy-to-navigate, user-friendly UI that lets you find the games you like.

Humble aims to deliver quality content to its customers. Their store isn’t as easy to navigate as GOG and Epic Games, but it also shouldn’t give you a hard time locating the game for you.

Itch.io is an open marketplace for developers looking to sell their games. They have an interface that’s fairly similar to Humble's, and developers are entitled to set the game's price, market it, and manage their sales.

Game library

They all have their fair share of games, but Steam has by far the largest number of AAA, indie, and free games—totaling more than 10,000.

GOG, Humble, and Epic Games have a few thousand games you can purchase online, while itch.io has over tens of thousands because it’s an open market for developers and gamers alike.

Price

Video game prices are originally listed in US dollars, but the currency fluctuates depending on where you are located. This means prices in America may be different from those in Canada and other Asian countries.

Additionally, price differences depend on purchasing power and the global market. So, prices on Steam may differ from those on GOG or Epic Games. But because Humble usually sells games in bundles, prices are expected to be lower.

Itch.io usually features indie and light games that don’t cost more than $50. Games are so light that it’s expected to run smoothly on most machines. But if you want an ultimate gaming experience, get yourself a good computer.

Payment Method

Steam, Humble, and GOG accept a variety of payment methods, including debit cards and PayPal. Games can also be purchased as gifts for a friend or someone you love.

Itch.io and Epic Games doesn’t have the gifting feature. However, Epic Games allows you to gift V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency) and other in-game items in Fortnite.

Which is the Best?

These online gaming platforms offer different features and may be limited to selling genre-specific games.

But even so, there’s no best among these, as it all boils down to which one offers the most convenient user interface, the most games available, and the lowest price.

With all these laid out, which is your favorite online gaming platform when buying PC games?